Food and drink manufacturer Unilever has created a series of new climate goals as it calls upon the wider industry to follow suit.
Split over 12 identified “action” areas, the new plan aspires to an “ultimate” ambition to reach net zero across Unilever’s value chain by 2039.
To achieve this, the plan spans areas including reformulating products, regenerative agriculture, packaging, operating aerosol propellants and ice cream cabinets.
The series of goals also come with a GHG emission reduction target of 100% for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions, 42.2% for Scope 3 energy and industrial and 30.3% for Scope 3 forest land and agricultural GHG emissions.
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Unilever chief sustainability officer Rebecca Marmot said: “Climate action is a priority for Unilever, to support business growth and the communities we serve. We’re focusing our efforts where we can have most impact and driving innovation – but we cannot do it alone.
“We’re partnering with others to scale solutions and using our voice to spur collective action from governments, regulators and industry, up and down our value chain. We want to focus our business and the world to get on track for net zero.”
Alongside the Climate Transition Action Plan, the FMCG has also released its first Climate Policy Engagement Review, urging industry associations to get more “actively engaged in climate advocacy”.
The new reports come amid past criticism of Unilever, which last year saw investigation launched against it by the CMA to scrutinise its ‘green claims’, while a separate report earlier this year named the company as one of the world’s top 3 corporate plastic polluters.
Despite this, last month Unilever pressed ahead to reveal its first regenerative agriculture project in the UK, teaming up with farms that supply ingredients used in Coleman’s products.
