Consumer Goods Companies Make 'Significant Improvement' in Supporting Healthier Lives, According to New Data

PARIS, March 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

• Consumer goods retailers and manufacturers' participation in food banks and school programmes continues to rise
• 320,000 products have been reformulated to reduce levels of sugar and salt, etc, since survey began in 2015
• Some 2,000,000 employees now involved in company-led health and wellbeing programmes

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) today published the latest results from its global survey that looks at how consumer goods retailers and manufacturers are helping to empower healthier consumers worldwide. Data from the 2019 Health & Wellness Progress Report, developed in conjunction with Deloitte, shows good progress in all categories and significant improvement in achievement of all the CGF's Health & Wellness commitments.

This is the fifth edition of the report, which measures progress on the CGF's resolutions and commitments. The five years' worth of results show that CGF members are meeting consumers' expectations and fulfilling the industry's ambition to empower consumers to lead healthier lives. More specifically, the 2018 data shows:

• 98% of companies reported reformulating at least some part of their product portfolio to align with health and wellness policies. Since 2015 over 320,000 products have been reformulated.
• Over 70% of companies reported reformulating salt and sugar in their products.
• 84% of companies reported that their personal care and hygiene products display clear product usages on packaging.
• Almost two million employees participated in health and wellness initiatives in 2018 versus 1.6 million in 2017 and 1.3 million in 2016.
• 61% participated in food bank programmes (nearly 93,000 tonnes of food donated).
• Partnerships with education authorities on health and wellness initiatives for over 550,000 schools.

Inspired by CGF members' commitment to being part of the solution to today's biggest health and lifestyle challenges, this member-driven initiative is co-sponsored at the CGF Board by the CEOs of Nestlé and Ahold Delhaize and co-chaired at Steering Committee level by Danone and Walmart. Over the years it has been supported by some of the largest consumer product brands and retailers in the world. 75 CGF members responded to the survey this time.

Sharon Bligh, Director, Health & Wellness at The Consumer Goods Forum, said, "We've come a long way since this survey began five years ago, but, we are not finished yet and there is still much to do. It is great to see how, in the communities where our members work and live, companies and their employees are taking greater interest than ever in health and wellness issues. It proves that as we move into our next five-year plan, collaborative actions will continue to be a force for good and an essential component of driving positive change at scale. Consumers and our employees want to be empowered to make changes to their health and wellbeing, so they can live healthy and more active lifestyles for longer. People are craving change, and we recognise our industry's role in both preventing illness and in empowering people to live healthier lives."

This latest edition of the survey ends the CGF's initial five-year strategy on health and wellness. As part of the next five-year plan, focus will now evolve to the team's flagship initiative 'Collaboration for Healthier Lives' (CHL). Through collaboration, CGF members will test new approaches and share best practices in nudging people's behaviour to healthier practices. CGF members are recognising the immense potential of community-based initiatives and the need for greater transparency to deliver meaningful behaviour change, a move supported by the survey data collected over the last few years.

About The Consumer Goods Forum 

The Consumer Goods Forum ("CGF") is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 50 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: http://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com .