SustainCase: How Unilever is acting on climate change by eliminating deforestation

Case study: How Unilever is acting on climate change by eliminating deforestation


When forests are cleared, burned or degraded, they turn from being carbon sinks to carbon sources – contributing up to 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As one of the world’s largest buyers of palm oil – a major driver of deforestation – Unilever has committed to working with others to eliminate deforestation from the world’s commodity supply chains.


Across the globe, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for food, medicines, fuel, for their jobs and livelihoods. As one of the world’s largest buyers of palm oil – whose production is responsible for large-scale  deforestation –, Unilever aims to work with suppliers, governments and industry forums to eliminate deforestation from the world’s commodity supply chains, tackling the climate change threat. In order to achieve this target Unilever took action to:

• transform its supply chain through a range of partnerships, policies and mechanisms

• encourage the whole industry to set and meet high standards

• work with others to embed no-deforestation pledges into national and international policies and

• achieve external recognition of its efforts to tackle deforestation


Using the GRI Guidelines in order to maintain and increase the value of your company


With each publication in this series the FBRH team will highlight one key impact identified by a company reporting in accordance with the GRI Guidelines and show how it has taken a structured, systematic approach to improving performance. With such positive action companies build trust, by dealing responsibly and conscientiously with their impact on the environment and on their stakeholders (e.g. clients, suppliers, shareholders, local communities, NGOs or local government). Stakeholders that can hold it back or stop it from reaching its objectives


By building trust your company creates loyalty and long-term commitment to its services and brands