To play our part in tackling climate change, Unilever is working towards science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and aims to achieve net zero across our value chain by 2039.
This means we're going beyond our own operations to take action where it matters most, including for our raw materials, ingredients, and packaging, which we estimate account for 63% of the GHG emissions within scope of our net zero ambition.
Our partnerships with suppliers are critical to our success. Our Procurement teams are leveraging shared values around the health of our planet and our future business to accelerate climate action in our supply chain, while also working to keep products affordable for consumers.
Our Supplier Climate Programme
Unilever defines supplier climate leadership as partners who:
- Set a Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-aligned target
- Publicly report progress towards meeting this target
- Share product-level GHG emissions footprint data with Unilever
Through the Unilever Supplier Climate Programme, we are focusing on a subset of priority suppliers whose materials contribute most to our carbon footprint.
In 2021, we ran a pilot with a small group of diverse suppliers demonstrating a range of climate capabilities. We tested hands-on guidance and access to tools and resources, and acted on their feedback to scale the Supplier Climate Programme, building suppliers’ capacity to measure, share, and reduce their Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).
By the end of 2024, we aim to have onboarded around 300 suppliers, who account for approximately 44% of our Scope 3 GHG emissions (outside of our operations and within scope of our net zero ambition) that are related to raw materials, ingredients, and packaging. These suppliers include third-party manufacturers who produce finished goods for Unilever.
As participating suppliers progress in the Programme and share their PCF data with Unilever, they provide us with a more accurate picture of our shared climate impact. We’ll be jointly tracking progress over time as suppliers work to reduce the footprint of the materials we buy, while also taking steps ourselves across areas such as by reformulating products and innovating in different packaging materials.
Unilever Climate Promise
Suppliers of raw materials, ingredients and packaging who fulfil our criteria for climate leadership are invited to sign the Unilever Climate Promise. Whilst optional, this presents an opportunity for our suppliers to publicly demonstrate their climate ambition and the values they share with Unilever around sustainability.
Leading companies that have signed the Unilever Climate Promise include:
If you are a Unilever supplier of raw materials, ingredients or packaging and you believe you meet the criteria to sign the Climate Promise, please reach out to your usual Procurement contact at Unilever.
Working with other companies on climate
Unilever has partnered with several organisations (implementation partners) to deliver our Supplier Climate Programme and to help accelerate climate action across the private sector.
“We already had a science-based target for reducing value chain emissions and are reporting on our progress. As we directly share our product carbon footprint data with Unilever, it was a natural next step to sign the Unilever Climate Promise. We’re proud to publicly highlight our partnership on this important topic.”
Predrag Ozmo, Sustainability Director at Ball Corporation
As part of the Supplier Climate Programme, Manufacture 2030 helps suppliers on their emission reduction journey by developing a baseline and implementing a reduction plan, using a range of best practices and access to support services. At the mid-level, Ecochain with Nexio Projects trains suppliers how to model their PCF data and work on reduction scenarios.
“Working with delivery partners Ecochain and Nexio to develop our PCF has given us the data to engage in wider discussions with our industry peers, about how we can improve supply chains, to be more efficient and more sustainable.”
Hammam Adel Alfaran, General Manager at Farabi Petrochemicals Company
And the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), hosted by WBCSD, guides our most advanced suppliers to share their PCF data with Unilever.
Through PACT, we’re working with industry to standardise methodology for data collection. This helps reduce the reporting burden for suppliers as they share PCF data with multiple customers – enabling them to focus on emissions reduction.
To read more about our updated commitments on climate, nature, plastics and livelihoods, visit our Sustainability Hub.