General Mills Talks Organics and Climate Change in 45th Annual Global Responsibility Report

General Mills is still on a path toward recognition as one of the cleaner, greener, more environmentally sound and health conscious brands in the food processing industry. Today General Mills released its 45th annual Global Responsibility Report to stakeholders, and reported progress in several sectors including its organics portfolio and conservation goals.

"As a global food company, we are committed to providing nutritious and great-tasting foods that meet consumer needs while simultaneously upholding sound environmental and social practices," said Ken Powell, chairman and CEO of General Mills, in a press release announcing the release of the report. "The combination of these practices is just one way in which we fulfill our company's mission of Nourishing Lives."

General Mills has been building its portfolio of organics brands for a while now, and that much has not changed. According to the report, by adding its 2014 acquisition of Annie’s Homegrown to its already strong portfolio of brands like Cascadian Farm and and LARABAR, General Mills has grown to become the fourth-largest natural and organic food producer in the United States. According to General Mills, these types of acquisitions will continue to help the brand reach audiences hoping to make better choices for themselves and their families, while at the same time helping the larger General Mills brand better understand what those audiences are looking for in a sustainable brand:

Another hot topic addressed in the report is climate change, which is something that should be on every major corporation’s mind. As climate change evolves, water (and lack thereof) is an especially crucial issue. To this end General Mills reports on the water conservation measure it introduced in 2014, and its overall progress through various efforts including water usage improvements throughout its supply chain, wastewater discharge reduction targets, and long-term stewardship strategies.

Other topics addressed include sustainable materials sourcing, community empowerment for its global suppliers and manufacturers, and more. Check out the full 2015 General Mills Global Responsibility Report here.