Our biggest
challenges
Poverty, malnutrition, climate change and water scarcity: these are some of the big challenges facing the world and our business today. Find out more about how we are addressing these and other sustainability issues.
Less water
Water scarcity is a growing problem. We are finding ways to reduce our water use and helping consumers to reduce theirs.
Our reformulated Surf Excel washing detergent needs less water to rinse, helping consumers save water in water-scarce parts of India.
Some performance highlights
Nutrition
44%
Of products in line with internationally accepted guidelines for saturated and trans fat, sugar and salt.
Hygiene & well-being
133m people
Reached through Lifebuoy's handwashing programmes since 2002.
Greenhouse gases
39%
Reduction in CO2 from energy by our factories from 1995 – 2008.
Water
63%
Reduction in water use by our factories from 1995 – 2008.
Community
€89m
invested in community programmes worldwide in 2009.
Employee safety
Accident rate reduced from 0.26 in 2007 to 0.21 per 100,000 hours worked in 2008.
Our Sustainability reporting
11 May 2009 : Our online Sustainable Development Report 2008 is published today with final data and commentary. The summary Sustainable Development Overview 2008 is available to download.
Our people
Sylvia Rutatina Estate Manager, Unilever Tea Tanzania
Achieving Rainforest Alliance certification for Unilever's tea brands depends on people like Sylvia.
News
December 2009: Unilever publishes verification report checking the validity of Greenpeace's Burning Up Borneo report
Unilever has published an independent study into claims made by Greenpeace that Unilever palm oil suppliers are breaching Unilever's Business Partner Code and mandatory Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil requirements.
Our world in stories
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Europe
Unilever agronomists are working to make agriculture more sustainable in the UK.
View all case studies -
North America
Unilever Canada's Go Blue campaign is encouraging consumers to cut their water consumption by 50%.
View all case studies -
South America
We have teamed up with Wal-Mart to show Brazilian consumers how to live in an environmentally friendly way.
View all case studies -
Africa
We are one of 30 companies helping the Kenyan government tackle hunger in rural areas.
View all case studies -
Asia
Project Shakti has created a livelihood for 45 000 women entrepreneurs in rural India.
View all case studies
Our brands in society
By addressing social and sustainability issues, our brands can make a real difference and create growth opportunities for our business.
