2022 Communication on Progress

China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited

Published date

June 22, 2022

No. of questions

63

Supplemental files

CEO Statement

Signed

  • Governance

    Policies and Responsibilities

    1. Does the Board / highest governance body or most senior executive of the company:

    2. Does the company have a publicly stated commitment regarding the following sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we plan to have a commitment within 2 years

    Yes, and the commitment is focused on our own operations

    Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain

    Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain along with communities and society

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    3. Does the company have in place a code of conduct regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we plan to have a code of conduct within two years

    Yes, focused on employee conduct

    Yes, focused on employees and suppliers

    Yes, focused on employees, suppliers, and other business relationships

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    4. Has the company appointed an individual or group responsible for each of the following sustainability topics?

    No one is specifically responsible for this topic

    Yes, with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information, limited decision-making authority)

    Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)

    Yes, with direct influence of some outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes one or more senior manager with decision making rights

    Yes, with direct influence at the highest levels of the organization (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes most senior members of organization)

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    5. Does the company have a formal structure(s) (such as a cross-functional committee) to address each of the following sustainability topics?

    No formal structure

    Yes, and with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information necessary to understand risks, poor representation from relevant departments or functions)

    Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of some functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)

    Yes, with direct influence on some outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, it involves one or more members of senior management)

    Yes, and with direct influence at the highest level of the organization (e.g., full access to relevant information, it involves members at highest level of organization)

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Prevention

    6. Does the company have a process or processes to assess risk?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years

    Yes, related to our own operations

    Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    6.1. During the assessment of risk, which business relationships are reviewed?

    A few suppliers or business relationships [approximately less than 25 %]

    Several suppliers / business relationships (i.e., first tier or other high priority) [approx. 25 - 50 %]

    Most suppliers / relevant business relationships [approx. 51 - 99 %]

    All suppliers / relevant business relationships outside the supply chain

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    7. Does the company have a due diligence process through which it identifies, prevents, mitigates, and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts on sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years

    Yes, related to our own operations

    Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    7.1. During the due diligence process, which business relationships are reviewed?

    A few suppliers or business relationships [approximately less than 25 %]

    Several suppliers / business relationships (i.e., first tier or other high priority) [approx. 25 - 50 %]

    Most suppliers / relevant business relationships [approx. 51 - 99 %]

    All suppliers / relevant business relationships outside the supply chain

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    Concerns and grievance mechanisms

    8. Are there any processes through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct related to human rights, labour rights, environment, or anti-corruption?

    8.1. Please provide additional detail regarding the process(es) the company has through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct.

    No

    Yes

    Is the process communicated to all employees/workers in local languages?

    Is the process available to non-employees (e.g., contractors, vendors, suppliers)?

    Is the process confidential (e.g., whistleblowing process)?

    Are there processes in place to avoid retaliation?

    Can concerns be raised about suppliers or other business relationships (e.g., clients, partners, etc.)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    9. Does the company provide or enable access to effective remedy to right holders / stakeholders where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact?

    No process to enable remedy to stakeholders

    Remedy available to some stakeholders (i.e., some geographies, employees only)

    Remedy is available to all affected stakeholders

    Remedy is available to all stakeholders, and suppliers are expected to have similar policies

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Lessons

    10. How does the company capture lessons regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

    No lessons are regularly captured

    Conducts root cause analyses/investigation of major incidents

    Conducts root cause analyses/investigation and changes organizational policies, processes, and practices accordingly

    Systematically conducts root cause analyses/investigation and leverages learnings to influence both internal and external affairs

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Executive Pay

    11. Is executive pay linked to performance on one or more of the following sustainability topics?

    No, and we have no intention to change

    No, but we plan to within two years

    Yes

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Board Composition

    12. Percentage of individuals within the company’s Board / highest governance body by:

    Number/Percentage

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total number of board members (#)

    9

    Male (%)

    89

    Female (%)

    11

    Non-binary (%)

    0

    Under 30 years old (%)

    0

    30-50 years old (%)

    12

    Above 50 years old (%)

    88

    From minority or vulnerable groups (%)

    0

    Executive (%)

    33

    Independent (%)

    33

    13. Do you produce sustainability reporting according to:

    Data Assurance

    14. Is the information disclosed in this questionnaire assured by a third-party?

  • Human Rights

    Materiality / Saliency

    1. Which of the following has the company identified as material human rights issues connected with its operations and/or value chain, whether based on their salience (i.e., the most severe potential negative impacts on people) or another basis?

    Response

    8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the human rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Mengniu strictly abides by the Labour Law of the People's Republic of China, the Labour Contract Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations, and has established and improved internal employment rules and regulations such as the Recruitment Management Measures , the Remuneration Management Measures , the Welfare Management Measures and the Management Manual on Performance System , which provide comprehensive employment, remuneration and welfare guarantee for employees. The Company follows all internationally recognised human rights policies as set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Bill of Human Rights and the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, strives to create a diverse and inclusive environment and treats employees of different ethnicities, nationalities, genders, religious beliefs, ages, sexual orientation, political affiliation and marital status equally in respect of employment, treatment, promotion, etc., firmly prohibits the employment and use of child labour and forced labour, and respects and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of all employees.

  • Labour

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following labour rights principles?

    No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

    No, but we plan to in the next two years

    Yes, included within a broader policy

    Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    2021

    Child labour

    2021

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    2021

    Occupational safety and health

    2021

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    2021

    1.1. For each labour rights policy, is it:

    Aligned with international labour standards?

    Publicly available?

    Approved at most senior level of the company?

    Applied to the company’s own operations?

    Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?

    Developed involving labour rights expertise from inside and outside the company?

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    Prevention

    2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following labour rights issues?

    No engagement on this topic

    To better understand the risks/ impacts in question

    To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks /impacts in question

    To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this labour rights issue?

    Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce

    Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)

    Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan

    Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders, in particular workers' organizations, to address the issue

    Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    No action within reporting period

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    4. Who receives training for the following labour rights issues?

    No training provided

    Select employees

    All employees

    Contractors

    Direct suppliers of the organization

    Indirect suppliers of the organization

    Other – such as partners, clients, etc.

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    5. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following labour rights issues?

    No monitoring of progress

    Review issues on ad-hoc basis

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    Performance

    6. What is the percentage of employees covered under collective bargaining agreements?

    Percent of employees (%)

    Unknown

    Employees covered under collective bargaining (%)

    100

    7. What is the percentage of employees in a trade union or other workers' organization?

    Percent of employees (%)

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Employees in a trade union or on a worker committee (%)

    0.5

    8. In the course of the reporting period, what was the percentage of women in:

    Percent of women (%)

    Unknown

    Senior leadership level position

    25

    Non-executive board

    0

    9. What was the average ratio of the basic salary and remuneration of women to men (comparing jobs of equal value) during the reporting period?

    Salary ratio (%)

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Women / Men (%)

    10. In the course of the reporting period, how frequently were workers injured (injuries per hour worked)?

    Frequency of injury

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Frequency of injury

    11. In the course of the reporting period, what was the company’s incident rate?

    Incident rate

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Incident rate

    Response and Reporting

    12. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact associated with the following labour rights issues?

    Yes

    No

    Choose to not disclose

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    13. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the labour rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    As of 2021, Mengniu revised the Code of Conduct for Suppliers (COC) which requires all the partners to sign and comply with the rules in respect of environmental protection, health and safety, labour rights and business ethics. Mengniu has formulated the Mengniu Responsibility Supply Chain ESG Risk List, incorporated the supply chain ESG management content into bidding documents, evaluation and assessment, and other control links, and regularly carried out assessment and identification of the environment, health and safety, labour rights and ethics risks of the supply chain.

  • Environment

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have a formal policy on the following environmental topics?

    No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

    No, but we plan to in the next two years

    Yes, included within a broader policy

    Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    2021

    Water

    2021

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    2021

    Air Pollution

    2021

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    2021

    Energy & Resource Use

    2021

    1.1. For each environmental policy, is it:

    Aligned with international environmental standards?

    Publicly available?

    Approved at most senior level of the company?

    Applied to the company’s own operations?

    Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?

    Developed involving environmental expertise from inside and outside the company?

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Prevention

    2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following environmental issues?

    No engagement on this topic

    To better understand the risks/ impacts in question

    To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks/ impacts in question

    To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with these environmental topics?

    Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce

    Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)

    Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan

    Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders to address the issue

    Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    No action within reporting period

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    4. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following environmental topics?

    No monitoring of progress

    Review issues on ad-hoc basis

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    4.1. For each environmental topic in which the company sets timebound goals / targets, what kind of targets has the company set?

    Description of targets (e.g., what is the target, absolute vs. intensity, externally verified, on track, etc.)

    Climate Action

    1.To control carbon emission intensity per tonne of dairy product within 165 kgCO2e/t in 2025; 2.To achieve the peaking of absolut e value of Scope 1 and 2 carbon emission, and control the carbon emission intensity per tonne of dairy product within 160 kgCO2e/t in 2030; 3.To achieve the carbon neutrality of Scope 1,2 and 3 in 2050.

    Energy & Resource Use

    Compliance with laws and regulations.

    Water

    To reduce water usage per ton of dairy product production by 6% in 2025 compared to 2020.

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Compliance with laws and regulations.

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Compliance with laws and regulations.

    Oceans

    4.2. For each environmental topic in which the company sets timebound goals / targets, how is progress against target / goal tracked?

    Progress is reviewed against goals annually or more frequently

    Progress is reported internally to the most senior level

    Progress is reported externally

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Energy & Resource Use

    Water

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Oceans

    5. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy for any actual impacts associated with the following environmental issue(s)?

    Yes

    No

    Choose to not disclose

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Climate Action

    6. What were the company’s gross global greenhouse gas emissions for the reporting period?

    Scope 1 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    Scope 2 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    Scope 3 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    6.1. Which Scope 3 categories are included in the organization’s scope 3 emissions calculation?

    7. What percentage of the company's revenue was invested in R&D of low-carbon products/services during this reporting period?

    Percent of revenue (%)

    8. Has the organization acted to support climate change adaptation and resilience?

    Energy / Resource Use

    9. Please report the company's renewable energy consumption as a percentage of total energy consumption in the reporting period.

    % of total energy consumption

    Technology

    10. What percent of the company's revenue came from environmentally friendly products / services during this reporting period?

    Percent of total revenue (%)

    Sector-specific Questions

    11. Which sector(s) does the company operate in? If diversified, choose top 3 by revenue.

    Sector-specific: Water

    12. Please provide details regarding the company's water withdrawal and consumption (own operations) during the reporting period.

    Water withdrawal (volume of water in megaliters):

    Mega-liters

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total

    Groundwater:

    Surface water:

    Rainwater:

    Wastewater:

    Percentage of water withdrawn in regions with high or extremely high water stress (%)

    Water consumption (volume of water in megaliters):

    Mega-liters

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total

    28643224.8

    Groundwater:

    Surface water:

    Rainwater:

    Wastewater:

    Percentage of water consumed in regions with high or extremely high water stress (%)

    13. Please provide details about the company’s water intensity of products in regions with high or extremely high water stress.

    Water intensity of products (cubic meter/$):

    Sector-specific: Forest, biodiversity, and land use

    14. Please report the number and area (in hectares) of sites owned, leased, or managed by the company in or adjacent to protected areas and/or key biodiversity areas (KBA).

    Number

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Sites

    Hectares

    15. What area (in hectares) of natural ecosystems was converted during the reporting period in areas owned, leased, or managed by the company?

    Conversion of natural resources (hectares)

    16. Is the company supporting or implementing project(s) focused on ecosystem restoration and protection?

    No

    No, but we plan to in the next 2 years

    Yes

    Forest ecosystem restoration

    Other ecosystem restoration

    273.33 million square meters

    Reforestation

    Natural regeneration

    Agroforestry

    Set-aside land

    Biodiversity offsetting

    Other (please specify in text box)

    Optional comment
    As at the end of 2021, Shengmu, a subsidiary of Mengniu has planted more than 97 million trees suited for sandy soils in the Ulan Buh Desert, afforested 410,000 mu (about 273.33 million square meters) of desert area and increased the precipitation by 30.36% from 80 mm/year to 320 mm/year. The influenced area of the desert was reduced by 40%- 45% compared with that in 1980s, the amount of sand and dust was reduced by 80%- 90% and the average wind speed was reduced by 21.42%.

    Overall Environment

    21. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the environment principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Mengniu Dairy Company integrates industrial ecological forces, unites plastic raw material suppliers, packaging manufacturers, recyclers and other industrial chain parties to realize the recycling of plastic packaging for the first time in the China food industry, and fully applies post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR) (the content of recycled materials reaches 13% to 24%) as product packaging films. Through using PCR as product outer packaging film, we can recycle the milk pail after consumption and reuse it into the outer packaging film of dairy products, thus realizing the closed-loop application of dairy packaging for the first time in the dairy industry. Commercial application of recycling in GO Chang lactic acid bacteria beverage, Youyi C and other products has achieved thinning, carbon reduction, cost reduction without reducing performance, and won the GOLD medal of IPIF recycling scheme.

  • Anti-corruption

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have an anti-corruption compliance programme?

    2021

    2. Does your company have policies and recommendations for employees on how to act in case of doubt and/or in situations that may represent a conflict of interest, e.g. with regard to gifts and hospitality, donations, sponsorship, or interactions with public officials?

    Prevention

    3. Who receives training on anti-corruption and integrity?

    3.1. How often is such training provided?

    One time only

    Every year

    Every two or more years

    We do not collect this data

    All employees

    Select employees

    Contractors

    Direct suppliers of the organization

    Other – such as partners, clients, etc.

    Indirect suppliers of the organization

    4. Does the company monitor its anti-corruption compliance programme?

    In 2021, the Company established open and diverse complaint reporting channel and has arranged for the establishment of a group complaint and reporting mechanism by publishing complaints and reports on the Company's official website, WeChat public account, Sunshine Agreement , customer conferences, and the day- to- day internal warning education on integrity, and the reporting mechanism of typical cases in disciplinary inspection.

    Response and Reporting

    5. Please report the company's total number and nature of incidents of corruption during the reporting year.

    Number of incident(s)

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Confirmed during the current year, but related to previous years

    1
    corruption

    Confirmed during the current year, and related to this year

    0
    none

    6. Within the reporting period, what measures has the company taken to address suspected incidents of corruption independently or in response to a dispute or investigation by a government regulator?

    7. Does your company engage in Collective Action against corruption?

    8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the anti-corruption principle, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    In 2021, the Company formulated the Compliance Code of Conduct of Business Partners, which stipulates business ethics, fair competition, anti- monopoly, conflicts of interest, bidding and labor protection, and comprehensively promotes anti- corruption procurement. In 2021, Mengniu organised 12 training sessions for more than 658 suppliers on quality culture, ESG management, corporate culture and anti- corruption initiatives.