Driving Collective Impact to Achieve Sustainability Objectives

The Arnott’s Group is a leading Australian brand known for its biscuits and snack food predominantly manufacturing in Australia, it also operates across Asia with sites in Malaysia and Indonesia. Four years ago, Arnott’s embarked on a sustainability journey, publicly committing to three pillars – responsible ingredient sourcing, conscientious food production, and active community engagement. Contributing to this vision is Lees’ expertise in renewable energy and emissions across the ESG spectrum. Today, within Arnott’s Group, her role and responsibilities range from managing energy and emissions to overseeing agricultural sourcing, community relations, nutrition, and packaging. Lees’ position reflects the company’s dedication to a diverse array of sustainability initiatives.

In this feature with Environmental Business Review APAC, Lees shares insights into navigating sustainability challenges within the food industry by highlighting strategies for progress and the importance of collective action for impactful change.

What are the challenges that you often encounter as one of the leaders in the industry, and how do you navigate those challenges and manage things when it comes to maintaining food sustainability?

Many companies in the industry face a dichotomy in their efforts to progress. On one hand, the less visible but crucial behind-the-scenes work involves finding renewable energy sources and reducing emissions. Though essential for meeting sustainability goals and addressing environmental concerns, these endeavors often lack public recognition. Companies face challenges in navigating the marketplace’s demands for sustainable options while significantly lowering carbon emissions, as reflected in their sustainability reporting.

“Every sustainability manager and leader who is committed to doing better and making a positive impact contributes to the broader goal of achieving large-scale change. It’s through this collective effort and shared commitment that significant transformations can occur”

 Conversely, more public-facing challenges exist, such as transitioning packaging to sustainable alternatives and managing waste effectively. The rising demand for plastic recycling, especially for soft plastics in specific regions like Australia, presents significant hurdles in waste management practices. Additionally, companies, particularly those in the snack food sector, face scrutiny over the nutritional aspects of their products. Balancing consumer preferences with nutritional standards is a constant challenge, requiring a continuous effort to offer better and healthier options across the product portfolio.

Ultimately, these challenges span both internal and external realms for companies in the field. While some issues are inherent to their operations and necessitate internal solutions, others arise from external factors like consumer perceptions and market demands. Nevertheless, companies remain committed to addressing these challenges holistically to uphold their sustainability goals and cater to the evolving needs of consumers and the marketplace.

As a leader, how have you adjusted your approach amid these challenges, and what strategies are you implementing to address them effectively?

Internally, we have found it crucial to empower subject matter experts in sustainability. It’s imperative to instil the values of sustainability and ensure that it remains a focal point across various organizational functions. Rather than relying solely on a large team, our approach involves empowering individuals throughout the business. This strategy allows for a more decentralized approach, where procurement, packaging, nutrition, and corporate affairs drive positive action internally.

By distributing responsibility across different departments, we have found that addressing sustainability challenges and making progress becomes more efficient. Teams like packaging, corporate affairs, and procurement are instrumental in integrating sustainability objectives into their everyday work. For example, the packaging team focuses on sustainability objectives, while corporate affairs and P&C teams concentrate on inclusion, belonging, and other social sustainability aspects. Similarly, procurement teams are pivotal in sourcing ingredients sustainably and maintaining strong connections with suppliers.

This approach not only brings a diverse range of perspectives to the table but also ensures that sustainability is ingrained as a core company value. It allows for significant progress as sustainability considerations become part of everyday decision-making. We have dedicated substantial effort to embedding sustainability into our organizational culture, emphasizing its importance in how people approach and make decisions within the company.

How do you foresee emerging trends or technologies shaping the future of food sustainability in the industry? What strategies are being implemented to adapt to these changes?

There’s a pressing need for better connectivity in capturing data regarding the impact of growing ingredients, which then needs to flow seamlessly into manufacturing processes, the entire supply chain, and, ultimately, to the end of a product’s life cycle. Improved data capture throughout the value chain would enable informed decision-making and facilitate expert analysis of different pathways, whether it involves technological innovations or alternative approaches Capturing this data may sound straightforward, but the evolving understanding of scope three emissions highlights the complexity. Achieving a cradle-to-grave understanding of carbon emissions necessitates linking data across various processes. It’s become evident that these processes cannot operate in isolation but must be interconnected. To address this challenge, we’ve adopted platforms like the Microsoft Sustainability Manager to enhance data capture related to energy, emissions, water, and waste. These platforms enable comprehensive tracking from the beginning to the end of the production process.

Implementing such platforms is a substantial undertaking, requiring careful configuration. However, it’s essential because having more data and understanding beyond the confines of our manufacturing facilities is crucial. This broader perspective will ensure that our decisions and changes are truly beneficial and aligned with our sustainability goals. As we continue to refine our data capture processes and expand our understanding of the environmental impact across the value chain, we will be better equipped to drive meaningful change within the industry.

What is your advice to other sustainability managers or aspiring professionals looking to positively impact the food industry?

Maintaining a positive outlook is essential, especially when making a meaningful impact in the sustainability domain can sometimes feel daunting. The insignificance of being just one individual or organization in a vast sea of change can be disheartening. However, sustainability managers and leaders across businesses must recognize the complexities and challenges we face. By understanding these issues and being motivated to drive positive change, we can collectively make a difference.

Every sustainability manager and leader committed to doing better and making a positive impact contributes to the broader goal of achieving large-scale change. It’s through this collective effort and shared commitment that significant transformations can occur. Coming together with a shared basis of knowledge and a common desire to improve is paramount. By aligning our efforts and pulling in the same direction, we maximize our collective impact and increase the likelihood of achieving our sustainability objectives.

Maintaining a positive attitude amidst challenges is not just about optimism; it’s about fostering a sense of collaboration and unity. When individuals and organizations join forces with a shared vision and purpose, they become a powerful force for change. Therefore, embracing positivity, collaboration, and a shared understanding of sustainability challenges is essential for driving meaningful progress in the right direction.