The Consumer Goods Forum Launches Health & Wellness Toolkit

PARIS and NEW YORK, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

New digital platform to support members in implementation of
Health & Wellness Commitments and Resolutions 

The Consumer Goods Forum (the CGF) today launches a new Health & Wellness Toolkit and digital platform - http://www.consumergoodsforbetterlives.com. The Toolkit is an extension of the CGF's commitment to support its members in the implementation of its Health & Wellness Resolutions and Commitments. It will provide real-life examples of what members have achieved already and offer ideas for companies looking to take the next step. The announcement was made during the CGF's annual Global Summit currently being held in New York.

A Resource Towards Positive Change 

The new toolkit will serve as a living, evolving resource to provide concrete examples of how the industry - through the CGF members - is looking to drive positive change and empower consumers around the world to make informed diet and lifestyle choices. Feedback and suggestions are also welcome.

Sharon Bligh, Director of Health & Wellness at The Consumer Goods Forum, said, "The CGF applauds the engagement of our members who have contributed to the creation of this toolkit, providing practical examples and content support. We hope more will be inspired to contribute, as we look to build the toolkit into a key resource for organisations looking to learn more about how our industry is positively impacting the global health agenda and how they can get involved".

Members of The Consumer Goods Forum understand the health and wellness challenges facing the world's population and are committed to being part of the solution. More specifically, the Toolkit looks to:

• Help drive positive action across the industry and around the world;
• Provide health and wellness ideas with simple and practical "how to" steps for those who want to advance;
• Demonstrate how CGF member companies are active, with each chapter including practical examples from across the industry; and
• Show industry leadership in health and wellness.

Onno Franse, Program Director Healthy Living & Climate Action, Royal Ahold and Co-Chair of the Health & Wellness Steering Committee at the CGF, said, "This new digital platform is a true collaborative effort that everyone can benefit from. It brings together the experiences of those that have had success in the area of health and wellness, and it provides genuine insight into how companies can meet the Board-approved Health & Wellness Resolutions and Commitments".

Laurent Chastain, Head of the Corporate Wellness Unit, Nestlé Group, and fellow Co-Chair of the Health & Wellness Steering Committee, added, "It's a great resource, and the practical examples show exactly what can be done today and we look forward to continuing to grow this list to support the wider membership and accelerate the implementation of our commitments".

The Health & Wellness Resolutions & Commitments 

The Health & Wellness Resolutions were approved by the Board of The Consumer Goods Forum in 2011 and relate to three areas: offering consumers and shoppers a range of products and services that supports the goals of healthier diets and lifestyles; providing transparent, fact-based information that will help consumers and shoppers make informed product choices and usages; and using communication and educational programmes to help raise consumer awareness on health and wellness and energy balance to inspire healthier diets and lifestyles.

The Health & Wellness Commitments were approved by the Board in 2014. With specific deadlines, these ask for even greater alignment and engagement from CGF members:

• By 2016: Make company policies public on nutrition and product formulation;
• By 2016: Implement employee health and wellness programmes;
• By 2018: Industry-wide implementation of consistent product labelling and consumer information to help consumers make informed choices and usages; and
• By 2018: Stop targeted advertising to children under 12 for products that do not fulfil specific nutrition criteria based on scientific evidence and/or applicable national and international dietary guidelines.

A.T. Kearney supported the project team throughout the development of the Toolkit. "We are very pleased to have been able to help these companies develop what we believe will be both a valuable reference tool and implementation guide for the whole industry", commented Emmanuel Hembert, principal, at A.T. Kearney Zurich.

About The Consumer Goods Forum 

The Consumer Goods Forum ("CGF") is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 2.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises 50 manufacturer and retailer CEOs.

For more information, please visit: http://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.