Mondelez to invest in sustainable businesses

CHICAGO - Mondelez International Inc. Thursday announced the launch of Sustainable Futures, an impact investing platform to incubate, finance and support self-sustaining ventures that address key challenges in the world, including climate change.

Through the platform, the snack food company intends to invest in projects that protect forests, reduce carbon emissions or increase resilience in landscapes from which it sources raw materials, Mondelez said. Its first ventures will initially include support for a nonprofit organization in India that will set up a sustainable, women-owned social enterprises to recycle plastic packaging into board for multiple uses, and a venture with INMED Aquaponics Social Enterprise in South Africa, supporting agro-entrepreneurs in climate-smart food production.

"Sustainable Futures is our first foray into impact investing and gives us the opportunity to work with others in supporting environmental and social projects that can help drive meaningful, long-term change." said Dirk Van de Put, chief executive and chairman of Mondelez International.