Our global approach to advocacy
We believe that the private sector has an important role to play in helping build healthy lives and a healthy planet.
The purpose of our advocacy is to find common ground and act collaboratively with stakeholders. We work with industry, governments, civil society and consumers at a local, regional, national and international level.
Our objective is to foster an open dialogue and help deliver bold positive outcomes for business and society, including rapid and sustained emissions reductions, the adoption of regenerative food systems, the protection of human rights and the protection, preservation, and restoration of biodiversity. All of our advocacy activities are carried out in line with the aims and ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement.
We are also committed to providing constructive and science-based support to different governments’ policy efforts to improve nutrition and health around the world, leveraging our global R&D network and wider scientific knowledge wherever appropriate.
We favor transparent scientific dialogues with all experts from all parties and respect independent, peer-reviewed science.
Our advocacy themes
Our ambition is to bring tasty and balanced diets within reach for billions of people, today and for generations to come.
To support our ambition, we advocate for the following on both national and global levels:
- Harmonized frameworks for product portfolio nutritional value reporting
- Getting more companies to disclose targets to grow the availability of more nutritious foods and beverages
- Voluntary marketing restrictions to children under 16 years of age
- Responsible marketing of breast-milk substitutes: we encourage implementation of the WHO Code into national laws. Nestlé supports regulating promotion of infant formula for babies aged 0-12 months globally
We engage in climate-related advocacy to encourage rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions through government policies and private sector leadership.
As set out in Nestlé's Net Zero Roadmap (pdf, 8Mb), we advocate for ambitious government policies and private sector leadership to ensure that all sectors move more quickly towards rapid and sustained reductions in carbon emissions.
Our advocacy priorities are:
- Encouraging more regenerative forms of agricultural production
- Ending deforestation risk and supporting forest positive restoration
- Enabling more sustainable logistics
- Supporting the rollout of renewable electricity and energy
- Improving consumer communications and claims
- Advocating for higher ambitions from countries and companies and fair and clear rules for target setting and reporting progress
Nestlé supports various multi-sector efforts aimed at increasing the pace of decarbonization at a multi-lateral and national level.
We are committed to respecting human rights and the environment. We believe that the most effective approach is to focus on engagement and concrete actions on the ground together with supply chain partners in a transparent way.
As part of the implementation of our salient human rights issue action plans we:
- Raise awareness of salient human rights issues within the sectors Nestlé is involved in, as well as Nestlé's approach to identify and address them via our action plans
- Engage with peers and stakeholders, including through industry and multi-stakeholder platforms, to share learnings and develop common approaches to address root causes of human rights issues
- Support Bolster Nestlé's engagement in specific interventions (e.g. sectoral-, landscape- or jurisdictional-level initiatives) to strengthen action to address human rights issues at national and subnational levels where we source our raw materials
Our vision is that none of our packaging ends up in landfill or as litter. This depends not only on packaging design, but also on infrastructure for collection, sorting, reuse and recycling.
We advocate for the following on both national and global levels:
- Extended Producer Responsibility
- Deposit Return Systems
- UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution
- Alternative Delivery Systems (Reuse and Refill)
- Recycled Content Mandates
To achieve a waste-free future, we have joined twelve Plastics Pacts and are also working with the Consumer Goods Forum, World Economic Forum Global Plastic Action Partnership, Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, and Ellen MacArthur Foundation to innovate, research, pilot, and partner around the world.
Read more about Nestlé’s Packaging & Circularity Advocacy Positions (pdf, 2Mb).
Shaping our priorities
The journey to regenerative food systems and reaching net zero by 2050 requires coordinated action across sectors, industries and countries. This means supporting the development of food systems that aim to protect, renew and restore the environment, improving the livelihoods of farmers and enhancing the resilience and well-being of farming communities.
This is an ambitious journey that we cannot take alone, so we work with others and use our business and scientific knowledge and resources to move us forward. This includes participating in coalitions, trade associations and participating in key global dialogues. Multiple considerations shape our advocacy priorities, including:
- Our long-term business and societal strategy
- Internal cross-functional alignment on themes at global, regional and local levels, depending on the business context
- Internal policies and guidelines
- External consultations with/listening to key stakeholders
To advance our advocacy priorities, we rely on an extensive network of Nestlé employees from across our business and markets.
Memberships and advocacy initiatives
Given our size and geographical presence, we are involved in multiple industry organizations and thinktanks at local, regional and global level. We believe in the power of collective action, especially on challenging topics that cannot be tackled alone, including many environmental and social issues.
We hold board seats in multiple industry organizations. This gives us the opportunity to constructively influence wide-ranging agendas with the aim of advancing the health of people and our planet, driving societal progress, and supporting the transition to a sustainable and healthy food system.
Global discussions are key to developing frameworks that coordinate steps to tackle common challenges such as climate change or food systems transformation.
Nestlé participates in select global discussions such as those related to:
- United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change and Conference of the Parties (COP)
- UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution
- UN Convention on Biological Diversity
- UN Food Systems Summit
We aim to contribute positively to the development of private-sector relevant legislative guidelines and policies by sharing technical expertise, insights and best practices. Across all discussions, Nestlé supports harmonized frameworks that promote high-level playing fields, that are well resourced and well implemented with appropriate accountability measures.
| Organization | Nestlé’s representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils | Example of global coalition memberships |
|---|---|---|
| World Economic Forum (WEF) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé | CEO Climate Leaders ">The World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders - Nestlé’s CEO supports the actions of this group which seeks to catalyze action and initiatives from companies across industry sectors. |
| Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé | CGF Forest Positive Coalition - Nestlé is a founding member of the Coalition, launched in 2020. It is focused on removing deforestation, forest conversion and degradation from key ingredient supply chains and supporting businesses that have a regenerative effect on critical forest ecosystems. |
| World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) | Executive Vice President – CEO Zone LATAM | The World Business Council for Sustainable Development Working Groups - Nestlé participates in a number of groups, including the Agriculture & Food pathway or the Climate Policy Working Group, as well as participating in discussions around nature and plastics. |
| International Chamber of Commerce | No board seats | Nestlé actively participates in the Environment and Energy Commissions efforts to develop policy recommendations and tools that address environmental challenges like climate change. Nestlé is also an active member of the Business and Industry NGO (BINGO) constituency of which the ICC is the focal point in the UNFCCC processes. |
| World Federation of Advertisers | Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer | |
| International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) | Head of Corporate Affairs - Nutrition Business |
At COP28 we supported the launch of several collective initiatives to accelerate private sector climate action:
| COP28 Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes: | 25+ leading food and agriculture organizations joined forces to scale up regenerative agriculture, partnering with 3.6 million farmers to accelerate the transition on 160 million hectares of land worldwide. |
| First Movers Coalition 4 Food | to send a signal for accelerating the adoption of sustainable production methods and technologies for agricultural commodities through the power of aggregated demand. |
| Dairy Methane Action Alliance | signed by six major dairy companies who committed to publicly disclose methane emissions and pledge to create and implement a comprehensive methane action plan. |
Nestlé is active in climate-change advocacy on a regional and local basis.
| Zone | Nestlé’s representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils |
|---|---|
| Europe |
|
| Latin America | Proactive advocacy on the promotion of business integrity as the concrete contribution by the private sector in the fight against corruption (SDGs 16). This includes actions at local level and collaboration with the WEF to establish the Business Integrity Network to be launched in Latin America. |
| North America | In the United States, Nestlé uses organizations such as the Food Marketing Institute, the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance and others to support policies on climate and regenerative agriculture, nutrition, supply chain, plastics and packaging, and workforce. |
| Organization | Nestlé's representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils |
|---|---|
| FoodDrink Europe (FDE) | Chief Executive Office, Zone Europe |
| European Manufacturers Brand Association (AIM) | Chief Executive Office, Zone Europe |
| Food Industry Asia | Head of Communications, Asia, Oceania and Africa |
| Consumer Goods Forum Latin America | Chief Executive Office, Zone Latin America |
| Organization | Nestlé's representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils |
|---|---|
| Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável - CEBDS | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Brazil |
| The Mexican Council of the Consumer Products Industry, A.C. - ConMexico | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Mexico |
| Food and Beverage Trade Association - ABChile | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Chile |
| Food and Beverage Trade Association - COPAL | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Argentina |
| National Industry Association of Colombia - ANDI | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Colombia |
| Camara Nacional de industriales de la leche – CANILEC | Head of Corporate and Public Affairs, Nestlé Mexico |
| Organization | Nestlé’s representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership councils |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Food Policy Alliance | Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs and Sustainability, Zone North America |
| Common Threads | Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs and Sustainability, Zone North America |
| Food Marketing Institute | Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé USA, Zone North America |
| Global Business Alliance | Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs and Sustainability, Zone North America |
| International Chamber of Commerce, Switzerland | Senior Vice President Nestlé S.A., Corporate Governance, Compliance and Corporate Services |
| Ecosystem Services Market Consortium | Director of Sustainable Sourcing, NUSA |
| International Dairy Foods Association | Head of Procurement, Nestrade and Head of Zone Europe Procurement |
| Food and Consumer Products of Canada | Market Lead, Nestlé Canada |
| The Grocery Foundation | Market Lead, Nestlé Canada |
| Circular Materials | Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Regulatory, Gov, Nestlé Canada |
| Canada Plastics Pact | Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Regulatory, Gov, Nestlé Canada |
| Association of Canadian Advertisers | Head of Marketing and Commercialization, Nestlé Canada |
| Organization | Nestlé's representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils |
| Food Federation Germany (Lebensmittelverband Deutschland) | Business Executive Officer Wagner of Nestlé Germany |
| Asociación multisectorial de fabricantes y distribuidores (AECOC) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Spain |
| Institut de liaisons des entreprises de consommation (ILEC) - France | Commercial Director of Nestlé France |
| Food and Drink Federation (FDF) - UK | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé UK&I |
| Unione Italiana Food - Italy | Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications of Nestlé Italiana |
| Federation of the Food and Drink Industries - Czech Republic | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé in Czech Republic |
| Association of Branded Goods Manufacturers "RusBrand" | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Russia |
| Organization | Nestlé’s representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils |
|---|---|
| Consumer Goods Forum in China | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé China |
| China Nutrition and Health Food Association (CNHFA) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé China |
| China Dairy Industry Association (CDIA) | Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability-Zone Greater China |
| China Beverage Industry Association (CBIA) | Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability- Zone Greater China |
| Organization | Nestlé’s representative on the Board of Directors / Leadership Councils |
|---|---|
| Australian Food and Grocery Council | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Australia |
| Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) - (Confederation of Indian Food Trade Industries) CIFTI | Director- Corporate Affairs & Sustainability-Nestlé India |
| Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - National Committee on Food Processing | Chairman and Managing Director - Nestlé India |
| Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. - Philippines | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Philippines |
| Consumer Goods Council of South Africa | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé South Africa |
| Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Vietnam |
| Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Vietnam |
| EuroCham Vietnam’s Nutritional Foods Group (NFG) | Business Executive Officer of Infant Nutrition, Nestlé Vietnam |
| Vietnam’s National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) | Director of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Vietnam |
| Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Vietnam |
| Swiss Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines | Head of Government and Industry Affairs Philippines |
| Philippines Business for Social Progress | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Philippines |
| Chairman of Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA) | Region Head Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei |
| Chairman of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Sustainable Development & Climate Change Committee | Region Head Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei |
| Chairman of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Malaysian Food Manufacturing Group | Head of Corporate Affairs Nestlé Malaysia |
| Chairman ICC Corporate Responsibility & Anti-Corruption Committee | Head of Legal & Secretarial Nestlé Malaysia |
| Swiss Business Council (SBC) | Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Pakistan |
| Global Compact Network Pakistan (GCNP) | Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Pakistan |
| Pakistan Business Council (PBC) | Chairman of Nestlé Pakistan |
| Baby Food & Nutrition Council (BFNC) | Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Pakistan, Business Executive Officer of Nestlé Pakistan |
| Collect & Recycle (CoRe) Alliance | Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Pakistan |
| Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) | Chairman Nestlé Pakistan |
| Punjab Workers Welfare Board (PWWB) | Head of Corporate Affairs – Nestlé Pakistan |
| Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) | Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Pakistan |
| Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS) | Head of Communications & Marketing Services of Nestlé Pakistan |
Considerations for collective action
Dealing with consensus and conflicts
As strong believers in collective action, we work towards achieving consensus with all the organizations we collaborate with. Where conflict arises, we advocate for the highest common denominator to try to ensure solutions bring the maximum benefit possible.
In circumstances when we do not agree with an agenda or a position of an industry association industry alliance or other member companies, we communicate transparently our position, and reserve our right to act as an individual company and engage independently with public authorities or other stakeholders.
Assessing our involvement in industry and trade organizations
We regularly review our involvement in industry and trade organizations to assess the relevance of our participation to our strategy and the achievements delivered.
The decision to resign from an industry organization is informed by several considerations, including when:
- We are regularly in opposition with the positions and/or agendas of the organization (this includes inappropriate lobbying practices)
- The organization has not delivered the outcomes expected over many years
- Weak governance is putting Nestlé’s reputation at risk
- The evolution of the membership of the organization is not in alignment with our agenda, values and principles
What is the difference between advocacy and lobbying?
(source: Legal Dictionary)
The process or act of supporting a cause or proposal.
Our advocacy aims to directly and/or indirectly support decision-makers, stakeholders and relevant audiences in the pursuit of a broader positive societal agenda and outcome that are aligned with our business goals, framed by our corporate purpose and values and built on science-based evidence.
(source: OECD's Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust - 2014)
The term generally refers to oral or written communication with a public official to influence legislation, policy or administrative decisions and includes any activity where an attempt is made to influence public decision-making processes. Lobbying can be direct or indirect (through industry associations or any other third-party entity).
(source: Transparency International’s Corporate Political Engagement Index, 2018)
In our internal work, we also refer to the following definition.
Any direct or indirect communication with public officials, political decision-makers or representatives for the purposes of influencing public decision-making and carried out by or on behalf of an organized group. Lobbying can also include direct or indirect attempts to influence public opinion, outside of normal advertising and marketing activity, with a view to impacting public decision making.
Generally, Nestlé does not carry a specific global budget for lobbying activities. Our major lobbying activity is done locally through industry associations, to ensure we comply with local legislations and contexts. The spending is covered by annual membership fees paid to these organizations.
Our spending on lobbying (including third parties) is publicly available where it is required by law. For example:
- In the United States, we file quarterly reports with the government that outline the issues on which we have lobbied, in addition to how much money we spent on these activities. We disclose details such as the percentage of salaries for lobbyists, office space expenses and trade association dues. In 2022, Nestlé USA reported expenses of USD 763 000.
- In the European Union, we report on our estimated budget for lobbying activities to the EU Transparency Registry. The amounts we report on relate to an estimation of annual gross salaries of the team that deals with advocacy based in Brussels. For 2022, a budget of between EUR 400 000 and EUR 499 000 was reported.
- In France, we transparently report the lobbying expenses to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (EUR 400,000 - 500,000 FY 2020)
We are conscious that our advocacy and lobbying activities are legitimate but remain a privilege. However, it is in our interest to achieve collective positive outcomes and to share them.
That is why we respect and safeguard the opportunity for other interest groups to lobby and do so by not spending disproportionately in lobbying. We also seek to pursue cooperation with stakeholders to promote and support governmental efforts to improve transparency and accountability in relation to lobbying.
We look for continuous improvement in all that we do. It is in this spirit that we engage with Carnstone on their Responsible Lobbying Framework (pdf, 10Mb). Our policies, management systems and disclosure are also assessed by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), against the Responsible Lobbying Framework.
We welcome this assessment as it helped us further understand our stakeholders’ expectations and identify opportunities for strengthening our approach. We encourage other members of the industry and stakeholders (including civil society organizations) to implement the principles of the Responsible Lobbying Framework.
