Agropur commits to tackling inequality by joining G7 Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) coalition

Companies joining forces are investing a combined total of over 1 billion USD in more than 50 current and future initiatives, benefiting 100 million people to date

• B4IG business coalition to be launched in connection with the G7 Leaders' Summit in Biarritz, France
• Initiative sponsored by French President Emmanuel Macron, spearheaded by Danone and coordinated by OECD
• Call to action for other companies to join first-of-a-kind B4IG coalition

LONGUEUIL, QC, Aug. 23, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - In recognition of record-high levels of inequality Agropur among a coalition of 34 leading international companies has committed to step up business action to advance human rights throughout their value chains, build inclusive workplaces and strengthen inclusion in their internal and external business ecosystems. In doing so, they will advance G7 government-led efforts to strengthen equality of opportunity, tackle regional disadvantages and fight gender discrimination.

B4IG members have a global footprint, cover a broad range of sectors, employ more than 3.5 million people around the world and have combined annual revenues of over 1 trillion USD. The B4IG coalition is the first business-led initiative of its kind, thanks to its 360° approach to tackling inequality, international dimension, and multi-stakeholder approach focused on building synergies between companies, governments and philanthropic organizations. The coalition's strategy rests on three pillars:  

• A Business Pledge Against Inequalities to advance human rights, workplace inclusion & diversity and value chain inclusiveness;
• An incubator to design or expand new inclusive business models, piloting social innovation and private-public collaboration at the micro-economic level; and
• An inclusive growth financing forum to promote innovative financing mechanisms between business, governments and philanthropic actors.

The G7 B4IG coalition will be coordinated by the OECD, whose work has shown that inequalities hamper growth and social mobility. The coalition will benefit from OECD economic and social evaluation expertise as it advances on this agenda over the next three years. Progress and lessons learned will be shared during an annual board meeting, with CEOs and key figures from public and civil society sectors, including the International Labour Organisation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. B4IG results will be shared with the Business 7 and Labour 7 to help inform their preparation and contributions to G7, with a view to foster more inclusive macro-economic growth policies.

B4IG has been presented to President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace on Friday, August 23, ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Biarritz.

Robert Coallier, CEO of Agropur said: "We are very pleased to be part of the B4IG coalition and contribute, with our unique business model based on cooperative values, to the necessary shift towards more inclusive growth. We believe we can generate positive social impacts by helping to build a stronger, more inclusive workplace and rural communities. These are important steps towards a more sustainable future, a vision that is embraced by our members and in line with our promise: "Better Dairy, Better World."

Agropur has brought Olo Foundation's 1,000 First Days of Life in the B4IG incubator. This project supports families in need to ensure babies are born healthy and to promote the development of sound eating habits in early childhood. Working hand in hand with social service providers, Agropur and Olo's partnership allows pregnant mothers to take every day, one egg, one litre of milk, one glass of orange juice and a prenatal supplement of vitamins and minerals. By providing protein, calcium and vitamins C and D, the initiative helps reduce by 1,6 times the risk of babies having a low birth weight. The nutritional intervention has the potential to reduce inequalities by improving the health of children living in economically precarious situations. To date 250,000 families have benefited from this intervention that has been active for over 20 years.

About B4IG
Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) is a global coalition, powered by the OECD, which aims to pool and strengthen efforts by private companies to reduce inequalities linked to opportunity, gender and territories, and to build greater synergies with government-led efforts. Current members include: Accenture, Agropur, AXA, BASF, BNP Paribas, Groupe BPCE, CareCentrix, Cogeco, Crédit Agricole., Danone, Edelman, Engie, GINgroup, Goldman Sachs, Henkel, Ingka Group | IKEA Retail business, JPMorgan Chase, JAB, Keurig Dr Pepper, Johnson & Johnson, Kering, Legal & General, L'Oréal, Mars Incorporated, Groupe Renault, Ricoh, Schneider Electric, Sodexo, Suez, TIAA, Unilever, Veolia, Virgin and Ylva.

About the OECD
The OECD is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. Together with governments and civil society, it establishes standards and seeks evidence-based solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. The OECD website provides further information on the B4IG initiative and on its work on inequality and inclusive growth. Additional enquiries on OECD work on inclusive growth and for the G7 should be addressed to [e-mail], to [e-mail] or to the OECD's Media Office.

About Agropur
Agropur Cooperative is a North American dairy industry leader founded in 1938. With sales of $6.7 billion in 2018, the Cooperative is a source of pride to the 3,161 members and 8,800 employees who work together in pursuit of a shared goal: "Better Dairy. Better World." Agropur processes more than 6.2 billion litres of milk per year at its 39 plants across North America and boasts an impressive roster of respected brands and products, including Natrel, OKA, iÖGO, biPro, Agropur Grand Cheddar, Olympic, Farmers, Island Farms and Québon. Agropur's head office is certified LEED Silver. agropur.com

SOURCE Agropur

For further information: Véronique Boileau, Vice-President, Communications, Agropur Cooperative, T: 450-878-1844, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.agropur.com/fr/