Better Health for All

In 2023, 52% of Unilever's products delivered positive nutrition, and 81% met Science-based Nutrition Criteria aimed at reducing calories, sugar, salt, and saturated fat.

This means 19% of products did not meet these criteria. The company has made 89% progress toward ensuring 95% of packaged ice cream contains no more than 22 grams of total sugar per serving by 2025. Unilever committed in March 2022 to assess its performance against government-endorsed nutrient profile models and publish an annual report, promising transparency and setting a new industry standard. Through collaborations with the Ministry of Health in Vietnam, Unilever has reached over 22 million people with personal hygiene education. For employee wellbeing, Unilever offers comprehensive mental health programs, including an Employee Assistance Programme, free access to apps like Headspace, and a 'Time to Talk' team with 4,000 Mental Health Champions who facilitate over 2,000 hours of conversations annually. The 'Healthier U' program has engaged over 40,000 employees. Unilever's products do not have addiction potential.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Unilever supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and diverse suppliers through various initiatives. The company committed to spending €2 billion annually by 2025 with suppliers from under-represented groups, including those led by women and minority communities

, having spent €1.1 billion by 2023. These programs provide skills, financing, and networking opportunities. Unilever aims to support 5 million small and medium-sized businesses by 2025 , having reached 1.2 million businesses. Programs like Shakti in India and Jaza Duka in Kenya have empowered over 210,000 retailers worldwide , and digital platforms engage 2.58 million small stores.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

All individuals working directly for Unilever have earned a living wage since 2020.

, and the company was accredited as a global living wage employer in February 2022. Unilever UK's 2024 Gender Pay Report showed a 4.8% median pay gap in favor of women. , with the company addressing these disparities to promote gender equality.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Unilever achieved a 97.5% deforestation-free supply chain for commodities such as palm oil, paper, tea, soy, and cocoa by 2023.

The company's current annual spend with diverse suppliers is €350 million, representing 1% of its total global supplier spend of €35 billion. Unilever has a Responsible Sourcing Policy that mandates suppliers to adhere to fair labor, health and safety, and environmental sustainability practices, including regular audits and a requirement for suppliers to address non-conformances within 90 days. Unilever commits to ensuring all direct goods and services providers earn a living wage or income by 2030, having paid a living wage in its own operations since 2020. However, in April 2024, the company scaled back targets for supplier living wages.

Honest & Fair Business

In December 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into Unilever over 'greenwashing' allegations

, citing concerns about overstated environmental benefits and unclear recyclability statements . In April 2024, the company announced plans to scale back several environmental and social commitments , including adjusting its virgin plastic reduction target from 50% by 2025 to 33% by 2026 . Unilever also abandoned its pledge to pay direct suppliers a living wage by 2030 , opting instead for fair pay for suppliers accounting for half its annual spend by 2026 . Other commitments on spending with diverse businesses and disability workforce percentages by 2025 were also dropped . In 2023, Unilever received 1,390 reports of potential Code breaches, a 21% increase from 2022 , with 507 substantiated cases leading to 337 employee departures . Also in 2023, 85% of Unilever's procurement spend was with suppliers meeting Responsible Partner Policy requirements, an increase from 76% in 2022 . Historically, Unilever has faced penalties totaling over $38 million since 2000 for offenses in safety, competition, and environmental areas , including a €104 million fine in April 2011 for involvement in a price-fixing cartel . In 2019, allegations of worker rights violations arose, involving security forces reportedly attacking striking workers .

Kind to Animals

Unilever's animal testing policy is vague, does not prohibit ingredient testing, and allows for testing by the company, suppliers, or third parties when required by law.

The company received an 'E' rating from the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare in 2023, indicating a failure to demonstrate improved welfare for farm animals. While Unilever reports 100% cage-free egg sourcing in Europe and North America, it removed its global cage-free pledge in late 2025, with egg sourcing impacting over 1.3 million hens in emerging markets, resulting in approximately 74% cage-free sourcing globally. Unilever uses a wide range of non-animal methods, such as cell-based and computer models, for internal safety assessments and has been developing these alternatives since the 1980s. The company is a founding member of the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS), collaborates with over 50 partners worldwide including Humane Society International and the US Environmental Protection Agency, and funds scientific evaluations of new safety assessment methods. Unilever is a vocal advocate for ending animal testing, having championed the successful European Citizens Initiative #SaveCrueltyFreeCosmetics and supporting Canada’s Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act.

No War, No Weapons

Unilever was labeled an 'international sponsor of war' by the Ukrainian government in July 2023 due to its continued operations in Russia, a country engaged in conflict.

The company paid 3.8 billion roubles in tax to the Russian state in 2022 and committed to complying with Russian conscription laws in July 2023. However, Unilever ceased all imports and exports of its products into and out of Russia in March 2025. , though it continues to run its business in Russia with approximately 3,000 employees across four manufacturing sites. In the early 1990s, Unilever subsidiaries supplied military users with products such as adhesives, detergents, and polishes. Unilever has partnered with organizations like Peace One Day to promote global peace, including the 'Make Love Not War' campaign in 2014, and collaborated with UN Women from 2017 to 2019 to improve women's safety in the tea industry. Unilever supports the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, emphasizing human rights due diligence and embedding respect within its operations and value chain since at least 2015. Despite this, NGOs and the UN criticized Unilever in July 2023 for not addressing violence at its Kenyan tea plantation. Ben & Jerry's, a Unilever subsidiary, described the conflict in Gaza as a 'genocide' in May 2025.

Planet-Friendly Business

In 2024, Unilever's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions were 55,540,000 tCO2e

, with the total carbon footprint increasing by 3.12% from 2023 to 2024. The company has set new science-based targets, aiming for net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2039. This includes a 100% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from a 2015 baseline , having achieved a 74% reduction by 2023 , surpassing its 2025 interim target. It also targets a 42% reduction in Scope 3 energy and industrial emissions and a 30.3% reduction in Scope 3 forest, land and agriculture emissions by 2030 from a 2021 baseline. In 2024, 58.28% of total energy consumed was from renewable sources. Recycled plastic constitutes 21% of the global portfolio. Furthermore, 97% of order volumes for palm oil, paper and board, tea, soy, and cocoa were deforestation-free in 2024.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Unilever has established three formal partnerships, including collaborations with the Kayapó people for Brazil nut sourcing

, farmers in Côte d’Ivoire for land rights , and a partnership in Central Kalimantan focused on governance and human rights . The company has not reported any cultural appropriation incidents. However, Unilever announced plans for 'drastic' changes in its Indonesian operations in October 2024 , in response to consumer boycotts linked to geopolitical issues and the need to address cultural sensitivities .

Safe & Smart Tech

Unilever has a comprehensive responsible AI framework, established in 2019, which includes a multi-stakeholder review process, internal AI risk boards, and third-party audits.

This framework implements all five stages of the AI ethics process and is overseen by a senior executive board and an Enterprise Data Executive. By mid-2024, over 150 AI projects were managed through this assurance process, with half requiring adjustments for issues like bias or transparency. The company partners with Holistic AI to govern over 300 AI projects across its value chain, which has led to a 50% reduction in AI-related risks. All identified issues in AI applications have been resolved, and applications with unmitigable serious risks are rejected. Unilever also integrates AI tools into recruitment to reduce bias. The company proactively prepares for the EU AI Act, which took effect on August 1, 2024, and ensures compliance with global AI regulations, including GDPR and CCPA. Its AI adoption program is shaped by regulatory requirements, and training initiatives align with Article 4 of the EU AI Act, with high-risk models reviewed for bias per Article 10. Unilever advocates for data ethics in the industry, stressing respect, fairness, and transparency, and has played a pivotal role in developing guidelines to build trust in data and technology.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Unilever achieved zero non-hazardous waste to landfill in over 600 locations by 2014.

By 2023, 53% of its packaging was reusable, recyclable, or compostable , with a target to reach 100% by 2030 and beyond. The company reduced virgin plastic use by 18% from 2019 levels by 2023 , aiming for a 30% reduction by 2026. Recycled plastic constituted 22% of its global portfolio in 2023. Unilever has piloted over 50 reusable packaging projects since 2018 , including door-to-door refill models and self-service refill machines. Specific product innovations like Cif ecorefill have reduced plastic use by 75%. The company co-founded the CIRCLE Alliance to support small businesses in building circular economies and its CEO advocates for a global plastics treaty. Unilever's SEAC labs attained Gold LEAF accreditation for sustainable operations, including reducing lab waste , and commitments are reported quarterly.