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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion embedded in our DNA

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Danone, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique talents.

From Antoine Riboud’s 1972 speech, unveiling Danone’s dual mission, to our commitment as an ‘Entreprise à Mission’ and our Danone Impact Journey, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a key part of Danone’s DNA. With a strong legacy of social impact, our goal remains clear: to drive business success through social progress.

DEI reflects our core values and beliefs, shaping our commitment to being a force for good and driving meaningful, positive change.

Cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce

Leveraging our cross-cultural identity

We aim to have a diversity that represents the societies we live in, the partners we work with, and the customers and consumers we work for.

The goal is to ensure that all voices are respected and listened to and valued for their singularity and potential contribution. No matter who you are, or what your background is, we want you to feel included, welcome, and empowered.

None of this truly happens without curiosity, knowledge, and respect for each other’s culture. This is the essence of our cross-cultural identity.

Our diversity, equity and inclusion objectives

Our DEI goals and targets are integrated in our new sustainability roadmap, the Danone Impact Journey.

2025

We’re committed to closing the gender pay gap by 2025.

2030

We plan to achieve gender balance in management globally by 2030.

A strong DEI framework

DEI embedded in Danone’s company agenda

DEI is at the heart of our journey to social impact and is reinforced by a strong framework with three key pillars:


People: creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace for all our employees


Brands: embracing consumer diversity and enhancing outreach and sustainable impact through partnerships


Partners: collaborating with external partners to drive sustainable impact such as supporting minority-owned suppliers


Our DEI goals and targets are integrated in the Danone Impact Journey KPIs: achieve gender balance in management globally by 2030, close the gender pay gap by 2025, and maintain a high inclusion index.


Danone’s policies strengthen our commitment to achieving these goals and targets. Our DEI Policy, along with our Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policy, underpins our commitment to fostering an environment where individuality is celebrated and all contributions are valued, while ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Additionally, our gender-neutral Parental Policy enables us to better support working caregivers.


We understand that the best way of implementing our DEI framework may vary. That is why we encourage each business unit to go further and adapt their DEI roadmaps to the unique needs of their local communities. 

Championning inclusion

Fostering our inclusive culture

Our DEI efforts are focused on creating a workplace where everyone can bring their uniqueness and contribute to business results.

To advance this goal, we offer “Unconscious Bias” training to raise awareness and mitigate biases, as well as mandatory Anti-Harassment & Discrimination training for all employees, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all. We also encourage employees to use the Danone Ethics Line to report any instances of unfair treatment they experience or observe. Additionally, in 2022 Danone signed the United Nations Standards for Business Conduct, underscoring our commitment to eliminating discrimination against the LGBT+ community and fostering a more inclusive workplace.

Nurturing partnerships

Joining forces with external organizations

We are committed to leading the way in DEI to positively impact the lives of our employees and drive business success. We recognize that building strong partnerships is essential to achieving this. That's why we collaborate with key organizations such as LEAD Network on gender equality and Disability:IN on disability inclusion. As part of our efforts to close the gender pay gap, we have also signed the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) pledge.


Partnering with external organizations not only enhances our DEI initiatives but also validates our impact. In recognition of our efforts, we have achieved
 

  • Inclusion in Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting our transparency and performance in advancing gender equality.

  • The Financial Times’ Leaders in Diversity Certificate in 2025, recognizing us as a top employer for fostering inclusive workplaces.
  • Forbes naming us as one of the World's Top Companies for Women for 2024
  • The Arborus Gender Equality European Label certifying our commitment to achieving gender equality.

More from People

Société à Mission status

Find out more about our status as a ‘Société à Mission’ and our commitment to grow our business while respecting our environment.

Discover Société à Mission status

Policies and positions

Learn more about the policies and positions that guide our commitment to social responsibility, based around our three pillars: Health, Nature and People & Communities.

Discover Policies and positions