Unilever 2009 Annual Report Download - page 23

Total waste sent from our factories for disposal has been cut
by 73%* per tonne of production since 1995.
One example of action is our detergent factory in Hefei, China.
Straw waste previously burned by local farmers is now collected
and used to generate power. This improves air quality, reduces
CO2 emissions and provides farmers with extra income.
At our Gloucester factory in the UK, where we make Wall’s and
Magnum ice cream, we will reduce CO2 from energy by more
than 3,000 tonnes a year through the installation of a combined
heat and power (CHP) plant. The 2.4 megawatt plant is primarily
fuelled by natural gas, with heat in the form of hot water and
steam produced as a by-product. This heat is re-used in the
manufacturing process.
Sourcing sustainably
Around 50% of the raw materials that we use for our products
come from agriculture and forestry. We buy approximately 12% of
the world’s black tea, 6% of its tomatoes and 3% of its palm oil.
Our goal is to source all our key agricultural raw materials
sustainably. Through our Sustainable Agriculture Programme,
we have developed detailed guidelines on what sustainable
agriculture means for our key crops. Our guidelines cover criteria
such as reducing fertiliser and pesticide use, conserving water,
promoting biodiversity and using less energy.
Palm oil is used in both food and home and personal care products.
We have committed to have all our palm oil purchases externally
certified as sustainable by 2015. Working with Greenpeace,
we have built a global coalition of some 40 companies and NGOs
This is a challenging objective, but we start from a strong base.
For more than a decade we have been reducing the environmental
impact of our own factories and supporting our agricultural
suppliers to improve their sustainability practices.
During 2009 we also carried out a major piece of work to
measure more accurately Unilever’s impacts on the world around
us. A new set of metrics was piloted to assess our global brands
against four indicators – greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste
and agricultural sourcing.
The analysis highlighted again that our direct impact from
factories, offices, lorries, business travel and so forth was small in
comparison with other parts of our value chain. How people use
our washing powders, for example, has a much bigger impact
than where or how we make them.
Our own operations
Although emissions and waste from factories represent only a
small part of our footprint, we are committed to reducing them.
Since 1995 we have achieved a 41%* reduction in CO2 from
energy per tonne of production. In 2009 we achieved a reduction
of 3%* compared to 2008.
Since 1995 we have reduced by 65%* the amount of water
we use to make a tonne of product. During 2009 we achieved
a 5.6%* reduction in water use compared to 2008.
Growing sustainably
Report of the Directors Performance 2009
Our goal is to double the size of the business whilst at the same time reducing our
environmental footprint. We define this footprint broadly. It extends well beyond
our own operations to encompass the whole value chain – our activities from the
sourcing of raw materials through to consumer use and disposal of our products.
and more @ www.liptonforthefuture.com
Case study: Lipton
A thirst for
sustainability
Lipton and PG tips are
working with the Rainforest
Alliance to promote
sustainable farming practices
and improved livelihoods
for tea growers. We have
made a commitment that
all the tea for Lipton and PG
tips tea bags will be sourced
from Rainforest Alliance
Certified™ farms by 2015.
In 2009 80% of Lipton Yellow Label and PG tips tea bags sold in
Western Europe were sourced from certified farms. Rainforest
Alliance Certified™ tea also became available in the US; Japan; and
Australia, where sales grew by 12% following the launch. Rainforest
Alliance’s certification standard is based on ten principles, including
water conservation, wildlife protection, fair and safe treatment
of workers and good community relations. By the end of 2009,
69 tea estates and factories had been certified, along with 38,000
smallholder farms in Kenya.
20 Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2009