Accounting for Product Impact in the Consumer-Packaged Foods Industry

Abstract

We apply the product impact measurement framework of the Impact-Weighted Accounts Initiative (IWAI) in two competitor companies within the consumer-packaged goods industry. We design a methodology that allows us to calculate monetary impact estimates on customer health, access and affordability of products and recyclability, among other factors. Our results indicate substantial differences in the impact that competitors have through their products. These differences demonstrate how impact measures reflect business strategy choices and informs decision-making on industry-specific areas, including food reformulation and product placement.

Keywords: product innovation; impact; impact investing; impact measurement; ESG; ESG (environmental, social, governance) performance; ESG (environmental/social/governance) performance; ESG ratings; social corporate responsibility; corporate social responsibility; social impact; nutrition database; nutritional