For any business leader who feels that spark in their heart—the difference between a “job” and a “career”—there is a fundamental understanding that our responsibility does not end at the factory gate or the office door. This idea is not new. In fact, it has been the guiding principle of our company for over 50 years.

The Dual Purpose: A Partnership Between Profit and Progress

It was our former CEO, Antoine Riboud, who first coined the concept of a “dual purpose” for business. He argued that while corporations must make a profit to survive, that is not their only reason for being. True, lasting success comes from a dual commitment: to thrive economically and to have a positive impact on society.

This is not philanthropy; it is smart, sustainable business. At Danone, we want to sell yogurt to healthy, economically active South Africans. It is therefore in our direct commercial interest to invest in the health and prosperity of our communities. When they thrive, we thrive. Making a profit is not something to be embarrassed about; it is the engine that allows us to invest in our shared journey. These two goals are not in conflict; they are inextricable partners.

Health as Heritage: A 100-Year-Old Mission

Our commitment to health is not a modern marketing strategy; it is woven into our DNA. Over a century ago, our founder, Isaac Carasso, developed yogurt in Spain as a remedy for the gut health issues afflicting children. At the time, this application of live cultures was so novel that our yogurt was viewed as a medicine, sold exclusively in pharmacies. This origin story—prioritizing health through food—has been our guiding light ever since, a heritage we proudly carry in South Africa today.

Impact by Design: From Local Need to Local Innovation

Our modern approach is formalized in what we call our "Impact Journey," a framework guiding our work across health, nature, and communities. Crucially, every project we undertake is not a charitable afterthought or a “CSI sidestream.” It is robustly pressure-tested by our executive board to ensure it meets two criteria: it must deliver a meaningful social impact, and it must invest back into our core business needs.

This approach has led to powerful local innovations. Our NutriDay yogurt, South Africa’s number one single-serve dairy product, is not a global brand. It was developed here to address a pressing local issue: micronutrient deficiencies in children. By fortifying it with specific vitamins and minerals, we created a product designed to close that gap. Similarly, our DanUp drinking yogurt was created in South Africa for South African men, who needed sustainable, on-the-go nutrition. This is what we mean by impact by design—listening to a local need and innovating to meet it.

The Circular Classroom: Turning Waste into Worth

One of our proudest initiatives is “Tubs2Classrooms,” a project that gives our plastic packaging a second life. We believe plastic should not be demonized, provided it has a responsible end-of-life solution. In partnership with waste management experts, we activate schools as collection points for our yogurt tubs. We educate learners on the value of waste, and in return for their collection efforts, we upcycle the plastic into useful tools. At one time, this meant school desks. Most recently, we used the plastic to create lightweight bricks to build an entire library for a school. This provides a tangible, powerful lesson: if treated correctly, waste has worth.

Building Resilience Through Partnership

The 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal, where most of our dairy suppliers are based, were a dire wake-up call. Our farming systems were shut down, and our business continuity was threatened. This crisis reinforced our dual purpose. We sought a solution that would both secure our supply chain and uplift a community.

We found it in a partnership with Noziganga Dairy, an emerging, black-owned, and women-led farm in the Eastern Cape. By investing in upskilling this community, we helped them produce milk at the high standard we require, while they, in turn, provide us with a resilient supply source outside of a high-risk province. It is a perfect example of our dual purpose in action: a strategic business decision that simultaneously empowers a deserving community.

This is our path forward. It is a continuous journey of balancing economic goals with social progress, guided by the simple belief that the most sustainable business is one that grows alongside its community.

This article has been adapted from Leanne’s original presentation at the fourth installment of the Impact Series, which addressed the topic, “Corporates As A Force For Good In Communities.” The full presentation is available on Thinkerneur’s YouTube page - see link here.