Unilever makes major strides on zero waste

Unilever’s factories across Europe have joined those in North America in achieving zero non-hazardous waste to landfill.

With similar achievements in countries from Argentina to Indonesia, it means more than three-quarters of the fmcg giant’s global factory network no longer sends such waste to landfill, up from 20% just three years ago.

Under the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, by 2020 total waste sent for disposal will be below 2008 levels, despite growing the business significantly. The achievement to date has been made possible with minimal need for capital expenditure and has avoided cumulative disposal costs of more than €17m.

Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Unilever chief supply chain officer, commented: “We have seen a rapid acceleration in converting the network to zero waste. In 2010, 52 sites were there. We have now reached 200 sites. We are on track to hit our revised target of 100% of sites by 2015, five years ahead of the original 2020 target. I am proud of the team effort which has got us to this milestone.”

Later this month, the Unilever Sustainable Living Report 2013 will be published, and will confirm that Unilever has reduced total waste sent for disposal by 66% per tonne of production since 2008.

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