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: Unilever & Walmart demonstrate sustainable living

Unilever's sustainable house shows Wal-Mart customers how to live in an environmentally friendly way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tanzania: Biodiversity action plan

Unilever Tea Tanzania (UTT), formerly Brooke Bond Tanzania, has developed a biodiversity action plan to help preserve ecosystems in the country's Eastern Arc region.