The national leader in pasta and crackers and cookies, M. Dias Branco, consolidated its place among the three top-ranked companies of EXAME’s Best of ESG 2023 Guide, in the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages category. The assessment considers the principles governing the proper management focused on good environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, recognizing companies practicing a conscious, more human and inclusive capitalism, towards a circular and collaborative economy.
The ceremony, held on the night of June 13, in São Paulo, brought the three companies with the most consistent practices, divided into several categories. “For us, being recognized as one of the best companies in Brazil in ESG practices is a source of pride and encouragement. It means we are on the right track,” says Tiago Timbó, manager of Communication, Culture and Sustainability at M. Dias Branco.
The company announced, through its 2022 Integrated Annual Report, its ESG commitments to be achieved by 2030, covering 15 priority themes under the following pillars: Caring for the Planet (Environmental), Believing in People (Social) and Strengthening Alliances (Governance).
Main achievements
As a signatory of the Global Compact of the United Nations (UN). M Dias Branco’s initiatives are based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), included in the global agenda.
The main achievements already reported by M. Dias Branco include the use of recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable plastic packaging of finished products, which has already reached 96.79%, and the company’s goal is to reach 100%; use of renewable energy, which reached 32% for a goal of 90%; and water reuse, which reached 17.31% by 2022, for a goal of 30%.
The Company made progress in the score of the Carbon Disclosure Project Index (CDP) at category B, in Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) to AA and remained in the portfolio of the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) of B3 for the third consecutive time.
In diversity matter, the company reached 23.24% of women in leadership positions for a goal of 40% by 2030. In July 2022, M Dias Branco joined the portfolio of the Teva ESG Women in Leadership Index (ETF ELAS11), managed by Banco Safra and listed for trading on B3, for having 40% women on the Board of Directors.
As in previous years, M. Dias Branco continued contributing strongly with the donation of food to minimize hunger and the worsening of the vulnerability of families, including by encouraging volunteer work by employees. In 2022, 2,321 tons of food were donated to more than 100 charitable institutions and food banks throughout Brazil.
In addition, a public target has been defined that it aims to reach 150,000 people with the Program for Fostering Entrepreneurship and Professionalization in the Food Sector. This goal is linked to the program named Alimentando Sonhos (Feeding Dreams) through which the company enters into partnerships with institutions, for holding training courses that promote social and economic inclusion, qualifying professionals for the gastronomy market or entrepreneurship, strengthening employability and contributing to overcoming poverty. For 2022, the goal was to impact 1,000 people and 4,078 people were reached, mostly women from communities close to our industrial units.
“Sustainability is embedded throughout the entire operation of M. Dias Branco. Ten years ago we established a management of the priority issues, and we keep moving forward year after year. The Best of ESG 2023 recognition for us is a leverage to achieve the public commitments we have made by 2030”, ends Timbó.
