Kellogg Company Releases Second Global Corporate Responsibility Report to Honor 150th Anniversary of Founder's Birth

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kellogg Company today released its second global Corporate Responsibility Report, a comprehensive accounting of its strategies, key initiatives and future direction in the environment, marketplace, workplace and community.

"On what would have been our founder's 150th birthday, Kellogg Company is proud to report on our continuing efforts to further W.K. Kellogg's legacy of building a stronger business while doing the right thing for the environment and society," said David Mackay, president and chief executive officer, Kellogg Company.

Since its last report, Kellogg has made good progress toward its environmental goals by continuing to embed sustainability practices into every aspect of its business. Since 2005, the company has decreased its energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and water use per metric tonne of food produced by 5.7, 8.9 and 7.4 percent, respectively, and decreased total waste sent to landfill by 41.5 percent per metric tonne of food produced.

Important to this progress is the company's focus on transportation-related energy use and CO2 emissions. Kellogg has decreased per-case fuel in its U.S.-operated truck fleet by 40 percent as a result of designing more efficient routes, restricting idling time and other efforts. The company also recently increased the amount of product on each truck to reduce miles and save fuel. In addition, Kellogg has worked with contract carriers to reduce diesel fuel consumption by 39 percent compared to 2005, or 10.9 million gallons per year. Kellogg will continue to focus on improvements in this area by reducing the number of vehicles in its fleet, continuing to drive fuel efficiencies and other initiatives.

Working with its partners and suppliers to reduce their environmental impact is also an important part of the company's corporate responsibility strategy. Kellogg will continue to engage with suppliers on this issue as a part of its responsible sourcing framework, which was launched in 2009 and is discussed in detail in the report.

Along with these environmental stewardship initiatives, Kellogg is also making progress toward its other corporate responsibility goals and objectives.

"Social responsibility has been a key part of our heritage since Kellogg Company's founding more than a century ago," said Celeste Clark, Kellogg Company's chief sustainability officer and senior vice president, global nutrition and corporate affairs. "We continue the commitments of W.K. Kellogg by investing in our communities and assisting those in need."

Over the last 18 months, Kellogg has shifted its community investment programs to focus even more strategically on needs that best align with its objectives as a global food company, specifically concentrating on nutrition (including malnutrition) and physical fitness.

A prime example of these initiatives occurred in June 2009, when Kellogg made the unprecedented donation of an entire day's worth of U.S. cereal production – or 55 million servings – to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. The company also supports the development and promotion of school-based breakfast programs in the U.S., and sponsors breakfast clubs in a number of countries where government-sponsored breakfast programs do not exist. In the U.K. alone, Kellogg supports breakfast clubs serving more than one million morning meals to young people every year. These efforts will continue to be a priority.

Recognizing the importance of breakfast to overall nutrition, Kellogg also recently announced its decision to add fiber to the majority of its ready-to-eat cereals in the U.S. and Canada – a nutrient that 90 percent of people in these markets do not get enough of in their diets. This initiative follows other recent product renovations to reduce sugar and sodium and remove trans fats, and is part of the company's continuing journey to improve the nutrition credentials of its foods.

"We're pleased with the progress we've made and honored that our corporate responsibility efforts have been recognized by several prominent organizations," said Mackay. In March, Kellogg was named one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility magazine and received the United Way "Spirit of America" award, the organization's highest national honor, recognizing corporations and their employees for exceptional philanthropic commitment and community involvement. In September 2009, Newsweek ranked Kellogg 115th in its "green rankings" of the 500 largest U.S. companies.

Report, Executive Summary Available

The 2009 Kellogg Company Corporate Responsibility Report and an Executive Summary are available online at www.kelloggcompany.com/CR. A printed Executive Summary is available upon request by e-mailing [email protected].

Kellogg Company's Corporate Responsibility Report uses the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Guidelines, which provide a recommended framework and indicators for reporting. Kellogg is reporting at a GRI-checked application level of "B."

About Kellogg Company

With 2009 sales of nearly $13 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. The Company's brands include Kellogg's®, Keebler®, Pop-Tarts®, Eggo®, Cheez-It®, All-Bran®, Mini-Wheats®, Nutri-Grain®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®, Chips Deluxe®, Famous Amos®, Sandies®, Austin®, Club®, Murray®, Kashi®, Bear Naked®, Morningstar Farm®, Gardenburger® and Stretch Island®. Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries.  For more information, visit www.kelloggcompany.com. Kellogg's Corporate Responsibility report including its approach, progress and future direction in the marketplace, workplace, environment and community can be found at www.kelloggcompany.com/CR. For information on Kellogg Company's commitment to nutrition, visit www.kelloggsnutrition.com.

SOURCE Kellogg Company