CSR In Food And Beverage Industry

“A brilliant VP offended a Japanese client without realizing it.” The meeting room in Tokyo was a masterpiece of minimalism—soft tatami mats, the faint scent of green tea, walls so silent you could hear the gentle hum of the air conditioner. The Vice President, sharp suit, confident smile, walked in ready to impress. His presentation was flawless, numbers airtight, strategy compelling. But then came the smallest of gestures—the moment that shifted everything. He pulled out his business card… and handed it to the Japanese client with one hand. The client froze. His lips curved into a polite smile, but his eyes flickered. He accepted the card quickly, almost stiffly. A silence, subtle but heavy, filled the room. The VP thought nothing of it. But what he didn’t know was this: in Japanese culture, a business card isn’t just paper. It’s an extension of the person. Offering it casually, with one hand, is seen as careless—even disrespectful. By the end of the meeting, the energy had shifted. The strategy was strong, but the connection was fractured. Later, over coffee, the VP turned to me and said quietly: “I don’t get it. The meeting started well… why did it feel like I lost them halfway?” That was his vulnerability—brilliance in business, but blind spots in culture. So, I stepped in. I trained him and his leadership team on cross-cultural etiquette—the invisible codes that make or break global deals. • In Japan: exchange business cards with both hands, take a moment to read the card, and treat it with respect. • In the Middle East: never use your left hand for greetings. • In Europe: being two minutes late might be forgiven in Paris, but never in Zurich. These aren’t trivial details. They are currencies of respect. The next time he met the client, he bowed slightly, held the business card with both hands, and said: “It’s an honor to work with you.” The client’s smile was different this time—warm, genuine, approving. The deal, once slipping away, was back on track. 🌟 Lesson: In a global world, etiquette is not optional—it’s currency. You can have the best strategy, the sharpest numbers, the brightest slides—but if you don’t understand the human and cultural nuances, you’ll lose the room before you know it. Great leaders don’t just speak the language of business. They speak the language of respect. #CrossCulturalCommunication #ExecutivePresence #SoftSkills #GlobalLeadership #Fortune500 #CulturalIntelligence #Boardroom #BusinessEtiquette #LeadershipDevelopment #Respect

Reading food labels is an important skill for making informed food choices. Start by looking at the serving size, which tells you how much of the product the nutrition information refers to. The number of servings per container is also helpful to understand how much you're actually eating. Next, check the calories per serving to manage your energy intake. The nutrients section lists the amounts of fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, and protein. Pay attention to the % Daily Value, which shows how much a nutrient in a serving contributes to a daily diet based on a 2,000-calorie average. Aim for more fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and limit saturated fat, trans fat, added sugars, and sodium. Finally, read the ingredients list to know what’s in the product—ingredients are listed in order of quantity, from highest to lowest. Understanding labels helps you compare products and choose options that align with your health goals. Food labels are regulated by laws and legislation to ensure consumers receive accurate and clear information about the products they consume. In many countries, food labeling laws are enforced by government bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the European Union. These regulations require manufacturers to include specific details such as nutrition facts, ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and expiration dates. Labels must not be misleading, and any health claims made must be scientifically proven and approved. For example, if a product claims to be "low fat" or "high in fiber," it must meet legally defined criteria. Additionally, allergens like peanuts, milk, soy, and gluten must be clearly declared to protect individuals with food sensitivities. These labeling laws are designed to promote transparency, support public health, and allow consumers to make informed dietary choices. #FoodLabels, #ReadTheLabel, and #NutritionFacts encourage awareness about what goes into the food we eat. Laws and regulations support this transparency, and hashtags such as #FoodRegulations, #ConsumerRights, and #FoodSafety highlight the importance of legal standards in labeling. For those focused on healthy living, #EatSmart, #HealthyChoices, and #KnowWhatYouEat are commonly used to promote mindful eating

⁉️ Is putting a price on carbon the most effective instruments to unlock capital for climate investments AND reduce and remove carbon? 🌐 In 2023 global carbon pricing revenues topped a previous record of $100 Billion. ((While that is great news for countries - its still FAR from the many trillions we need)) 🌱 There are now 75 carbon pricing instruments in operation worldwide. Over half of the collected revenue was used to fund climate and nature-related programs. 📈 In the coming years, 34% of global emissions are expected to be covered by some type of carbon pricing. ⁉️ What does 'a price on carbon' mean? 💵 Putting a price on carbon is an effective way to make the polluter pay for its damage. 🫱🏻 The two most common types are: A carbon tax and an Emissions Trading System. Tell me more? 💶 A carbon tax is a fee on emissions to increase their cost and incentivize reductions. 🌏 There are currently 27 countries with a carbon tax implemented: Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, the European Union (27 countries), Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, the UK, and Ukraine. What about the ETS? 🤝🏻 An ETS, or Emissions Trading System, is a market-based policy that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting allowed emissions and enabling trading to encourage cost-efficient action. ⏬ It is normally based on a “cap and trade” principle. The cap refers to the limit set on the total amount of GHG that can be emitted by installations and operators covered under the scope of the system. To be effective, the cap is reduced annually, ensuring that overall emissions decrease over time. 🔂 While allowances are predominantly sold in auctions, companies receive some allowances for free. Companies may also trade allowances among themselves as needed. Give me an example? 🇪🇺 The #EUETS launched in 2005, and is the world’s first carbon market and among the largest ones globally. It helps bring overall #EU emissions down while generating revenues to finance the green transition. ⚡ It covers #emissions from the electricity and heat generation, industrial manufacturing and #aviation sectors - which account for roughly 40% of total GHG emissions in the EU. In 2024 it started covering emissions from maritime #transport. It operates in all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and is linked to the Swiss ETS (since 2020). And is it working? ..by 2023, the EU ETS has helped bring down emissions from EU power and #industry plants by ~ 47%, compared to 2005 levels. 👩🏻🔧 Personal opinion is that allowances should reduce faster and prices be pushed up. In addition, coordination with forthcoming #netzero strategies will be important to make these instruments work in tandem. 💡 Keep an eye out for reports and discussions in Baku around potential and impact of carbon pricing - like the The World Bank Group PMI report below! Jennifer Sara Hania Dawood

GHG Mitigation Hierarchy 🌎 The GHG Mitigation Hierarchy provides a structured framework for addressing greenhouse gas emissions. It prioritizes actions based on their impact, from eliminating emissions at the source to compensating for unavoidable emissions. This approach offers clarity for organizations and industries striving to meet sustainability goals. The first level, Eliminate, focuses on innovating processes and products that inherently avoid greenhouse gas emissions. This proactive approach is the most effective way to tackle climate change by preventing emissions before they occur. Reduce emphasizes improving operational efficiency to lower the amount of emissions produced by existing systems. By optimizing processes, businesses can achieve significant reductions in their carbon footprint. Substitute encourages the replacement of high-carbon options with lower-carbon alternatives. This transition is crucial in reducing overall emissions, particularly in industries that rely on carbon-intensive materials and processes. Compensate involves investing in environmental projects to offset the impact of remaining emissions. While not a substitute for direct action, compensation plays a vital role in balancing out emissions that cannot be eliminated or reduced. The hierarchy offers a clear, actionable pathway for addressing greenhouse gas emissions. By following this structure, industries can make measurable progress toward sustainability targets and contribute to global climate efforts. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #sdgs #strategy

🐖🐄 Here's something you probably didn't know about commercial PIG and COW farming in Sweden.    📝We have just released our new animal welfare requirements in our Supplier code of conduct, IWAY, so that’s why we in the IKEA Responsible sourcing council spent one day immersing ourselves in how good looks like at responsibly managed farms.     🍀How to assure the natural behavior of pigs and cows can be taken in consideration in commercial farm environments. No profylax use of antibiotics, more space, secure nutritious feed, respect to animals sleeping cycles, herd behavior and much more.     🧑🌾 Sweden is one of the most advanced countries when it comes to animal welfare so we were happy to visit Amundsgård pig farm and Våxtorp lantbruk dairy farm and learn from the passionate, knowledgeable and innovative farmers who showed us their farms and practices with much pride, and exquisitely guided by our own animal welfare expert ⭐️ Filippa Blomander.     Main take aways:   ✅ It is possible to combine good animal welfare with efficiency and top businessman ship and care for people & planet as well   ✅ Farming is a family business and knowledge is passed from generation to generation and the farming practices develop and are modernized by each generation   ✅ The care and love for the animals, understanding of the animals and being able to read the animals signals makes all the difference.   With the new requirements in place now starts the hard work implementing them across the world developing roadmaps and actions needed. This will sometimes mean transforming entire industries. To succeed we need to work together with other brands, NGOs, legislators, farmers, academia and other experts.  The work continues! Mirza Rasidovic, Kajsa Gihan, Linus Björkman, Malin Folkesson, Ulf Johansson, Maria Johansson, Angela Billings   #animalwelfare #responsiblesourcing #peopleandplanet

🔎 Understanding HACCP, TACCP, and VACCP: A Comprehensive Approach to Food Safety, Defense & Integrity In today's dynamic food industry, focusing solely on preventing unintentional contamination is not enough. Companies must also prepare for intentional threats and economically motivated fraud. That’s where HACCP, TACCP, and VACCP come into play—each serving a unique and essential purpose in a robust Food Safety Management System (FSMS). 📌 HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is the cornerstone of food safety, designed to identify and control unintentional hazards—such as microbial, chemical, or physical contaminants—through preventive measures at key points in production. 📌 TACCP (Threat Assessment and Critical Control Points) shifts the focus to intentional harm—such as sabotage, bioterrorism, or malicious contamination. It's a proactive food defense tool, ensuring that vulnerabilities in the supply chain are assessed and mitigated. 📌 VACCP (Vulnerability Assessment and Critical Control Points) addresses economically motivated food fraud, including adulteration, substitution, and mislabeling. It helps companies assess vulnerabilities where fraud might occur and build traceability, transparency, and authenticity into their processes. Together, these three frameworks provide a 360° approach to food protection—from farm to fork. ✅ Implementing all three not only ensures compliance with global standards (e.g., BRC, SQF, IFS, FSMA, Codex) but also builds consumer trust, strengthens brand reputation, and fosters a culture of food integrity. 📊 The visual below offers a simplified comparison to help teams and stakeholders understand the key differences and how each system complements the other. #HACCP #TACCP #VACCP #FoodSafety #FoodDefense #FoodFraud #FSMS #GMP #RiskManagement #FoodIndustry #SupplyChainIntegrity #SafeFood #BRCGS #SQF #IFS #Codex #FSSC22000 #Compliance #FoodQuality #QualityAssurance #FoodSecurity

Do you lead direct reports across multiple countries? Do you have to participate in cross-functional interactions across continents? Understanding, honouring, and being mindful of cultural nuances and differences is crucial to building a collaborative and harmonious workplace. Amongst the numerous cross-cultural leadership challenges that come up  frequently in coaching conversations, three stand out: ➤ Communication barriers - Language, tone, and manner of expression. ➤ Respecting cultural norms - Navigating without offending or alienating. ➤ Building trust across cultures - Establishing trust uniformly. Here are five questions to reflect upon for greater awareness and insights - ⭐︎ What can help me understand the cultural backgrounds of my teams? ⭐︎ How do I inspire them in a meaningful and relevant way? ⭐︎ What’s important to them, and how can I honour that? ⭐︎ What must I be mindful of in my communication and interactions? ⭐︎ How can I sensitively resolve conflicts with and amongst them? Building trust and resonance can be quicker when you drop your assumptions and embrace open communication, empathy, and active listening. Recognise that different cultures may have varying preferences for recognition, e.g., Public acknowledgement vs. Private praise. Understanding the nuances and tailoring your appreciation can get teams to receive it well and open up, making it easier to know and lead them. Demonstrate emotional intelligence, honour their unique cultural values and treat them with respect and dignity so they feel safe and cared for. Lastly, consider decision-making norms in different cultures, e.g., Hierarchical vs. Collaborative, while articulating your vision and seeking team inputs to co-create regional and global goals. ➡️ What else can leaders do to manage cross-cultural teams effectively?     Do share your thoughts. #Culture #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching

8 Tips to work effectively with Chinese partners🤝 Avoid direct "No" 🚫: in Chinese culture (中国文化), a direct "no" is rarely expressed. This can be perplexing, as it's difficult for those accustomed to direct communication to gauge what Chinese colleagues are thinking or feeling. Embrace adaptation 🔄: be prepared for 'permanent adjustments' (永久性调整) in decision-making. Unlike the French approach of sticking with a solution once implemented, the Chinese environment thrives on adaptability. Understand meeting dynamics 📅: meetings in China can seem unstructured, with discussions going in all directions without a clear agenda. This approach can delay results but is rooted in a broader strategy of consensus-building. Action over debate 💨: Chinese teams prioritize action (行动) over lengthy debates. They embrace quick actions and solutions through experimentation, a stark contrast to the French preference for thorough discussion before action. Consensual decision-making 🤝: decision-making tends to be more consensual (共识), avoiding direct confrontation. Respect for hierarchy (尊重等级) is paramount, and the ultimate decision often rests with the boss, aligning with a culture that values consensus over conflict. Planning challenges 📈: planning can be more fluid in China, with a remarkable ability to mobilize resources last minute (临时动员). Building trust is crucial to navigating this dynamic and ensuring smooth collaboration. Resolve conflicts with respect 🕊️: "saving face" (面子) is critical. When conflicts arise, focus on facts and evidence, and approach resolution calmly to maintain dignity for all parties involved. Cultivate humility 🌱: despite a rich cultural heritage, humility (谦虚) remains a core value. Demonstrating restraint and a humble spirit, even in the face of compliments, resonates deeply within Chinese culture. Navigating the nuances of Chinese business and cultural practices requires patience, understanding, and adaptability. Embracing these principles can enhance collaboration and foster successful cross-cultural partnerships. #China #Business #Culture 🌏✨

Having over 15 years of experience in insurtech/fintech, I have seen the insurance sector evolve and go from being a second-thought product to a mainstream powerhouse. Amongst the plethora of changes, one of the recent ones I am particularly bullish on is the inclusion of employee wellness programs and their impact on healthcare costs incurred by businesses. Aon India Primary Care Benefits Report 2023 mapped 250 companies and reported that eight out of ten organizations had increased their spending on employee wellbeing in 2023 compared to 2019. In times when work-life balance has become a priority for workforces, investing in employee wellness programs can reap multiple benefits for your organization. Employee wellness programs are rapidly taking center stage as they are seen as the perfect catalyst to address two significant vexing concerns for organizations - employee wellness and towering healthcare costs. If you are able to manage group healthcare costs through effective wellness programs, it is a win-win situation for both, as it has nothing to do with providing less to your employees. Instead, it signifies your dedication towards improving their lives without overburdening them. Why do employee wellness programs matter? ● These programs improve individual health behaviours and encourage them to manage stress more effectively. ● These are curated to improve long-term health by addressing chronic issues. ● With employees managing their health better, these contribute to reduced healthcare costs for the organizations, which offsets the temporary increase in spending. But how would you know that the programs are beneficial from a business standpoint? For starters, you can compare the program’s cost to the savings generated, i.e. total savings minus the expenses incurred. If you save INR 10,00,000 annually in group healthcare costs and have spent INR 5,00,000 on employee wellness programs, the ROI would be 200% (INR 10 lakh/INR 5 lakh * 100). Calculating the ROI of these programs depends on multiple factors. For example, your workforce’s demographics and average age can significantly impact the returns. If an organization has a large number of employees with health-related issues, the savings can be greater compared to their counterparts. Companies with a supportive work culture will likely reap more rewards from their employee wellness programs. At times, when employee healthcare has become a significant topic of discussion for employers, finding the perfect wellness program providers can be a task because of its underdeveloped nature. It is why business aggregators, such as Policybazaar For Business , have started prioritizing listing plans that offer employee wellness as a cover. These are created by expert partners and customizable to meet your specific corporate needs. #employeehealthandwellness #grouphealthinsurance #preventivehealthcare #PolicybazaarforBusiness

A New Chapter in UAE Climate Action In a few days, Federal Decree-Law No. (11) of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects will come into effect. This marks a significant step in the UAE’s commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development. The law establishes a comprehensive framework focusing on: ✅ Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) ✅ Enhancing resilience to climate risks (adaptation) ✅ Promoting innovation in low-carbon technologies ✅ Facilitating data sharing and transparency ✅ Integrating sustainability into national development strategies For companies operating in the UAE, this is not just a legal obligation, it’s a strategic opportunity.  It's time to align your operations with the nation’s climate ambitions. How can companies prepare? 🔹 Develop a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory to understand emissions profiles 🔹 Conduct climate risk assessments across operations and supply chains 🔹 Set measurable decarbonisation targets and implement actionable strategies 🔹 Invest in training and capacity building to embed climate awareness throughout the organisation Non-compliance may result in financial penalties, underscoring the importance of proactive planning and robust internal governance. This is a pivotal moment for organisations to lead with purpose, clarity, and accountability. The transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy is underway, and those who act decisively will be best positioned for success. For more details about the federal decree, visit: https://lnkd.in/dkdRsbSr