Danone is now the largest B Corp in the world after achieving full global certification in 2025.
This positions the food, beverage and nutrition group ahead of key competitors in corporate sustainability terms while reducing regulatory and reputational risks and enhancing consumer and investor confidence in the company.
Achieving full certification was a key goal for Danone in 2025. It was embedded in its Renew Danone strategy as a lever for transformation, stakeholder trust, long-term value creation and resilience.
In 2024, 92.8% of Danone’s sales and 83% of employees were covered by B Corp certification, an achievement that was externally verified through a CSRD audit and disclosed in the company’s annual report.
In 2025, the percentage of Danone employees working for a B Corp entity has risen to 95%, which is enough for the group to claim full certification of the company.
Since 2024, additional certifications have been achieved in Turkey, Mexico, Ukraine and the FanMilk business in West Africa, among others.
Why is B Corp certification important?
B Corp certification drives employee engagement, fosters stakeholder trust, and is a powerful risk mitigation lever.
B Corps were significantly more likely to survive the pandemic than non-certified businesses, according to B Lab research.
Such companies grow their revenue and staff faster while also offering better benefits, including higher wages. Governance oversight is also stronger across B Corps, who must commit to the interests of all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
The supply chain also benefits, since direct suppliers need to adopt B Corp principles, which drives transparency and fosters consumer and investor confidence by enabling the sourcing company to prove that it works with responsible suppliers.
B Corp certification impacts many aspects of Danone’s operations, from its governance rules and social responsibility to supplier relationships.
Last year, suppliers in the first level of the chain (Tier 1) were required to comply with social and environmental criteria that mirror B Corp rules. This means companies responsible for the bulk of raw materials and services purchased by Danone – and whose practises significantly affect Danone’s own environmental footprint – face stricter ESG rules.
Deeper tiers in the supply chain, such as raw material producers, are not fully integrated under B Corp requirements: but Tier 1 suppliers often influence their own upstream partners, leading to positive change across the board.
“Our Tier 1 suppliers comply with Danone’s Sustainable Principles, which are strongly aligned with B Corp values, though we can’t guarantee full alignment with B Corp requirements,” a Danone spokesperson told us.
“Going deeper into the supply chain is where the real impact lies, and also where challenges emerge. At Danone, we’re working on two fronts: strengthening our Responsible Sourcing framework and partnering with raw material producers through training and pilots, for example in dairy and regenerative agriculture. So far, we have mentored key partners on their own B Corp journey like More Holstein in Spain.
“Nevertheless, traceability and supporting small producers with limited resources remain key challenges. For us, it’s not about compliance – it’s about collaboration and creating systemic change across the value chain."
Adherence to B Corp principles also influences Danone’s product innovation strategy and climate action.
For example, developing plant-based and even hybrid dairy products is viewed as a key R&D objective by Danone.
“Product innovation aligned with B Corp principles includes the development of hybrid dairy and plant-based products to reduce environmental impact and support healthier diets,” says the company in its latest non-financial report. “Hybrid solutions contribute to our climate commitments by lowering greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional dairy, reinforcing our B Corp objectives on sustainability.”
This is how Danone fared in 2024 across key B Corp impact areas.
Product innovation:
Development of hybrid dairy and plant-based products to reduce environmental impact and support healthier diets.
Advancing circular packaging solutions to minimize waste and promote reuse/recycling.
Social/environmental performance:
16.1% CO₂e reduction (2020–2024)
25% methane cut from milk
85% packaging reusable/recyclable/compostable
39% key ingredients from regenerative agriculture
Human rights/inclusion:
98% health coverage
44% women in senior leadership
Gender pay gap: 1.1 pts
69% collective bargaining coverage
100% living wage compliance
Source: Danone's 2024 Universal Registration Document
How does Danone compare to Unilever, Nestlé?
Danone stands alone among the likes of Nestlé, Unilever, Lactalis and General Mills as the sole group that’s achieved full B Corp certification - giving it an advantage in the eyes of investors, consumers and regulators.
Unilever’s Australia and New Zealand arm is the only division that’s B Corp-certified: though the group owns several certified brands, such as T2 and Ben & Jerry’s.
Nestlé’s Nespresso Global and Nestlé Health Science US are both certified since 2022.
Lactalis US Yogurt, Inc., a division of Lactalis, is the most prominent direct competitor of a similar scale to Danone in the US and is B Corp-certified.
France’s Savencia Group has six of its subsidiaries certified as B Corp, but only one, Rogue Creamery, is within dairy.
What the CEO said
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone, said: “This milestone demonstrates our renewed efforts to place financial and social sustainability at the heart of our business – building resilience, driving innovation and delivering long-term value for all stakeholders. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the transformative work of Danone teams all across the world, who relentlessly deliver against our ambitious goals and targets, and continue to raise the bar.”
“The B Corp movement empowers companies to step up and play a part in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of today and reflects growing demand from consumers for businesses to deliver value in a meaningful way.”
