Nestlé

FAIRR Commentary

• Unilever updated its “Force for Good Strategy” in 2019 to prioritise a transition to more plant-based diets. The company has highlighted brands that are environmentally and nutritionally advantaged as significant growth drivers, with plant-based foods a key example.
• The company has indicated that both the Board and broader Unilever staff have approved the “Force for Good Strategy” within which the plant-based transition plays a critical role.
• Unilever has accelerated its investments in plant-based R&D, including partnerships and collaborations with start-ups, universities, and consortia, and in December 2019 the new “Hive” innovation centre was opened.
• Through the Knorr brand in particular, the company is active in marketing and consumer engagement campaigns to encourage vegetable consumption and substitution of plant-based products for meat through a range of channels including on-pack recipes, which Unilever believes is a key nudge area.
• Unilever has a clearly articulated agenda for improving the sustainability of its portfolio and has aligned its commercial and sustainability objectives. However, the company is unlikely to set external targets for transitioning its product portfolio due to commercial sensitivity (the need to maintain existing ingredient supplier relationships).
• We would encourage Unilever to provide greater detail on its plans and long-term approach on portfolio transition and consumer education underpinning a 1.5-degree world in its annual public reporting.
• In addition, we encourage Unilever to develop its tracking and reporting on its protein ingredient split, as the company has indicated it is exploring ways to measure and collect relevant data beyond GHG impacts of animal-derived protein ingredients.

Company Comment

Company reviewed assessment, feedback was incorporated where relevant, and no further comments provided.