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Hain Celestial* Announces New Goals to Lessen its Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Following Engagement with Green Century and Clean Yield Asset Management

Media Contacts: Mark Morgenstein, mark.morgenstein@publicinterestnetwork.org, 678-427-1671; Andrea Ranger, aranger@greencentury.com, 617-482-0800

Boston, July 19, 2021 – Following engagement with Green Century Capital Management° and Clean Yield Asset Management, the Hain Celestial Group inked an agreement to curb its greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s goals. Under the commitment, the company is targeting net zero emissions by 2050.

Hain Celestial is a leading manufacturer of organic and natural food and body products, including well-known brands such as Celestial Seasonings, Garden of Eatin’ and Health Valley. Green Century and co-lead filer, Clean Yield, had submitted a shareholder proposal with the company but withdrew it upon the company’s recent commitment.

“Hain Celestial’s catchphrase is ‘A Healthier Way of Life,’ and by entering into this agreement to limit its greenhouse gas emissions, it’s living up to its motto,” said Andrea Ranger, shareholder advocate with Green Century. “No one has exposure to climate risk like food and beverage companies because they rely so heavily on agriculture, which is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.”

As part of the agreement, Hain Celestial will submit its emission reduction targets for approval by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global partnership of four leading environmental organizations. The SBTi will review the trajectory or ‘glidepath’ of Hain Celestial’s emissions reductions to make sure it achieves net zero emissions by 2050. SBTi will also require interim targets be set, such as by 2030, to ensure steady progress is made toward the 2050 goal.

“With this new commitment, Hain Celestial will really need to dig its carbon footprint and make big cuts,”  said Andrea Ranger, “But it is not alone. Leading food and beverage companies and companies across many industry sectors are feeling pressure from investors and stakeholders alike to drastically cut emissions. Climate change is not waiting until it’s convenient.” 

Earlier this month, Green Century announced that it’s joining the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, a coalition dedicated to ensuring all assets will be held to net zero emissions by 2050. The engagement with Hain Celestial will help the Green Century Funds’ portfolio align with its own new net zero goals.

Related resource: Green Century Announces New Commitment to Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative Ahead of UN Climate Conference (COP26)

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About Green Century Capital Management

°Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century) is the investment advisor to the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are the first family of fossil fuel free, responsible, and diversified mutual funds in the United States. Green Century Capital Management hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

*As of June 30, 2021, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.02% and 0.00% of the Green Century Balanced Fund, the Green Century Equity Fund, and the Green Century International Index Fund. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please click here, email info@greencentury.com, or call 1-800-934-7336. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The Green Century Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 235 W Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212. 7/21

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