Prodairy Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
Investment into new Technology
In partnership with our packaging supplier, Prodairy launched the Fino Ultra High Temperature (UHT) packaging format during the financial year.
The Fino UHT packaging format is based on recycled paper and unlike the current plastic sachet format that we have traditionally used, the Fino format allows for UHT processing which increases product shelf life to 6 months. The use of recycled paper positively contributes to sustaining our environment.
Inclusion of women in the workforce over the financial year
Prodairy is an equal opportunity based employer, with growing women representation in managerial positions.
We have also prioritised the creation of employment for women in our new production lines such as Butter and Fino UHT, resulting in women employees increasing to 21% of the workforce from 15%.
Providing training opportunities for the youth through industrial attachments and our graduate trainee programme.
Every year Prodairy engages university students on attachment. These students are placed within the different departments at the workplace. In the majority of cases, we have been able to recruit these attachees as employees once they graduate.
Prodairy introduced a 2-year Graduate Trainee programme which has equipped the Trainees with on-the-Job experience and has helped them in transitioning into the world of employment. We have ensured that after the
Training programmes, the Trainees are offered employment within Prodairy. This has given us a rich source of talent as we are able to mould these Graduate Trainees to our particular standards.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Prodairy is a partner to the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) and has supported them with donations of various beverages that are utilised in their schools’ blood drive. The NBTS holds regular blood camps at the Prodairy premises where employees are given an opportunity to donate blood. Despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, two such camps were held in the financial year.
Prodairy also supports local youth sports initiatives such as the Ruwa Football Club, Tag Rugby Trust (that supports grassroots rugby development). The support from Prodairy is in the form of cash, kits and uniforms and beverages for consumption during matches.
Prodairy in conjunction with Probrands participates in the regular donations of food to hospitals and senior citizen homes. The local hospitals that have benefited from this are Sally Mugabe and Parirenyatwa hospitals. The senior citizen homes that Prodairy has supported are Save Old Age People, Ondine Francis Trust, Flame Lily, Lodge Scotia and Westreign Homes.
Food Safety Management Initiatives
Prodairy was certified to ISO 22000: 2005 food safety management system in August 2019 and is now transitioning to the new ISO22 000: 2018 standard. The transition process was initiated with the Initial Document Evaluation (IDE) carried out by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe in the last week of June 2021 and sailed through. Prodairy expects to be certified by September 2021 to solidify its commitment to the provision of safe and quality dairy products and beverages.
Sustainability
As part of our environmental protection program in waste management, Prodairy continues to engage EMA registered contractors who collects and manages our waste and recycling activities.
