Key Takeaways:
- Danone Joins 100+ Accelerator: Danone has become the fifth partner in the 100+ Accelerator program alongside AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, and Unilever.
- Sustainable Innovation Focus: The 100+ Accelerator aims to pioneer sustainable innovations across global supply chains, including water stewardship, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and climate action.
- Significant Program Impact: Since its launch in 2018, the 100+ Accelerator has accelerated 148 companies in 38 countries.
- Commitment to Sustainability: Danone’s participation underscores its commitment to sustainability and collaboration within the industry.
- Technological Advancements: The program has led to significant advancements in water efficiency, agricultural sustainability, fleet optimization, cooling applications, and bio-based packaging.
Danone Becomes The Fifth Partner of The 100+ Accelerator Program
Danone has officially joined the ranks of AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, and Unilever as the fifth partner in the 100+ Accelerator program. This groundbreaking initiative, launched in 2018 by AB InBev, is dedicated to driving sustainable innovation across global supply chains. The announcement highlights the growing importance of collaborative efforts in tackling environmental challenges.
Ingrid De Ryck, Chief Sustainability Officer of AB InBev, welcomed Danone’s partnership: “Sustainability is core to our business strategy and fulfills our purpose of dreaming big to create a future with more cheers. In the 5 years since its launch, the 100+ Accelerator has helped us identify and scale solutions to business challenges, advance our 2025 sustainability goals and improve resilience across supply chains. We welcome Danone as a strategic partner in the 100+ Accelerator and are excited to continue developing the program’s impact through industry collaboration.”
Expanding Global Collaboration
Since its inception, the 100+ Accelerator has become a cornerstone for environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices through global collaboration. The program focuses on critical areas such as water stewardship, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and climate action. In 2021, the 100+ Accelerator expanded by welcoming its first three partners to strengthen its innovative approach and enhance the value proposition of its mission. To date, the program has accelerated 148 companies across 38 countries.
Vikram Agarwal, Chief Operations Officer at Danone, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “Our combined global reach will undoubtedly propel the 100+ Accelerator to new heights, driving broader adoption of sustainable innovations that will benefit our planet, our communities, and our future. This collaboration with 100+ Accelerator is yet another milestone in Danone’s sustainability journey and is a direct result of our Partner For Growth program. It shows our commitment to working with all partners across our ecosystem to leverage our respective strengths to create shared value. With 100+ Accelerator, start-ups will be able to harness our internal resources to scale-up innovation that will deliver tangible environmental benefits across the value chain.”
Driving Sustainable Innovation
The 100+ Accelerator has made significant strides in implementing sustainable technologies and practices. Key accomplishments include:
- Water Efficiency: Utilization of nanotechnology, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy to improve water efficiency.
- Agricultural Sustainability: Enhanced traceability and support systems for smallholder farmers, improving livelihoods and sustainability.
- Fleet Optimization: Adoption of EV retrofitting, hydrogen co-fueling, aerodynamic solutions, and hybrid charging for fleet optimization.
- Cooling Applications: Development of new cooling technologies such as thermodynamic coatings and magnetic refrigeration.
- Bio-based Packaging: Introduction of compostable packaging alternatives using materials like banana fiber, spent grain, corn husk, and bacterial nano-cellulose.
Isabelle Esser, Danone’s Chief Research, Innovation, Quality and Food Safety Officer, highlighted the alignment with Danone’s mission: “We are proud to join the 100+ Accelerator program, which is fully aligned with our ambition to drive sustainable innovation for the future of our planet and our consumers. At Danone, we believe that strong partnerships are essential to help us stay one step ahead of global challenges, while continuing to honor our mission of shaping the food of tomorrow.”
The partnership with Danone is set to further elevate the 100+ Accelerator’s impact, driving sustainable innovation and fostering a collaborative approach to environmental stewardship.
Photo by Red Zeppelin on Unsplash
