Nestlé S.A. to receive 2011 World Environment Center Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) Washington, D.C. - January 24, 2011 - The World Environment Center’s (WEC) Twenty-Seventh Annual Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development will be awarded to Nestlé S.A. for its commitment to environmental sustainability across its value chain and throughout multiple levels of company management. Paul Bulcke, Nestlé Chief Executive Officer, will accept the Gold Medal Award on behalf of the Company on Thursday, May 19, 2011, during the Gold Medal Presentation Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Nestlé S.A. was selected by the independent Gold Medal Jury, chaired by Dr. Joel Abrams, Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh.  The Jury found that Nestlé’s environmental practices have been guided over the long-term by its “Creating Shared Value” approach to business. This contributes to the health and well-being of consumers while improving the economic and social conditions in communities located across Nestlé’s entire value chain.    Nestlé’s “Creating Shared Value” approach to business served as the basis for the Company’s Gold Medal application, and provided a compelling representation of the Company’s on-going commitments to environmental sustainability. Nestlé stakeholders from humanitarian organisations, business, and academia, comprise its Creating Shared Value Advisory Board under the leadership of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.   Paul Bulcke, Nestlé CEO, said: “Nestlé is delighted to receive this prestigious award, which recognises the efforts of many people working tirelessly over decades, with the long-term mindset to deliver best in class environmental management performance.”    In explaining Nestlé’s environmental efficiency, Mr Bulcke continued: “Our commitment to sustainable business practice is long-term in its perspective, comprehensive in its scope, and meticulously managed in its approach. Sustainable management has given us the solid base for our long-term business development; by consciously identifying areas of focus where shareholders’ and society’s interest strongly intersect, we can additionally optimize value creation for both parties. We are therefore honoured and motivated to receive this distinguished award.”   He added: “In committing to long-term sustainable practices which are integral to our business, for example, we have built approximately 290 water treatment plants to date – significantly in developing countries where national and municipal waste water treatment infrastructure does not exist, or does not yet meet the international environmental standards that Nestlé supports.  In more recent years, we have also pioneered co-generation technology in our factories.”    “On behalf of the independent Gold Medal Jury, I extend my congratulations to Nestlé for advancing sustainable practices across its many business operations and product categories,” stated Dr. Abrams. “The Creating Shared Value program will establish long-term benefits for society and shareholders by increasing natural, social, human and financial capital. As with past recipients, the Gold Medal provides a positive incentive for Nestlé to extend its commitments to improve people’s living standards and quality of life.”   The World Environment Center's Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development was established in 1985 to recognize significant industry initiatives in global environmental excellence and sustainable development.  Recent recipients of the WEC Gold Medal Award are: Wal-Mart Stores (2010), The Coca-Cola Company (2009), Marks & Spencer (2008), Alcan Inc (2007), ABN AMRO Bank (2006), Starbucks (2005), Johnson Controls Inc (2004), Ricoh Group Ltd. (2003) and CEMEX (2002).   The WEC Gold Medal Jury is independent of WEC and its programs, and is composed of international leaders from academia, government, non-governmental organisations and retired industry professionals.   About Nestlé With sales of CHF 108 billion in 2009, Nestlé is the world's leading nutrition, health and wellness company. The Company, headquartered in Switzerland, employs over 280,000 people and has 449 factories situated in 83 countries. Nestlé products are sold in almost every country in the world. Nestlé is the worldwide leader in product categories such as soluble coffee, infant nutrition, bottled water, ice cream, as well as chocolate and malt drinks, and culinary.  The Group is also a co-leader in pet care.
  About World Environment Center The World Environment Center, headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices and operations in emerging and developed markets, is unique in its direct application of sustainable development strategies and practices to the business operations of its member companies. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics; and honours industry excellence through the annual awarding of its Gold Medal Award. An independent non-profit organisation, WEC conducts no advocacy activities. For more information, please visit www.wec.org. 

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