Unilever - UK

Unilever's Latest Sustainable Development Report Explains How Values-Led Brands Will Increasingly Drive its Business Strategy

May 16, 2007

July 9, 2007- Introducing the report, Group Chief Executive Patrick Cescau explains that the successful brands of the future will be those that both satisfy the functional needs of consumers and address their concerns as citizens. Greater integration of social, economic and environmental considerations into business and brands is the way forward to building a sustainable business.

For example, as the world’s largest tea company, Unilever has recently committed to purchase all its tea from sustainable, ethical sources. Independent NGO the Rainforest Alliance will start this process by certifying farms in Africa that supply tea for Lipton Yellow Label and PG Tips. This will provide reassurance to consumers about the source of their tea as well as improving the crops and livelihoods of potentially 2 million people.

The report outlines how Unilever is:

addressing health concerns through enhancing food nutrition and labelling and responsible marketing; improving hygiene practices through hand washing campaigns; and promoting better oral health through initiatives in over 30 countries

meeting the needs of those at the base of the economic pyramid by providing affordable products and using innovative distribution channels that spread wealth around communities, such as its Shakti initiative which has created 30,000 women micro-entrepreneurs serving 100,000 Indian villages

analysing its carbon footprint. Having reduced CO2 emissions from its own operations by more than 30% over the last decade, it is continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the eco-efficiency of its manufacturing as well as studying its wider carbon footprint.

To view the full online report or download a shorter pdf version see:

http://www.unilever.com/ourvalues/environment-society/sus-dev-report