Sustainability

Let's head toward a green approach

FMCG is getting greener

Consumer awareness of sustainability is taking roots over the years, strongly engraving purchasing habits and behaviors. 
Just considering the 2018 Nielsen report comparing the performance of sustainability claims in the U.S. across three product categories in FMCG, in one year: sales of "all natural" or "organic" goods have grown 2X faster than their category.

At a global level, the overall shopper sentiment is clear:

  • 81% of them think that it is “extremely” or “very” important that companies implement programs to improve the environment
  • 30% of them would pay a premium price for products that deliver on socially responsible claims
     
FMCG is getting greener
Consumers' sustainable consciousness

Consumers' sustainable consciousness

Consumers would like to use their spending power to effect the change they want to see, preferring manufacturers that:

  • demonstrate that they are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact
  • are transparent about raw materials they use
  • share their environmental policies

Companies have therefore a key role because, although people are committed to make a difference, they demand an increasing effort on pressing environmental challenges.
 

Sustainable Development Goals

To respond to this call to action, governing bodies worldwide are implementing precise directives on how to reduce waste and better protect the environment, through concrete policies and legislative acts.

At a cross-border level, the United Nations have drawn up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, nudging consumers and organizations toward a green behavior, now and into the future.

At its heart, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point out the action areas for manufacturers to create sustainable strategic plans.
 

SDG
GDM Guidelines

GDM Guidelines

In the Disposable Hygiene industry, the spotlight is therefore on manufacturers: taking the SDGs as guidelines, we have identified 5 intervention areas to reduce the production impact on the environment while generating value through considerable savings: 

SDG 12 - “Responsible consumption and production”
Waste reduction
Raw materials

SDG 13 & 15 - “Climate action”, “Life on land”
Energy saving
Space management – logistics
Recycle
 

Tackling the sustainability challenge

As 2030 approaches and commitment to environmental responsibility becomes more urgent, we sensed it was time to add a further intervention area to our plan of actions towards sustainability: SDG7 – Affordable and clean energy.

Renewable energy has become a vital driver in green strategy, and we too felt the urge to embrace a new challenge: reducing our carbon footprint. GDM’s rooftops are now populated with over 4,700 PV panels able to reduce our CO2 emissions by up to more than 1,300 tons per year, ensuring our headquarters with fully renewable-derived energy supply. 

Solar panels on GDM's rooftop

How are we turning this into reality? Let’s find it out together!