Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a series of unprecedented events – from a global pandemic to significant inflationary pressures, alongside geopolitical tensions and conflicts – all leaving a profound impact on households, economies, and political landscapes worldwide.
Simultaneously, the urgency of environmental and social challenges threatening our planet and societies has only intensified. Whether it’s the looming climate crisis or persistent social inequalities, these issues demand immediate attention and action.
At Unilever, we’ve long been committed to addressing these challenges head-on. From our pioneering Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to our comprehensive Compass Strategy and most recently, our ambitious Climate Transition Action Plan, sustainability has been ingrained in our business strategy.
Our efforts have yielded significant benefits, including more resilient supply chains, cost savings in operations, and the attraction of top talent.
Looking ahead, we see an opportunity to usher in a new era of sustainable business leadership – one characterized by accelerated progress and greater impact.
This new era entails three fundamental shifts:
- More Focus: We recognize the need to prioritize our resources on the most pressing sustainability issues. By concentrating our efforts, we can make tangible progress on complex challenges. For instance, our focused approach to achieving deforestation-free supply chains has proven successful, with a 97.5% reduction in deforestation by 2023.
- More Urgency: While long-term commitments are crucial, we understand the importance of taking immediate action. Therefore, we’re integrating short-term sustainability goals into our strategic planning cycles, ensuring accountability and swift progress.
- More Systemic Change: As we continue to advocate for sustainability, we’re increasingly focusing on systemic transformations that rely on global collaborations, technological innovations, and supportive policies. This includes deeper partnerships with suppliers and proactive policy advocacy, such as our leadership in calling for a global plastics treaty.
In summary, our refreshed sustainability agenda is about doing fewer things with greater impact. We’re committed to delivering on our plan and are passionate about the positive difference it will make – not only for our business but for all our stakeholders.
