Supporting Breastfeeding
Giving babies the best possible nutritional start in life
Our Commitment
At H&H Group, everything we do is to support our mission of making people and their pets healthier and happier.
We recognise the importance of proper nutrition throughout a baby's first years for their long-term health, which is why we prioritise providing children with the best possible nutritional start in life.
Breastfeeding is key for this, and in alignment with the World Health Organization (WHO) and subsequent World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, we support its protection and promotion.
What is the WHO Code?
H&H Group is fully committed to upholding the WHO Code and all subsequent WHA (World Health Assembly) resolutions in every market where we operate.
The WHO (World Health Organization) International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (BMS), commonly known as the WHO Code and subsequent World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, is a set of guidelines established to regulate the marketing practices of Breast-Milk Substitutes worldwide and to protect and promote breastfeeding as the optimal feeding method for infants.
In June 2020, the WHO, the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other civil society organisations published a Call to Action for manufacturers of Breast-Milk Substitutes.
This Call to Action advocates companies to commit full compliance with the WHO Code and all its subsequent resolutions by 2030.
How we comply with the WHO Code
We fully support the WHO recommendations on breastfeeding and acknowledge the importance of the principles of the WHO Code and subsequent relevant WHA resolutions.
We aim to do whatever we can to ensure children have the best possible nutritional start in life. We have always supported and advocated for breastfeeding, recognising that it provides the best exclusive nutrition for babies in the first six months of life, followed by the introduction of adequate nutritious complementary foods, along with sustained breastfeeding up to two years of age and beyond.
Our core belief is that in today’s world, not all mothers want to or are able to breastfeed, and families have a right to make their own choices. Where mothers are unable or choose not to breastfeed, we believe BMS that are developed with high quality formulations, prepared properly, and used correctly, have an important role to play. All BMS companies and stakeholders (WHO, national governments, Healthcare Professionals...) have a joint responsibility to provide families with a supportive environment for breastfeeding.
BMS companies must implement and enforce appropriate policies and procedures to ensure marketing practices do not undermine the choice and ability of mothers to breastfeed, as well as provide families with factual and science-based knowledge as regards breastfeeding options. With this in mind, we support research and the use of premium ingredients to develop products that aim to help give parents that extra nutritional support for their children should they need it.
Our Responsible Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes Policy (BMS Policy)
We support and promote the practice of breastfeeding, and of reviving the practice where it is in decline as a way to improve the health and nutrition of infants and young children. We understand and believe that breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthiest growth and development of infants.
At H&H Group, we commit to ensure our marketing practices are fully in line with our Responsible Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes Policy. We regularly review our Policy to reinforce the importance of responsible marketing practices.
Our actions to support breastfeeding
Biostime China Foundation for Mother and Child
Biostime China Foundation for Mother and Child
Since its establishment in 2007, the Biostime China Foundation for Mother and Child has partnered with the Chinese Red Cross Foundation to arrange and contribute to public welfare activities. The Biostime China Foundation for Mother and Child has provided support for mothers facing financial hardship and children with severe illnesses. As a public welfare advocate, it also strives to encourage more social support for these mothers and children. For several years, it has participated in China's nationwide '99 Charity Day' event to raise funds for hospitals to supply premature infants with nutritional support.
Campaigns to support World Breastfeeding Week in Chinese Mainland
Campaigns to support World Breastfeeding Week in Chinese Mainland
Since 2018, we have been running 'breast-milk is best' campaigns on an annual basis, to support World Breastfeeding Week in China and widely promote breastfeeding.
Membership of industry associations
Membership of industry associations
H&H Group is a member of several trade associations and industry groups involved in the promotion of responsible and ethical marketing practices. A comprehensive list of the global trade associations related to infant and young child nutrition that H&H Group is part of is disclosed in our Annual Sustainability Report.
Mandatory BMS training
Mandatory BMS training
All H&H Group team members receive mandatory training either online or in-person on a regular basis. The BMS topic is covered in our Group Compliance Training, which includes the Responsible Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitute Policy, how to comply with the Policy, responsibilities of team members and leaders as well as channels for raising concerns or breaches. Additional ad-hoc trainings are provided to team members involved in the marketing, communication, distribution, selling, education, and governance of concerned products. Additionally, this training is offered to all our third parties such as retailers, distributors, and all partners.
Breastfeeding support initiatives
Breastfeeding support initiatives
We have implemented several initiatives to support breastfeeding amongst consumers. In France, we have promoted breastfeeding on social media and offered a Maternity range under the Dodie brand (nursing pads, balms, breast pumps...). Moreover, we provide breastfeeding educational materials dedicated to midwives, as well as breastfeeding guides promoting the benefits of breastfeeding and the superiority of breast-milk.
Global Parental Leave Policy and breastfeeding rooms
Global Parental Leave Policy and breastfeeding rooms
Internally, to support the wellbeing of both mothers-to-be and babies during antenatal and postnatal periods, we have implemented in 2022 our Global Parental Leave Policy. We have also set up breastfeeding rooms across all our offices group-wide.
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Our external evaluations
Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI)
ATNI is a global non-profit organisation which drives market transformation for improved access to nutrition. The BMS Marketing Index assesses company policies and practices on the marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, for babies from 0 months up to the age of three years. For over a decade, ATNI has assessed how BMS companies comply with the 1981 International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. ATNI's research and Indexes do not assess compliance with local regulations or laws, but rather assess private sector performance against international standards and guidance. In 2023, we completed the assessment for the inclusion of H&H Group in the 2024 ATNI's BMS Marketing Index.
H&H Speak Up
H&H Group takes whistle-blowing very seriously and is committed to a strong compliance culture as a foundation of how we operate. If there is a breach or suspicion of breach of the Code, all stakeholders (retailers, distributors, consumers, healthcare professionals, etc.) have access to our compliance reporting system "HH Speak Up" for reporting potential instances of non-compliance in our business.
