F or many, the act of eating and drinking may be a simple daily routine, but its significance goes beyond what’s on the menu. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Zero Hunger is deeply entwined with sufficient nutrition as much as the provision of food, serving as the foundation for healthy communities.
Through a presence that reaches 120 countries, Danone is one of the many stakeholders committed to ensuring a healthier and more sustainable approach towards eating and drinking. Its “One Planet One Health” vision stands as a testament to the B Corp-certified company’s belief that humanity is deeply linked with Earth itself.
As a staple of Indonesian households for seven decades, Danone Indonesia continues to further advance its global mission to ensure healthiness across the archipelago through two business units: Danone Waters and Danone Specialized Nutritions. Its endeavors to provide high-quality domestic offerings, with 24 factories employing more than 12,500 workers, is supported by dedicated research centers in Indonesia, the Danone Specialized Nutrition (SN) Indonesia Research & Innovation (R&I) Center and Tirta Lab Analysis Center in Jakarta.
Danone Indonesia CEO Laurent Boissier said the company is committed to improving the health of the Indonesian people through quality products, and the two research centers reflect Danone's commitment and dedication to health through food by ensuring that every product meets strict quality and safety standards.
“In addition, Danone Indonesia optimizes its international network and expertise, with a special focus on science and technology, so as to increase its capabilities in creating high quality products.”
Danone’s research and development network includes the Danone Research & Innovation Paris-Saclay facility in France. Officially opened in 2023, Danone’s largest global research center employs more than 550 biotechnology researchers, consumer behavior experts as well as fermentation, nutrition and health professionals.
Laurent noted that direct access to one of the best research centers in the world helps Danone Indonesia carry out collaborative efforts with researchers and academics to advance research in the fields of nutrition, hydration, immunity, microbiota, fermentation, and animal and vegetable protein.
Laurent Boissier, Danone Indonesia CEO
This in turn allows Danone Indonesia to contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge to encourage the development of scientific research and human resources. Access to global networks and capabilities based on advanced science and technology also supports Danone Indonesia in producing environmentally friendly products favored by consumers to make a positive contribution to society and environmental sustainability,” he added.
Beyond the products regularly consumed daily by Indonesians, Danone Indonesia’s health commitments are also manifested through sustainable initiatives. The company seeks to integrate positive impacts into its business structure, management practices and performance indicators to be able to hold its performance and contributions accountable transparently.
Under the Danone Specialized Nutrition unit, Danone Indonesia’s commitment is supported by the Danone Nutricia Research-Sarihusada Research & Innovation (R&I) Center, located at the in Yogyakarta. One of the innovation is also focusing on anemia prevention by formulating the combination of iron and vitamin C to reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia. Danone Indonesia has conducted more than 86 research related to how nutrition can change lives, especially for mothers and children, through eight pillar initiatives in addressing diseases related to malnutrition, anemia, prematurity, stunting, allergies and immunity, digestive health, healthy aging and lactation. To facilitate the diagnosing of growth and development as well as screening for nutrition-related diseases, Danone Indonesia builds on technology to help parents in early detection of nutrition-related health problems during the first 1,000 days of life based on scientific research.
Through Danone Waters, the company is committed to provide high quality drinking water to support healthy hydration for the Indonesian people and brings positive impact for the community and environment.Danone’s bottled water products are 100 percent mineral water from selected mountains with protected springs, which has gone through a thorough checking process with more than 600 physical, chemical and microbiological parameters through nine selection criteria, five stages and a minimum of one year of research. Due to the natural mineral content and no added flavorings, the water retains a fresh and cool taste when drunk, even at room temperature without refrigerating. The company also implements a comprehensive integrated system during the packaging process, which goes through 400 quality test stages before being distributed to the public. In an effort to ensure that all its products are safe and maintain their mineral content, Danone Indonesia consistently carries out periodic checks at Tirta Lab, which has been accredited by the National Accreditation Committee (KAN) by implementing 49 parameters and covering more than 90 percent of SNI parameters in it. At the same time, Danone Indonesia actively collaborates with a range of institutions such as the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Intertek, TUV NORD, Indorama and Namasindo to further develop and hone its methods.
Adhering to its commitment to provide health to as many people as possible through quality products and making positive contributions to the environment and society, Danone Indonesia focuses on environmental conservation efforts. This is realized through conserving water resources, reducing carbon emissions, innovating environmentally friendly packaging, and optimizing post-consumer waste management.
Danone Indonesia’s commitment to optimizing packaging and collecting packaging waste is realized through the #BijakBerPlastik movement which focuses on three main focuses, namely developing waste collection infrastructure, educating consumers and the public, and product packaging innovation. An LPEM UI study found that: the #BijakBerplastik and all partners have managed to collect up to 22,000 tons of plastic waste every year, and that the #BijakBerplastik movement helps reduce the amount of waste that remains in landfills by 14 percent and reduces the volume of waste that ends up in marine ecosystems and increases recycled waste to 17 percent more.
In an effort to conserve water resources, Danone Indonesia has implemented the Danone Water Policy which focuses on three main pillars, namely protecting water resources and the environment, encouraging water circularity in production systems, providing access to clean water and sanitation through the WASH (Water Access, Sanitation and Hydration). Specifically, Danone Indonesia together with partners involved local communities consisting of local governments, the general public, non-governmental organizations, academics and the private sector to form a Watershed (DAS) forum to carry out integrated water resource management efforts from upstream to downstream. To date, Danone Indonesia has actively participated in (seven) Watershed Forums in its operational areas.. This effort is one of the initiatives carried out by Danone Indonesia together with partners to achieve a positive impact on water, by recovering more water than the company uses to environment and communities.
Laurent acknowledged the potent combination of Danone Indonesia’s strength as an Indonesian heritage brand with the power of knowledge as well as access to international networks and research centers has provided added value for the company.
“Supported by these features, Danone Indonesia will continue to innovate and develop its heritage brand sustainably through the best product formulas. Furthermore, Danone Indonesia believes that business growth without environmental sustainability has no future, and environmental sustainability without business growth cannot provide optimal contributions. Therefore, the company will always be committed to responsible business practices and make positive contributions for society and the environment,” he concluded.
