Governance

Management structures

Our commitment to sustainable development is embedded into our business agenda through our Vitality mission, as expressed in our Corporate Purpose. Management structures to help us fulfil our commitment are integrated into our organisational framework:

• sustainability and corporate responsibility are championed and led by a member of the Unilever Executive, Vindi Banga, President, Foods, Home & Personal Care. The Unilever Executive is responsible for the operational leadership of the business

• strategic development of our social and environmental goals is the responsibility of our four product categories and their global brand teams. These categories are savoury, dressings and spreads; ice cream and beverages; personal care; and home care

• implementation is rooted in our operating companies within our three regions: The Americas; Western Europe; and Asia, Africa and Central & Eastern Europe

• priorities are set and action co-ordinated by our Corporate Responsibility, Issues,  Sustainability and Partnerships (CRISP) leadership team. This team of  senior leaders from across the business meets quarterly and is chaired by Unilever Executive member Vindi Banga

• governance of our conduct as a responsible corporate citizen is provided by our Board's Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committee which meets quarterly

• both our CRISP leadership team and Board Committee benefit from the insights of the Unilever Sustainable Development Group – a group of five external specialists in corporate responsibility and sustainability who guide and critique the development of our strategy

This governance structure is supported by a small team at our corporate headquarters, led by our senior vice president for corporate responsibility, who sits on the Corporate Responsibility, Issues, Sustainability and Partnerships leadership team and supports our Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committee and the Unilever Sustainable Development Group. The team also works closely with other specialist teams within Unilever who provide support and advice on specific areas. These include our Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), the Unilever Food and Health Research Institute (UFHRI), our Global Health through Hygiene Programme (GHHP), our Partnership Development Group and our Sustainable Agriculture Steering Group. These teams also obtain external input, for example through the Foods Advisory Board and the Sustainable Agricultural Advisory Board.

Independent oversight: Corporate Responsibility & Reputation Committee

We have a Board committee of Non-Executive Directors – the Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committee – which is charged with ensuring that we conduct our business responsibly and that Unilever's reputation is protected and enhanced. It ensures that our Code of Business Principles and Business Partner Code remain fit for purpose and are properly applied. 

The Committee comprises three Non-Executive Directors :

• Leon Brittan (Chair)

• Narayana Murthy and

• Hixonia Nyasulu.

The Committee reports to the Board and may call upon any director or employee in fulfilling its duties.

Independent oversight: Audit Committee

One of the roles of the Board's Audit Committee is to review Unilever's overall approach to risk management and control, and its processes, outcomes and disclosure. The Committee considers the application of the Code of Business Principles as part of its remit to review risk management.

Governance of our codes: Corporate Code Committee

The Corporate Code Committee, chaired by our General Counsel, oversees the implementation of the Code of Business Principles and Business Partner Code on behalf of the operational leadership of the business, the Unilever Executive.

Executive management: Corporate Responsibility, Issues, Sustainability & Partnerships (CRISP) leadership team

The Unilever Executive, led by our Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for managing profit and loss and delivering growth. It is supported in matters of sustainability by our Corporate Responsibility, Issues, Sustainability and Partnerships (CRISP) leadership team (formerly our Corporate Responsibility Council).

The CRISP leadership team's role is to review our strategy to ensure its alignment with our business and sustainability priorities. It also oversees our global partnerships.

CRISP comprises leaders from our foods and home and personal care categories, our corporate responsibility, corporate brand, R&D, supply chain, issue management and legal functions as well as our Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre.

External insights: Unilever Sustainable Development Group

Our strategy benefits from the insights of the Unilever Sustainable Development Group (USDG) – five internationally respected external specialists in corporate responsibility and sustainability. They form a panel of independent – and independently minded – experts who advise us on the challenges of sustainable development.

They are:

• Daniel Esty – Director of the Yale Centre for Environmental Law and Policy at Yale University

• Ma Jun – Water specialist and founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs

• Malini Mehra – Founder and Director of the Centre for Social Markets

• Jonathon Porritt – Co-founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future

• Tiahoga Ruge – Director General of the Mexican government's Centre for Education and Training for Sustainable Development. 

To ensure alignment between these groups, both our CRISP team and the USDG are chaired by a member of the Unilever Executive, Vindi Banga

Specialist input: Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC)

SEAC's role is to provide independent scientific evidence and guidance so that Unilever can identify and manage:

• risks for consumers, workers and the environment with regard to the safety of products and supply chain technology; and

• environmental impacts, with regard to the sustainability of Unilever's brands, products and supply chain.

Specialist input: Unilever Food & Health Research Institute (UFHRI)

Around 450 scientific staff work on the development of new products and processes and continuously improve the nutritional quality of our products, often in conjunction with external partners. The Institute shares and discusses our research widely, through publication in journals and an annual symposium involving external scientific experts.

Specialist input: Global Health through Hygiene Programme

Our Global Health through Hygiene Programme (GHHP) comprises a team of experts and scientists from across the business. It works with our brands and partner organisations to improve our technical capability, particularly in evaluating behaviour change.

Specialist input: Global Health Partnerships Group

Our Global Health Partnerships Group (formerly our Partnership Development Group) connects Unilever brands and expertise with global health organisations. Its role is to develop and implement sustainable nutrition and hygiene solutions, with the objective of creating value for society and for our business.

Specialist input: Sustainable Agriculture Steering Group

The Sustainable Agriculture Steering Group comprises Unilever staff from around the world responsible for managing our Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. Its objective is to promote sustainable supply chains, focusing on long-term, sustainable access to Unilever's key crops. Professor Jules Pretty from the University of Essex in the UK acts as principal adviser to the Group.

The Steering Group benefits from the input of the Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board, which consists of external experts from not-for-profit organisations and research institutes in the voluntary sector and academia. Its role is to provide independent advice and judgement and to strengthen policy-making within Unilever.