To continue to prosper over the long term, we need to ensure that the communities we serve and in which we operate prosper too. We are determined to ensure that our global presence and operations bring benefits to our shareholders, as well as our people, the environment and society at large.
Creating Shared Value begins with the understanding that for our business to prosper over the long term, the communities we serve must also prosper. It explains how businesses can create competitive advantage, which in turn will deliver better returns for shareholders, through actions that substantially address a social or environmental challenge. Specifically, business will thrive and society will benefit if business can:
* Develop products and services that meet societal needs in developed and developing countries. * Use resources more efficiently across the entire value chain. * Improve the conditions for local economic and social development.
As a company (Nestle), we are best positioned to create shared value in three areas:
Nutrition: by providing nutritious products that deliver real health benefits to our consumers and by making our products more affordable and accessible through innovation and partnerships.
Water: by advocating for the protection of scarce water resources and by using water more efficiently in our manufacturing and distribution processes in ways that also benefit others in our supply chain.
Rural development: by supporting farmer development in rural areas where the raw materials we need are grown, securing our continued access to quality inputs and strengthening our customer base.
Creating Shared Value builds on our