Nature
We are collaborating with partners and communities across priority agricultural sourcing regions and landscapes and factories in high water-stress areas.
Our sustainability targets help focus action on issues that can affect the long-term resilience of our business, and where we believe Unilever can contribute. Discover how we’re taking action on our four priority sustainability focus areas: climate, nature, plastics and livelihoods.
How is Unilever taking action on climate?
100% absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 (vs 2015)
42% absolute reduction in scope 3 energy and industrial GHG emissions by 2030 (vs 2021)[c]
30.3% absolute reduction in scope 3 forest, land and agricultural (FLAG) GHG emissions by 2030 (vs 2021)[d]
See our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB) for definitions, methodology, scope and boundaries.
We’re focusing our efforts in the following ways:
- Engaging with governments and businesses to help align national and corporate climate plans
- Collaborating with selected suppliers on decarbonisation
- Aiming to maintain at least 95% deforestation-free sourcing across our primary deforestation-linked commodities, based on our requirements [e]
- Aiming to implement regenerative agriculture practices on 1 million hectares of agricultural land by 2030 [f]
- Exploring product reformulation and alternative ingredients that may reduce embedded emissions
- Working to improve packaging design in line with our plastics targets
- Tackling logistics emissions
- Integrating energy efficiency and renewable energy into our operations
Find out more about our approach.
Building supplier climate capability
Building supplier climate capability
A significant proportion of our value chain GHG emissions come from raw materials, ingredients and packaging.
Our Supplier Climate Programme supports selected suppliers to share product carbon footprint (PCF) data for the materials we buy and work with us on decarbonisation opportunities.
In 2025, Unilever collected over 2,000 carbon footprint data points from suppliers.
Protecting forests
Protecting forests
We seek to maintain at least 95% deforestation-free sourcing across our primary deforestation-linked commodities, based on our requirements and including compliance with applicable deforestation laws.
‘Deforestation-free’ is defined as the meeting of our deforestation-free requirements, as set out in our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB).
97% of our purchased volumes of palm oil, paper and board, tea, soy and cocoa were deforestation-free in 2025, based on Unilever’s deforestation-free requirements.[e]
Scaling regenerative agriculture practices
Scaling regenerative agriculture practices
Regenerative agriculture is an outcome-based approach to farming that aims to protect and improve soil health, water, climate and biodiversity, while supporting farmer livelihoods.
Our regenerative agriculture programmes aim to help smallholder farmers become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and aim to support soil carbon storage.
By the end of 2025, 34 regenerative agriculture programmes had covered approximately 254,000 hectares cumulatively since 2021.[f]
Where climate meets innovation
Where climate meets innovation
We’re working with partners to reformulate selected products and explore the use of ingredients with lower associated emissions, while seeking to maintain product performance.
One of our biggest priorities is developing alternatives to fossil fuel-based chemical ingredients in our laundry and cleaning products.
This is no easy task, so we are also encouraging the chemicals industry to increase the use of renewable and recycled feedstocks, supported by enabling government policy.
Decarbonising our operations
Decarbonising our operations
We have reduced our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 77% vs 2015 across our owned and leased sites.[a]
Our progress reflects our continued focus on energy efficiency, renewable electricity and decarbonising thermal energy consumption using heat pumps and electric boilers.
We also support global business coalitions calling on governments to accelerate the clean energy transition.
How does Unilever address climate risk?
Climate change presents multiple risks that have the potential to affect supply security, cost structures and consumer demand.
We have set climate targets[a] [b] and identified actions on climate and nature to support resilience to supply chain disruption and rising carbon prices.
These near-term, scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets and actions are set out in our Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP)[a] [b], which was supported by over 97% of shareholder votes at our 2024 AGM.
Our CTAP focuses on reducing emissions covered by our near-term targets.[g] These actions contribute towards our ambition to reach net zero emissions across our value chain by 2039.
There are no quick fixes, especially given the scale and complexity of our value chain. Our near-term targets and reported progress are set out below.
What is Unilever’s progress towards its climate targets?
We continue to make progress towards our science-based targets[a] [b] for reducing GHG emissions in our operations and wider value chain. Find out more about our 2025 progress below and in our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB).
Target: reduce absolute operational GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 100% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline
We have reduced our scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 77% vs 2015[a], from across our owned and leased sites such as factories, offices and labs. This is reported using the market-based approach under the GHG Protocol.[b]
Our progress was achieved by continuing our focus on energy efficiency, renewable electricity and decarbonising our thermal energy consumption. We also advocate for a faster global clean energy transition.
Target: reduce absolute scope 3 energy and industrial (E&I) GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline
We have reduced our scope 3 E&I GHG emissions by 11% vs 2021 across a wide range of sources outside of our direct control.[a] [c]
The reported change reflects purchased material volume decline, the availability of supplier-specific product carbon footprint (PCF) data, and improvements in GHG measurement.
We expect progress against our E&I target to be challenging, given the significant contribution from the petrochemicals sector and end-of-life emissions from surfactants, but we’re engaging with business and government with the aim of encouraging wide-scale change.
Target: reduce absolute scope 3 forest, land and agriculture (FLAG) GHG emissions by 30.3% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline
We have reduced our scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by 17% vs 2021 from purchased goods and services associated with ingredients.[a] [d]
This has been driven by improved data relating to the GHG impact of our deforestation-free sourcing programme for palm oil and the availability of supplier-specific product carbon footprint (PCF) data.
The available data does not currently isolate how much of the reported change reflects emissions reductions rather than data and methodology improvements.
Our reliance on purchased material volumes for GHG accounting makes it difficult to isolate the impact of specific reformulation initiatives (e.g. in detergents and soaps) but this is an area we aim to build data and visibility on in future years.
The vast majority of the GHG emissions in scope of our climate targets arise outside our own operations, making collaboration with value chain partners important.
See our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB) for definitions, methodology, scope and boundaries.
What wide-scale change is Unilever advocating for?
To help us move faster towards our near-term climate targets[b] and our net zero ambition, we’re calling for policies that support business investment in the transition. Our actions include encouraging national governments to:
- Align with business on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to ensure transition plans are investable
- Strengthen their targets and plans to reduce emissions
- Prioritise renewables and energy efficiency as pillars of long-term energy security, and transition away from fossil fuels
- Shift the chemicals industry away from fossil fuel-based chemicals and towards bio-based alternatives
- Make sure carbon is priced appropriately to deliver the targets of the Paris Agreement
- Encourage the evolution of GHG Protocol standards so that they better recognise value chain action
The UN has warned that although global temperature rise will now inevitably pass 1.5°C, there is still a chance it could be reversed. By calling for policies that create a level playing field, we aim to de-risk the transition, supporting the policy conditions needed for investment in our transition.
We’re also engaging our trade associations to ensure they are aligned with Unilever’s positions on climate policy, and proactively support solutions that remove barriers to climate progress.
How is Unilever leveraging climate finance to help bring solutions to scale?
As set out in our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB), through our Climate & Nature Fund, we have invested €500 million since 2020 in climate, nature and resource-efficiency projects. We also work with finance partners on supplier finance and regenerative agriculture initiatives.
In 2025, we partnered with HSBC to provide lower-cost, sustainability-linked financing to select suppliers participating in our Supplier Climate Programme in India. And we have worked with Axa and Tikehau Capital on an investment initiative focused on regenerative agriculture.
How is Unilever engaging with suppliers?
With most of our GHG emissions coming from raw materials, ingredients and packaging, collaborating with our suppliers is an important part of our approach.
Our Supplier Climate Programme
This Programme brings tools and expert support to almost 200 key suppliers whose products contribute most to our GHG emissions.
From chemicals producers and agricultural suppliers to third-party manufacturers, together, they account for over 40% of Unilever’s scope 3 GHG emissions from raw materials, ingredients and packaging.
The Programme supports them in measuring product carbon footprints for the materials we buy, sharing that data with Unilever and ultimately working with us on reducing emissions.
Progress through data and action
We’re working alongside other businesses in the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT) to standardise the collection of product carbon footprint data from suppliers.
Used in place of industry averages, this data can improve the specificity of our GHG estimates and help identify and track potential emissions reduction opportunities.
One example is our work with key can suppliers to help reduce aerosol packaging emissions by sourcing aluminium produced with low-carbon energy.
Advocating for renewable energy
We’re partnering with our suppliers to buy renewable electricity in a number of markets such as India, as well as supporting suppliers to access climate finance to enable their decarbonisation.
We’re also pushing for a faster global transition to renewable energy. This involves working with other businesses through initiatives such as RE100 and the We Mean Business Coalition to call on governments to prioritise renewables and energy efficiency and to transition away from fossil fuels.
What is Unilever doing to maintain at least 95% deforestation-free sourcing from primary deforestation-linked commodities?
Our GHG emissions from forest, land and agriculture predominantly arise from land use change, agricultural practices and downstream processing. We’re focused on reducing these emissions from our primary deforestation-linked commodities: palm oil, paper and board, tea and soy.
We have set a target to maintain at least 95% deforestation free sourcing across these primary forest risk commodities year-on-year.[e] ‘Deforestation-free’ is defined as the meeting of our deforestation-free requirements, set out in our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB).
97% of our purchase volumes of palm oil, paper and board, tea, soy and cocoa were deforestation-free in 2025, based on our requirements.[e]
Empowering people, investing in infrastructure and harnessing technology
To maintain this progress, we require suppliers to meet our deforestation-free sourcing requirements and are training smallholder farmers on practices set out in our Sustainable Agricultural Principles (PDF 5.01 MB). We have provided training to around 29,500 smallholders in Indonesia since January 2024.
As set out in our Annual Report and Accounts (PDF 6.16 MB), since 2021, we have invested over €280 million in Unilever Oleochemicals Indonesia (UOI) to increase our direct sourcing of palm oil from mills and farmers, to lower the risk of deforestation in our palm oil supply chain.
We’re partnering with technology providers to use technology, including remote-monitoring and data-analysis tools, to help identify and assess deforestation risk.
Advocating for deforestation-free supply chains
We’re calling for greater alignment between national climate and nature agendas, and greater focus on nature-based solutions that support decarbonisation efforts.
We’re advocating for governments to adopt policies that aim to halt and reverse nature loss, and for system-wide change across the palm oil industry.
For more on our work to maintain deforestation-free sourcing of primary forest risk commodities, visit our Nature page.
How is Unilever taking a regenerative approach to farming?
Drawing on our Regenerative Agriculture Principles (PDF 8.34 MB), Unilever is working with partners and suppliers to introduce regenerative agriculture practices in selected sourcing areas.
Regenerative agriculture practices vary by programme and may include measures such as cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage and alternatives to synthetic fertilisers.
Our programmes aim to build supply chain resilience against climate change impacts and to support carbon sequestration. Programme outcomes are assessed through project monitoring.
We’re targeting the crops that have the biggest land footprint in our supply chains, from soybean and rapeseed oil for Hellmann’s, to vegetables and rice for Knorr.
Assessing the climate impact of our programmes
We are collecting data on soil carbon and farming practices to improve how we manage and assess our projects. We want to see an industry-wide approach to data handling for, and reporting on, regenerative agriculture projects.
For more on our work to implement regenerative agriculture practices, visit our Nature page.
How is Unilever reformulating its products and using alternative ingredients?
We’ve started to find ways to reduce the embedded emissions of some of our products without compromising on performance and are pushing for industry changes to help bring solutions to scale. We have set out examples of this work below.
Engaging suppliers to help reduce emissions
To assist in reducing emissions from the chemical ingredients used in our laundry and cleaning products, we need to decrease the GHG intensity associated with linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and soda ash production.
We’re working with key suppliers to do this, securing soda ash produced using biomass and natural soda ash manufactured through processes that require less energy or capture carbon.
Innovating new ingredients and formulations
In Personal Care, we’ve reformulated soap bars using patented novel structuring technology to reduce palm oil-derived total fatty matter and scaled this across brands in India and Indonesia.
In Home Care, we want to transition to lower-emission alternatives to petrochemicals. This isn’t easy as solutions aren’t yet commercially available at scale, but we’re taking some steps forward with partners:
- A patented surfactant innovation used in our Sunlight hand dishwash product
- A joint biotech investment in sugar cane to extract bio-based oil
- A partnership with a tech start-up to explore renewable carbon
We’ve also expanded our Persil Wonder Wash laundry detergent range, which is designed for short, cold wash cycles.
Collaborating for change
We’re engaging policymakers, NGOs, industry, academics and trade associations to drive a faster transition of the chemicals industry. Not only does this allow us to shape the agenda, it also helps to de-risk the transition by encouraging industry alignment.
Lower-carbon synthetic soda ash can only be scaled with cooperation between end-users, manufacturers and the fertiliser industry. That’s why, in India, we are leading a working group aiming to influence the chemicals industry.
What action is Unilever taking to improve its packaging in line with its plastics targets?
Reducing virgin plastic use and changing packaging design can affect packaging-related GHG emissions. This varies by material, format and end-of-life system.
Reduction, circulation, collaboration
- We’re finding ways to remove plastic from our packaging by designing new product formats
- We’re moving from virgin, fossil-fuel-derived materials to recycled and renewable feedstocks
- We’re working with others to push for better recycling and collection infrastructure
For our approach to reducing virgin plastic use, improving recyclability and addressing packaging emissions, see our Plastics page.
How is Unilever tackling its logistics emissions?
We rely on transportation to source materials and ingredients and bring our products to customers around the world.
Most of our logistics emissions are linked to our global road transportation, so we are working to reduce logistics emissions through route and load optimisation, fewer journeys and the use of alternative fuels and electric vehicles on selected routes and in selected markets.
Shifting to alternative fuels
We’ve started transitioning some of our fleets to alternative fuels in some of our biggest markets. For example, in Europe, we continue to increase our use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), while in North America, we’re shifting from diesel to renewable natural gas (RNG) on selected lanes.
Electrifying our future
We have scaled up the use of electric vehicles in Greater Asia, Greater China and Latin America, as well as Pakistan, Turkey, Arabia and Bangladesh (PTAB).
How is Unilever using renewable energy in its operations?
From our factories to our offices and labs, how we power and heat our owned and leased buildings is in our direct control. Alongside becoming more energy efficient, our ongoing transition to renewable electricity has been our biggest driver in reducing our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 77% since 2015[a].
Transitioning to renewable thermal energy
Now, we’re focusing on decarbonising the heat used in our production processes. Given the scale and diversity of our manufacturing network and various market complexities, this is a considerable challenge.
In 2025, we scaled up the electrification of thermal energy by installing industrial-scale heat pumps at sites in the Philippines and India, and we increased our use of electric boilers with an installation at our Cavite site in the Philippines. In Brazil and Indonesia, we’re moving to biomethane at some of our largest sites, including at UOI.
Powering our sites with renewable electricity
In 2025, 88% of the electricity consumed at our sites was reported as renewable using the market-based approach.
This included electricity supplied through wind and solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) including in Poland, India, and Spain, and renewable electricity certificates where renewable electricity is not available from local suppliers, following RE100 Reporting Guidance 2022.
Working with other companies to speed up the clean energy transition
We were one of the first companies to join RE100. We signed a joint statement coordinated by RE100 urging ministers and business leaders to prioritise renewables and energy efficiency as pillars of long-term energy security. During COP30, we supported the We Mean Business Coalition’s statement urging governments to commit to a roadmap on the transition away from fossil fuels.
Our other sustainability priorities
Plastics
We are combining innovation and industry collaboration to reduce our plastic waste by using less virgin plastic, improving recyclability and developing alternative packaging solutions.
Livelihoods
We are supporting the livelihoods of people in our value chain through our smallholder farmer, small retailer and living wage programmes.
[a]
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Our near-term scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets and actions are set out in our Climate Transition Action Plan. The Ice Cream Company (Ice Cream) completed its separation from Unilever on 6 December 2025. Consistent with the Annual Report and Accounts 2025, reported 2025 scope 3 performance includes Ice Cream, while scope 1 and 2 performance is reported on a continuing-operations basis and excludes Ice Cream.
[b]
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Our scope 1 and 2 target was set versus a 2015 baseline using the market-based approach. It was first validated in 2017 by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as compatible with a 1.5°C pathway in line with the Paris Agreement. In 2024, SBTi validated that our proposed scope 3 targets conform with the SBTi Criteria and Recommendations for Near-Term Targets version 5.1. We selected a 2021 baseline date for our scope 3 targets, for which we have more accurate data. We regularly review our approach with SBTi.
[c]
(1, 2) Energy and industrial (E&I) emissions from purchased goods and services (associated with ingredients and packaging), upstream transport and distribution, energy and fuel-related activities, direct emissions from use of sold products (associated with HFC propellants), end-of-life treatment of sold products, and downstream leased assets (associated with ice cream retail cabinets). Our 2025 E&I reported performance included Ice Cream.
[d]
(1, 2) Forest, Land and Agricultural (FLAG) emissions from purchased goods and services (associated with ingredients). Our 2025 FLAG reported performance included Ice Cream.
[e]
(1, 2, 3, 4) ‘Deforestation-free’ means the meeting of our deforestation-free requirements, set out in our Annual Report and Accounts. Unilever may be subject to mandatory deforestation-related obligations under the laws of various jurisdictions, including requirements applying to certain commodities and products placed on relevant markets. Compliance with these obligations may contribute to the progress reported against this target. Reported progress may therefore reflect both compliance with applicable legal requirements and voluntary action undertaken under Unilever’s deforestation-free sourcing programme.
[f]
(1, 2, 3, 4) The hectare figure measures the area on which programmes have been implemented; it does not, by itself, demonstrate climate outcomes.
[g]
Our CTAP does not include the purchase of carbon credits to meet our near-term climate targets.