Erin Richards-Kunkel
Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility
Today marks a new milestone: the release of our first Global Responsibility Report. This report highlights our achievements, goals and ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality nutrition, providing economic empowerment and improving our planet.
Nourishing Healthy Communities, Economic Empowerment and a Thriving Planet
Our dedication to improving lives and our communities is at the core of everything we do. We combine high-quality nutrition products, social support and the opportunity to build a business. These are the core tenets of who we are, and they inspire us to act.
We make no distinction between our global responsibility and operating our business; both are reflected in our long-term growth strategies and our day-to-day activities. Our efforts to drive positive impacts for our employees, independent Distributors, communities and the planet, while driving sustainable business growth, encompass every aspect of our business.
We have the opportunity to help build a better world, given our expertise, scale, network and global reach. Our Global Responsibility strategy uses these strengths to improve our world in three meaningful ways:
- Nourishing Healthy Communities: which includes eradicating hunger, providing accessible nutrition, and nutrition education
- Nourishing Economic Empowerment: promoting entrepreneurism, economic empowerment and inclusive economies
- Nourishing a Thriving Planet: promoting responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging, climate change management and waste reduction
Real, measurable results require hard work, perseverance and an unwavering commitment. That is why Herbalife Nutrition has joined the U.N. Global Compact as a signatory member. Our Global Responsibility goals and plan are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), a call to action for a global partnership to support sustainable development, improve human lives and protect the environment.
We are initially focusing our efforts on improving communities by aligning with the targets defined by the UNSDGs, specifically Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), because we believe we have much to offer given our more than 40 years of experience providing people with quality nutrition products and an entrepreneurial business opportunity.
I’m proud to share that we have:
- Removed more than 1,633 metric tons of plastic from our Formula 1 canisters since 2008
- Committed to eliminating plastic bags from Distribution and Sales Centres, with multiple markets having already accomplished this goal. We expect to remove more than 30 million bags and 136 metric tons of plastic per year.
- Strengthened our long-standing commitment to making our workforce more inclusive and diverse by building upon existing initiatives that aim to create opportunities for diverse talent at all levels. Today, more than half of our global workforce is comprised of women, and 72% of our U.S. workforce is made up of racial or ethnic minorities.
- Provided more than 1 million nutritious meals to children and families through donations and supplementation as part of our Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative
- Supported organizations in more than 57 countries, reaching more than 220,000 people in need in 2020 through our Casa Herbalife Nutrition programs
To bring an even greater focus to our impact on people and our planet, we are pledging to create 50 million positive impacts by 2030, our 50th anniversary. We call this our 50 by 50 campaign.
50 Million Positive Impacts to Nourish People and Planet by 2030
Whether we achieve a positive impact through a meal donated or a pound of plastic removed from the waste stream, we are committed to accomplishing our 50 by 50 goal through the following initiatives and approaches:
1. Nourishing Healthy Communities
Ending hunger is one of the world's most pressing needs. Given our more than 40 years as a leader in nutrition, we have a solid foundation to help address this challenge through:
Herbalife Nutrition Foundation
The Herbalife Nutrition Foundation is devoted to improving the lives of children and communities around the world. We're working with leading local and global organizations, focusing on making nutrition and nutrition education more accessible and promoting economic empowerment, ensuring that we are nourishing communities.
Our efforts have the potential to make a lasting impact and unleash boundless opportunities for a child or adult who benefits from one of our HNF-supported programs. We’re inspired to help because of the power each person holds to bring positive change to their community that transcends generations.
Nutrition for Zero Hunger
Our Company’s global initiative to eradicate hunger is centred around providing nutrition to those in need. The effort includes partnerships with leading non-profit organizations, including World Food Program USA, Feed the Children, Asociacion Mexicana de Bancos de Alimentos (BAMX), and more. Our Nutrition for Zero Hunger partners support more than 164 million people in more than 80 countries. Since 2019, Herbalife Nutrition and the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation have donated more than US$3 million in partnerships and programs to reduce hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, including 1 million meals donated and supplemented and more than 800,000 servings of Herbalife Nutrition®-MD products donated to communities in need.
We believe we can help take hunger to zero with our global community and partners' compassion and dedication. There is no greater moment than right now – when so many are in need – to act today so that tomorrow and in the future, not one person has to worry about when their next meal will be or go to bed hungry.
2. Nourishing Economic Empowerment
Economic Empowerment
As a company focused on economic empowerment, we appreciate the unique challenges confronting many underrepresented communities when it comes to starting a business and we support organizations that provide opportunities for underserved, vulnerable and minority communities. In 2020, the Company supported more than a dozen of these organizations around the globe and is committed to continuing to work with these organizations and others so more people can be empowered to reach their full potential.
We understand and appreciate the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs and strongly believe that small businesses are an essential part of any thriving community. The top leaders of our global network of independent Distributors have developed significant skills and are uniquely suited to teach others pursuing economic opportunities about their learnings.
We plan to work with leading non-profit organizations to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs through leadership and mentorship programs that connect Herbalife Nutrition Independent Distributors with students to support education, potential business growth and career development in the critical field of entrepreneurship, a discipline our top independent Distributors excel in.
These alliances can transform entire communities and change lives by empowering people with new skills and resources that potentially could unlock economic opportunities in the fields they plan on pursuing.
3. Nourishing a Thriving Planet
Environmental Impact
To support our efforts in promoting a sustainable future, we are reducing our use of plastic, using more recycled materials, and decreasing the amount of packaging for our products. We’ve adopted a multi-level approach that includes eliminating plastic bag use from all our Distribution and Sales Centres worldwide and incorporating 25% Post-Consumer Resin in our Formula 1 canisters globally over the next two years in countries and territories where possible.
We are committed to doing our part to mitigate climate change by committing to zero net emissions by 2050 and improving efficiency in our manufacturing operations by prioritizing natural resource conservation. We intend to expand these efforts globally by looking at opportunities to reduce our overall footprint, operational waste and increase recycling efforts.
Product Stewardship
More than 5 million protein shakes made with our flagship product – Formula 1 Meal Replacement – are consumed daily. With a global supply chain that supports delivery of 120 product types across more than 95 countries and territories worldwide, our products provide an incredible opportunity to support our planet.
By working with our suppliers, we are working to incorporate environmental standards to ensure that all our ingredients are sourced ethically and responsibly. We have added sustainability requirements in our Supplier Code of Conduct, which requires suppliers to consider natural resource use, logistics and transportation, among other considerations.
We are also working to increase transparency of our vertically owned supply chain, providing easy-to-access information to consumers about where and how ingredients are sourced and manufactured.
Our Greatest Strength: Our People
Our global network of Herbalife Nutrition Independent Distributors plays a crucial role in our global responsibility initiatives:
- They support our Casa Herbalife Nutrition program
- They act as mentors, sharing their knowledge with the next generation of entrepreneurs
- With more than 72,000 Nutrition Clubs globally – more than double the number of Starbucks locations worldwide – Nutrition Club owners are working to reduce waste in the communities in which they operate
On the other side of the business, our more than 10,000 global employees also play a crucial role in our global responsibility journey:
- They are united by a passion and energy for helping others
- They are at the core of our commitment to creating opportunities for diverse talent at all levels, encourage belonging and ensuring all our policies support an environment where people of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, cultures, races, religions and sexual orientations can thrive
Transforming Lives and Communities
It is evident to us all: Sustainability is imperative to ensure success, enabling us to serve our communities better. While we will continue to work on the projects outlined in this report, we are already looking into what more we can do. We have the right motivations at the forefront of every decision. When we come together to rethink, react and respond, we have the power to inspire positive change and implement, manage and boost its impact. Our steady growth and global presence increase our responsibility to do more to provide life-changing opportunities. We are more than ready.
As we enter our fifth decade, we are focused more than ever on nourishing people, providing an economic opportunity and taking care of our planet. Because those goals lead to a healthier world — one in which everyone has access to nutritious food, equality, economic empowerment and clean water and air.
I am so proud to be part of this Company as we continue to make even more significant positive impacts in cities and towns, villages and communities. Together, we are making a difference that will change people's lives and change the world.