Client Success Story

Leading CPG Company

Crafting Net Zero communications and accelerating sustainability storytelling at one of the world’s most beloved CPG brands

Client Overview

This client is one of the world's largest family-owned businesses, with a diverse portfolio spanning confectionery, food, and pet care products. With many iconic brands under its portfolio, the company operates in over 80 countries with more than 140,000 Associates. The company has long committed to sustainability through it a sustainability plan addressing climate action, responsible sourcing, and thriving communities across its global value chain.

The Challenge

As sustainability regulations evolve and stakeholder expectations intensify, the company faced the complex challenge of communicating its extensive sustainability initiatives effectively to diverse audiences. It needed to balance regulatory compliance with compelling storytelling that would resonate with consumers, investors, and Associates worldwide. Additionally, the company required consistent sustainability messaging across its various business segments while ensuring non-sustainability specialists could accurately communicate about these initiatives.

With ambitious climate targets including achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the company needed strategic communications support to translate technical sustainability information into impactful narratives that would strengthen the company's reputation as a sustainability leader while satisfying increasing disclosure requirements.

Our Approach

Hower Impact partnered with the company to provide comprehensive sustainability communications expertise across multiple initiatives. We worked as an extension of the company’s sustainability and communications functions, offering strategic guidance, content development, and technical sustainability communications knowledge. We collaborated closely with internal teams and agency partners to ensure consistency, accuracy, and impact across all sustainability communications.

Our approach emphasized:

• Translating complex sustainability data into accessible narratives

• Developing communications that satisfy both compliance needs and stakeholder engagement goals

• Creating resources to empower internal teams to communicate sustainability accurately

• Providing strategic counsel on sustainability reporting best practices

• Supporting the launch and amplification of key sustainability milestones

Key Deliverables

A Net Zero Roadmap

• Collaborated with the company’s sustainability and communications teams to develop a comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap detailing the company's path to net zero emissions by 2050

• Crafted compelling copy that balanced technical accuracy with engaging storytelling

• Provided strategic counsel on visual presentation and design elements to enhance comprehension

• Developed a launch strategy to maximize visibility and stakeholder engagement

• Created supporting communications materials for diverse stakeholder groups

Sustainability Report

• Guided the editorial development of the company’s first comprehensive sustainability report

• Streamlined complex sustainability data into clear, compelling narratives

• Provided design direction to ensure optimal presentation of sustainability information

• Ensured alignment with emerging reporting frameworks and regulatory requirements

• Developed a modular approach allowing content to be repurposed across channels

Sustainability Claims Toolkit

• Led the creation of a comprehensive Sustainability Claims Toolkit for one of the company’s largest divisions

• Developed user-friendly resources to help non-sustainability specialists communicate accurately about sustainability initiatives

• Created guidelines for compliant and credible sustainability communications

• Included practical examples and templates to facilitate consistent messaging

• Incorporated best practices for avoiding greenwashing and maintaining credibility

Fractional Sustainability Communications Support

• Served as an on-demand sustainability communications resource

• Provided ad hoc counsel on sustainability reporting trends and best practices

• Supported media relations for sustainability announcements and milestones

• Developed specialized content for targeted stakeholder communications

• Advised on sustainability communications strategy across global markets

Results

Hower Impact's partnership with the CPG company delivered significant value across multiple sustainability communications initiatives:

• Enhanced Leadership Positioning: Strengthened the company's reputation as a sustainability leader through clear articulation of ambitious commitments and progress

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensured all sustainability communications met evolving regulatory requirements while remaining engaging and accessible

• Internal Capability Building: Empowered employees to communicate sustainability initiatives accurately and confidently

• Stakeholder Engagement: Increased engagement with sustainability content among key stakeholders, including consumers, investors, and industry partners

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Improved consistency in sustainability messaging across the company’s diverse business segments

• Resource Optimization: Maximized the impact of sustainability communications through strategic content development and repurposing

Through this ongoing partnership, the company continues to effectively communicate its sustainability journey, translating complex initiatives into clear narratives that build trust, enhance reputation, and drive positive environmental and social impact.