Unilever 2009 Annual Report Download - page 24

During 2009 we contributed to a study conducted by Tesco and
Manchester University’s Sustainable Consumption Institute. This
showed that in the UK three quarters of emissions are directly
or indirectly influenced by consumers.
In a joint report produced with Coca-Cola we shared our
experiences in mapping impacts across the value chain (ie from
sourcing raw materials through to consumer use and disposal of
products), and in empowering consumers to change behaviour.
In Mexico, Unilever is collaborating with Walmart on a project
called Grupo Transforma to raise awareness among consumers
about environmental protection. Activities include waste
collection sites at stores to encourage recycling and a travelling
environmental exhibition ’La Neta del Planeta‘ (‘The Truth of
the Planet’).
Investor recognition
Unilever’s work has been recognised by investor rating agencies.
The Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes cite us as food
industry leader, for the 11th year running. We have been included
in the FTSE4Good Index Series since its inception in 2001.
In 2009 Unilever was the only company recognised as
’best practice‘ by the Natural Value Initiative’s Ecosystem Services
Benchmark, a tool developed with six institutional investors to help
asset managers identify companies that are actively managing
the risks and opportunities related to biodiversity and ecosystems.
to combat deforestation in Asia, much of which is caused by
unsustainable agricultural practices in growing oil palms. Around
two thirds of the coalition’s company members have now set
public targets for purchasing certified sustainable supplies.
In 2009 Unilever purchased GreenPalm certificates covering
185,000 tonnes of palm oil, accounting for around 15% of our
total needs. GreenPalm certificates support the production of
sustainable palm oil certified to the standards of the Roundtable
on Sustainable Palm Oil. We also took action to suspend a major
supplier in Indonesia following evidence of involvement in
destructive practices.
In 2009 WWF published the 2009 Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard – an
assessment of the palm oil purchasing practices of major European
companies. Unilever was rated among the top five and was
commended for showing real progress on commitments to buy
and use sustainable palm oil.
Reducing impacts from consumer use
The biggest part of Unilever’s emissions of both CO2 and water
occur during consumer use. Many of our products require energy
to heat water for cooking, showering or washing clothes. Through
the design and formulation of these products, we can mitigate
their impacts. For example, Persil Small & Mighty laundry detergent
not only uses fewer chemicals and less packaging but also allows
the consumer to wash clothes at low temperatures and on
shorter cycles.
and more @ www.cleanerplanetplan.com
Case study: Laundry
A cleaner planet
for our consumers
Our laundry brands, Persil, Omo and Surf, have launched a Cleaner
Planet Plan to reduce the impact of laundry on the environment
and motivate changes in consumer behaviour. It is based on
efficient products that enable ‘better laundry habits’.
The Plan builds on our long-standing work to introduce
products that have lower environmental impacts.
We have been at the forefront of the development
of concentrated liquid detergents and compacted
powders. Concentration saves energy and packaging,
and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 5-20%
per wash, depending on the product. The Cleaner
Planet Plan also educates consumers to wash at lower
temperatures, use a full load and use the right dosage
of detergent.
Hazeline wins with
customers and consumers
Our Hazeline shampoo refill
pouch in China won Walmart’s
Gold Award for Sustainable
Packaging. With only a third
of the waste of a normal pump
bottle, consumers re-use their
shampoo bottles and make
cost savings too.
* Measured by tonne of production.
2009 data is preliminary. It will
be independently assured and
reported in our online Sustainable
Development Report 2009 at
www.unilever.com/sustainability
Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2009 21