Ferrero's 2025 Sustainability Report Highlights Farming Values for Supply Chain Resilience
Ferrero has recently published its 2025 Sustainability Report, detailing the company's transition from commitments to measurable actions and progress concerning its sustainability efforts. This report, released in celebration of Ferrero's 80th anniversary, emphasizes how the company's sustainability initiatives are integrated into every aspect of its operations while striving to establish sustainable food systems that connect farms and communities to factories, products, and employees.
A central theme of the report is the ambitious Ferrero Farming Values framework, which positions sustainability as a critical driver in the company's resilience strategy. According to Giovanni Ferrero, Chairman of the Ferrero Group, the long-term success of the company is intrinsically linked with the well-being of the people and ecosystems upon which its supply chains depend. As consumers increasingly seek trustworthy brands prioritizing quality, responsible sourcing, careful production processes, and real commitments to people and the planet, Ferrero aims to support consumers' enjoyment through sustainable practices.
The Ferrero Farming Values framework is built around five core elements: supplier assessments, supply chain traceability and visibility, certifications and standards, agricultural practices, and industry-wide collaboration to tackle systemic challenges. These elements provide a consistent yet flexible framework to address risks and opportunities specific to the supply chains of key ingredients, such as cocoa, palm oil, hazelnuts, coffee, and dairy products.
Lapo Civiletti, the CEO of Ferrero Group, highlighted that the Ferrero Farming Values framework transforms their sustainability approach into tangible actions across their critical ingredient sourcing. By enhancing supplier accountability and improving traceability and certification, the framework empowers them to support farmers while fostering collaboration across the industry, adapting to the unique dynamics of each raw material supply chain.
Key Highlights from the 2025 Sustainability Report:
1. Sustainable Sourcing of Ingredients:
- High levels of traceability were achieved, with cocoa at 98%, palm oil at 98.6%, hazelnuts at 97%, and coffee at 100%.
- About 230,000 supply chain polygons from cocoa, palm oil, and coffee suppliers were analyzed to enhance visibility, thereby ensuring deforestation-free sourcing.
- 99% of cocoa volumes were sourced through certifications like Rainforest Alliance, Cocoa Horizons, and Fairtrade, while 100% of palm oil was RSPO certified, and all coffee beans were sourced through Rainforest Alliance Certification.
- Partnerships were maintained to support farming communities, with efforts to reach 235 cocoa producer communities in Côte d'Ivoire by 2030 through the effective Save the Children program.
2. Climate Responsibility and Circularity of Packaging:
- Ongoing development of the Climate Transition Plan, supported by the launch of Decarbonization Hub, facilitating scalable decarbonization roadmaps at production facilities.
- A supplier data campaign covering approximately 60% of raw material volumes was initiated, with a data submission rate of 93%.
- Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 7.2% annually due to continued energy transition efforts, including 100% renewable electricity operations at 24 sites.
- The group completed its first Water Corporate Footprint assessment and joined the Alliance for Water Stewardship.
- 92.9% of general packaging designed for recyclability, reusability, or compostability; 86.8% achieved practical recycling, reusability, or compostability.
- A redesign of Ferrero Rocher packaging resulted in a 14.7% reduction in plastic usage compared to the 2019/20 baseline, preventing approximately 16,000 tons of plastic since September 2021.
3. Responsible Consumption:
- Development of science-based Ferrero Nutrition Criteria to guide product innovation and portfolio development.
- Updated Advertising and Marketing Principles to strengthen responsible communication practices.
4. Supporting People and Communities:
- Strengthened an inclusive and respectful working environment that supports employee development, well-being, and human rights across operations.
- Implemented an Inclusion and Respect training program with over 500 sessions held across 61 countries.
- Sustained strong employee engagement with an 86% participation rate in the annual YOU Survey, leading to improved scores in Commitment and Empowerment Index.
- Celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Joy of Moving Program, reaching over 4.9 million children in 35 countries and 60 million globally since 2005, with support from over 130 public and private sector expert partners.
For further information, please refer to the complete Ferrero Group 2025 Sustainability Report.