Unilever plans to spend b 1bn to replace what it puts into its laundry and cleaning products to cut components made from fossil fuels.
The Consumer Goods Group aims to eliminate fossil fuel-based chemicals from products such as parsley laundry powder and Domestos bleach in a decade. This is the first initiative of this standard for cleaning products.
Peter Ter Kulwe, president of Unilever’s 11 11 billion homecare unit, said the cleaning sector was facing a “diesel moment”, citing revelations that diesel-powered cars were causing more pollution than expected.
“We have our diesel moment – I think everyone knows that it’s time to make the cleaning industry the main goal, and ask: ‘How do we clean up?’
Chief executive Alan Jope has taken the initiative while trying to reduce emissions from Unilever products during his life cycle by 2030, while also increasing sales sluggishness.
Mr Ter Culve said the changes meant that in addition to traditional ones like Dow Chemical, U.S. The microbe technology group will have to work with a wide range of suppliers such as Ginkgo Bioworks.
Demand for cleaning products such as CIF has picked up during the epidemic in Unilever’s homecare division. But its biggest vendors are its laundry detergents, which include Surf, Radiant, Omo and Percil. Unilever makes parcels in the UK and in some other places. Elsewhere, it is produced by the German group Henkel.
Laundry efforts to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases have focused on energy consumption previously used by washing machines.
But Unilever said the neglected source of emissions products include fossil fuel-based chemicals, such as surfactants and soda ash, which break down grease and soften water.
This is the share of about half of manufacturers for the carbon footprint, Mr. Ter Kulway said. Their replacement will enable the company to cut 1 million tonnes of fossil fuels a year from its supply chain, he said.
Unilever will replace some components with plant-based alternatives: For example, in the UK, Pursile has improved its liquid detergent to use plant-based stain removers.
The Quix dishwashing brand in Chile now uses Ramanolipid, a natural and biodegradable surfactant that can be produced by bacteria.
Unilever acquired the seventh generation of Vermont-based manufacturer of plant-based cleaning products four years ago, but Mr. Ter Kulway said converting the mass market to fully plant-based products would use more land.
Instead, for some components, Unilever will focus on changing sourcing: for example, it is investigating surfactants that are made from plastic waste.
Mr Ter Culve said: “We know the consumer wants to make green choices unless they are more expensive, and the products do not work less.”
These changes will reduce overall emissions from its products by about a fifth, the company estimates. It will cut more by reducing plastic packaging.
Carol Ferguson, head of investor research at CPD – which operates an environmental disclosure system for investors – said the initiative was a sign of the growing sophistication of corporate initiatives to cut emissions.
“It’s the kind of projects that will give investors confidence that they’re really trying to tackle the problem.” “Projects like this get away from greenwashing.”
