Kellogg’s claims it’s committed to climate change, again

Today, in their Michigan Loves Manufacturing e-blast, MiBiz included what appeared to be a story entitled, “Kellogg Company recognized for commitment to addressing climate change, named to Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.”

When you click on this headline it doesn’t take you to a MiBiz story. The link takes you to a Kellogg’s Media Release from the company’s PR department.

The media release talks about how the Carbon Disclosure Project gave the Battle Creek Company a high mark in their reporting on carbon emissions. The Media Release also states, “Kellogg is committed to reducing its energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water use by 15 to 20 percent by 2015.”

While this announcement may seem noble in the eyes of some, carbon emissions must be reduced by at least 80% of current levels by 2050 on a planetary scale in order for humanity to avoid a point of no return on global warming. Kellogg’s doesn’t seem to be making a big enough effort for that to happen, which really isn’t their intent.

Kellogg’s, like all corporations are primarily motivated by profit and perpetual growth. One of the tools they use to expand profits and distribution of products is to present themselves as being “Green” or “sustainable.” However, these are just smart marketing tools but don’t carrying any weight in actually making change towards reducing carbon emissions and avoiding climate catastrophe.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) also plays a role in perpetuating the notions that companies can continue to make huge profits, expand their operations and still be “sustainable.” This was the message of an international business conference that CDP hosted earlier this month, with the message “Forging Sustainable, Profitable Business Growth.”

This kind of deception is rampant within the corporate world and Kellogg has been participating in this kind of deceit for some time. In March we ran a story looking at their claims to sustainable palm oil use, where they we touting their certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. However, numerous environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth and Rainforest Action Network have challenged this so-called certification process and exposed this business roundtable as fundamentally a front group for agribusiness and their desire to be seen as ecologically responsible.

Kellogg’s claim to be taking action on climate change is just as deceitful and ultimately is a false solution. Does the cereal company really expect us to think that peddling sugar-laden products to kids can ever be sustainable?