Activists initiate Nestlé boycott over diversity policies

Activists are calling for a boycott of Nestlé products from March 21 to March 28. This campaign focuses on the company's failure to maintain its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. It follows similar boycotts against Amazon and Target, which also faced criticism for reducing their DEI efforts. Nestlé is known for its wide range of products, such as pet food, bottled water, frozen meals, coffee, baby formula, and chocolate bars. The boycott is led by People's Union USA, a grassroots organization that has organized similar economic protests before. They are targeting Nestlé not just for its DEI policies but also for allegations of child labor and environmental concerns. The group's founder, John Schwarz, described this action as a serious challenge to a major corporation he considers corrupt. Activists have highlighted Nestlé's past, including claims about child labor in cocoa production and environmental violations related to water extraction. Consumers are encouraged to avoid Nestlé products during the boycott, but it's uncertain how much financial impact it will have. Nestlé owns over 2,000 brands, making it a part of many people’s everyday purchases. Previous research suggests that while some boycotts might succeed in the short term, their impact tends to fade quickly as consumers often return to buying. As of now, Nestlé has not publicly addressed the boycott. The outcome and any potential impact on the company's reputation will become clearer in the coming days.