General Mills
GIS:US US3703341046
Key Information
HQ:
United States
Market Cap:
$38.04bn
Primary Market:
North America
Protein Diversification Engagement
Analysis Overview
Climate Strategy - Integration of Protein Diversification Climate Strategy - Governance and Influence Climate Strategy - Adoption of Just Transition Product Portfolio - Resource Allocation Consumer Education - Consistency of Marketing Strategies
Analysis Breakdown
Climate Strategy - Integration of Protein Diversification
Low
Quantify Potential/Opportunity
Partial
TCFD-aligned scenario analysis
General Mills has completed TCFD-aligned scenario analysis for three scenarios including a below 2C scenario. The company has identified risks for 10 priority ingredients including U.S. dairy, however, the company has not mentioned if it has identified risks associated with meat as part of its scenario analysis. General Mills has not mentioned protein diversification in its scenario analysis and has instead cited regenerative agriculture as the primary climate solution the company plans to implement to mitigate its climate risk.
Limited
Reporting of Scope 3 emissions from animal agriculture
Greenhouse gas emissions across General Mills' value chain are attributed to various sectors, with agriculture and ingredients accounting for 39% of emissions. Within this category, dairy contributes 24%, and meat 12% of the total emissions.
Full
1.5C aligned SBTi Scope 3 FLAG target
The company has a 1.5C SBTi-approved target to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 30% by FY2030 from an FY2020 base year across its full value chain. General Mills is working to update its SBTi targets against FLAG guidance and plans to publish this by the end of the calendar year.
Limited
Quantifying the opportunity of protein diversification
The company provides no information relating to protein diversification in its climate disclosure.
No Evidence
Protein Diversification Strategy
DNF
Integrating protein diversification into climate transition plans
General Mills has not integrated of protein diversification into its climate action transition plan.
No Evidence
Protein diversification target is timebound
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Business coverage of protein diversification target
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Alignment of target with climate and health guidelines
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Measuring Progress
DNF
Disclosing progress against protein diversification target
There is no evidence for this KPI
No Evidence
Annual reporting of progress of protein diversification target
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Climate Strategy - Governance and Influence
Good
Board Oversight
Low
Board support for protein diversification
General Mills has not yet integrated protein diversification into its climate transition plan; therefore, its board has not yet shown support for this target.
No Evidence
Climate expertise of board
None of the board members has technical expertise in and/or has oversight of an expert advisory group on climate risk/ sustainability.
No Evidence
Nutrition/health expertise of board
Several board members of the company have expertise in health and wellness.
Full
Advocacy
Good
Disclosing a list of direct lobbying actions
The company offers a comprehensive insight into its lobbying activities at the state and federal levels.
Full
Direct lobbying in line with climate and nutrition
Generals Mills is directly lobbying the US government on climate at the state and federal levels. Examples of the company’s climate lobbying include encouraging US Congress to strengthen collaboration between organisations around the company’s regenerative agriculture goals, testifying to the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on why the company believes regenerative agriculture to be of importance and the need for more public research in this area, and publicly calling for the US to remain aligned with the Paris Climate Accord.
Limited
Disclosing a list of indirect lobbying actions
General Mills provides a full list of company affiliations with associations, alliances, coalitions, think tanks and other organisations to which it provides support. The company has provided a total of $207,585 in support to its trade associations.
Full
Indirect lobbying in line with climate and nutrition
Generals Mills has assessed the climate alignment of one of its trade associations, one of its research partners, and one NGO in which it provides support to. The company has omitted the assessment five trade associations it provides support too from this analysis. The company is actively lobbying on both climate and nutrition through its partnerships, lobbying on topics such as; carbon credits, supporting farmers shift to sustainable practices, regenerative agriculture, health claims, nutrition and allergen labeling, microbiological standards, dietary guidance, and supplemental nutrition feeding programs.
Full
Climate Strategy - Adoption of Just Transition
DNF
Just Transition Commitments
Low
Public commitment to Just Transition principles
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Commitment to support workers
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Commitment to support stakeholders
General Mills has launched pilot one-to-one technical support programs to support its dairy suppliers' transition towards regenerative agriculture practices. These support programs have allowed 3 of its dairy farmers to implement regenerative agriculture practices in western Michigan. These 3 dairy suppliers produce ~16% of the raw milk used in its North American Yoplait® products. The company has additionally disclosed collaborations with other orgnisations such as Logiag and Regeneration Canada and has provided a regenerative self assessment tool as means to support its suppliers decarbonise.
Limited
Just Transition Strategy
DNF
Public Just Transition strategy
There is no evidence for this KPI
No Evidence
Consulting social actors in Just Transition strategy development
There is no evidence for this KPI
No Evidence
Just Transition KPI
DNF
Disclosing Just Transition KPIs
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Reporting against Just Transition KPIs annually
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Product Portfolio - Resource Allocation
Partial
Portfolio Diversification
Low
Dedicating resources to expanding alternative protein offering
General Mills has launched its own plant-based products through its brand Haagen-Dazs. Haagen-Dazs has launched 3 flavours of dairy-free ice creams made from oat milk in Canada. The company disclosed that it has invested in new brands through 301 INC, focusing on plant-based options like Rhythm for snacks and Everything Legendary for burgers, however, these investments were made in 2017 and 2022. Although the company also stated it has 750 vegan products across its different brands, it is unclear how many have been launched this year.
Limited
Annual evidence of resource allocation
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Improving Nutrition and Sustainability Attributes
Partial
Dedicating resources to improve the nutrition and sustainability of products
General Mills has disclosed evidence of resource allocation towards improving the nutrition and sustainability of its products. For nutrition, the company utilises its Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. This institute has scientists and researchers to determine the nutrition of its whole grain portfolio which is considered a plant-based protein. For sustainability, General Mills is working to increase the sustainability of the almonds used in its Larabars by funding regenerative agriculture research with the Ecdysis Foundation in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Full
Reformulating products to improve nutrition
General Mills has provided only one example of reformulating its whole grain Nature Valley bar to have 30% less sugar.
Limited
Reformulating products to improve sustainability
There is no evidence for this KPI
No Evidence
Consumer Education - Consistency of Marketing Strategies
Low
Commitment Across Geographies/Brands
DNF
Commitment to marketing alternative protein sources
There is no evidence for this KPI
No Evidence
Business coverage of marketing commitment
There is no evidence for this KPI.
No Evidence
Nutrition and Sustainabilty
Partial
Promoting the nutritional attributes of alternative protein sources
General Mills is promoting the nutritional attributes of its products on its website and its subsidiary brand websites such as Annies, Larabar, Nature Valley, Oui and Progresso. General Mills is promoting its plant-based products as being low sugar, high protein, and free from artificial colours and flavours. The company has also implemented front-of-package nutritional labelling for its products in the following geographies; Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the US, however, it is unclear to what extent this covers the company's plant-based ranges.
Full
Promoting the sustainability attributes of alternative protein sources
The company has implemented "Climate Pledge Friendly" labelling on its Larabar products to highlight their sustainability.
No Evidence
Consumer Research
DNF
Conducting consumer research on alternative protein sources
It is unclear if General Mills has conducted consumer research around alternative proteins. However, the company has provided a high-level statement that it has expanded its plant-based product line, catering to the increasing demand of consumers for these products.
No Evidence
Conducting consumer research on healthy diets
There is no evidence that the company uses consumer research related to healthy diets to inform its marketing strategy for alternative protein sources. However, General Mills did state it is proactively adapting to the growing demand for personalized nutrition by staying informed about emerging research and offering innovative products.
No Evidence
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Workstream Information
Business Type:
Manufacturer
Company Feedback Given:
Yes
Last Updated:
8 July 2024
2024 Resources
Protein Diversification Phase 1 Progress Report Protein Diversification Engagement