Environment
Environmental responsibility underpins our activities wherever we operate, such as product and packaging innovation, promoting greater use of recycling, teaching children and contributing to conservation.
Some examples
Here we provide examples of environmental initiatives which are part of our community programme and which have a social or economic as well as an environmental benefit.
Brazil: Recycling consumer waste
Recycling is good for communities as well as the environment. Recycling schemes supported by Unilever are creating new jobs and finding novel uses for recycled waste – such as furniture and biofuels.
Brazil: Unilever & Walmart demonstrate sustainable living
Unilever's sustainable house shows Walmart customers how to live in an environmentally friendly way.
Canada: Vim helps build new homes for low income families
Vim is working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for Canadian families who could not otherwise afford one.
Europe: Assessing the impact of household products on rivers
Unilever works in partnership with detergent manufacturers, chemical companies, academic institutes and government agencies to assess the potential risks of pollution from household products.
Europe: Sharing best practice improves efficiency
A Unilever ice cream factory in Flen, Sweden has saved significant amounts of energy and water and a Frigo factory in Barcelona, Spain has cut wastewater impurities by 20%.
Europe: Unilever Europe wins major European Community Engagement Excellence Award
Our Vitality Summer community programme won one of the most prestigious European community engagement awards at a ceremony in July 2005 at London's Royal Albert Hall.
France: Environmental training at Amora Maille
Amora Maille, a Unilever culinary foods business based in France, has invested in staff training and new equipment to protect the environment and save money.
Ghana: Promoting biodiversity on palm oil plantations
Unilever Ghana has developed biodiversity action plans (BAPs) to protect and enhance biodiversity at its Benso and Twifo palm oil plantations.
Ghana: Reusing waste plastic to make jewellery & flower pots
Unilever Ghana's factory in Tema supports a recycling initiative that reduces waste and provides income for local people.
Global: Design & lightweighting
As part of the design process we look for opportunities to optimise the weight of consumer and transport packaging for existing packs (lightweighting) and for new packs.
Kenya: Tea plantation biodiversity initiatives provide habitat for rare birdlife and other species
One of the main threats to Kenya's delicate biodiversity is deforestation. Since 2000, Unilever Tea Kenya’s tree planting initiatives have been helping to protect biodiversity in areas such as the threatened Mau Forest.
South Africa: Composting waste material for community gardens
Unilever factories in South Africa have begun diverting food waste to make compost used in community vegetable gardens, helping local communities and reducing waste sent to landfill.
Sri Lanka: Sunlight brings water
As a small island country, Sri Lanka faces a very diverse range of weather patterns. When one area suffers a flood, another area just a few miles away can be experiencing a severe drought.
Tanzania: Biodiversity action plan
How do you run a tea estate sustainably in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots? Unilever Tea Tanzania (UTT) is responding to this challenge with a biodiversity action plan for its Mufindi estate in the Eastern Arc Mountains.
Thailand: Thailand's first packaging management institute
The disposal of unwanted waste is a key environmental issue. In Thailand, packaging accounts for 31% of all waste. Unilever Thailand and 17 national and international manufacturers have joined forces to tackle the problem.
UK: Encouraging biodiversity at Colworth Estate
Woodland, hedgerows, fields and golf courses all play a role protecting biodiversity at Colworth Estate.
USA: Protecting wild birds on tomato farms
Bertolli and Ragu tomato farmers in California are protecting wild birds, including birds of prey, to encourage biodiversity.
USA: Unilever National Parks Programme
As the longest-standing corporate partner of the National Park Foundation, Unilever's commitment to preserve and protect America's National Parks spans thirteen years. By 2008, our commitment will exceed $50 million in donations and support.
