Three years after Unilever launched the Supplier Climate Programme, more and more businesses in their supply chain are stepping up their climate action efforts. The focus is on supporting key suppliers whose materials have the most significant impact on Unilever’s climate footprint. These 300 suppliers make up approximately 44% of Unilever’s ‘Scope 3’ greenhouse gas emissions, which are emissions outside of their operations.
These suppliers come from various industries such as palm/oleochemicals, fine chemicals, soft commodities, food ingredients, packaging, and petrochemicals. Unilever also collaborates with manufacturers who produce some of their products. The updated Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP) shows that the Supplier Climate Programme could play a crucial role in helping Unilever achieve their science-based targets for reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions by 2030.
With a significant portion of Unilever’s emissions coming from raw materials, ingredients, and packaging, it is essential to work with suppliers to calculate and share the footprint of the materials they provide. This collaboration allows both parties to understand their climate impact better, take effective action, and monitor progress over time.
Two companies participating in the Supplier Climate Programme are Weener Plastics and Ball Corporation, both of which supply packaging solutions to Unilever. They have been working on calculating and sharing their Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data with Unilever to track their progress in reducing the climate impact of their materials.
Unilever is now focusing on equipping their Procurement team with the knowledge to integrate emissions reduction into their commercial strategies effectively. Moving forward, they plan to develop partnerships with suppliers through workshops and create roadmaps for priority materials with significant GHG reduction opportunities.
Stella Constantatos, Unilever’s Supplier Climate Programme Lead, noted the increasing number of suppliers accelerating their climate actions through collaboration. By working together, partners can reduce emissions and provide a clearer picture of the climate impact in the supply chain. This collaboration helps identify the best opportunities for emission reduction and sets the stage for future partnerships.
For more information on suppliers showcasing climate leadership through the Unilever Climate Promise, you can visit their website. Additionally, to learn about Unilever’s updated commitments to climate, nature, plastics, and livelihoods, you can visit their Sustainability Hub.