Unilever

Unilever has conducted TCFD-aligned scenario analysis to assess physical and transition risks to the business using a 1.5°C, <2°C, <3°C, >4°C scenarios by 2030, 2039, and 2050. The company has included its ice cream business within this scenario analysis, which is its primary animal agricultural business segment and has accounted for its demerger of this business from 2026 in its analysis. The company has recognised how increasing climate and extreme weather can impact its supply chains and has disclosed reducing GHG emissions as a key action to mitigate this material risk. One of the levers Unilever has identified to reduce emissions is to reformulate products, which includes increasing plant-based ice cream options and alternatives.

The company has not yet reported a full breakdown of its Scope 3 emissions derived from animal agriculture, nor a breakdown by protein type. However, the company has reported its Scope 3 emissions from forest, land and agriculture as 8.4 million tonnes CO2e.

Unilever has a 1.5°C-aligned Scope 3 emission reduction target covering Forest, Land, and Agriculture (FLAG) emissions that has been approved by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved Scope 3 target. The company has committed to a 30.3% absolute reduction by 2030 from a 2021 baseline.

The company calculated the financial opportunity presented by protein diversification in 2023. At the time, the company calculate potential profits of €0.5 billion by 2030 and €1.7 billion by 2039, however, it is unclear how this figure has changed given Unilever's demerger of its ice cream segment as the company has not reported an updated figure on potential profits

Unilever has incorporated protein diversification into its climate transition strategy. Through its Future Foods initiative, the company targets €1.5 billion in annual sales from plant-based products by 2025.

The company has established a time-bound protein diversification target, aiming to achieve €1.5 billion in annual sales from plant-based products by 2025.

Unilever has two separate food business divisions: Nutrition and Ice Cream. The company aims to generate €1.5 billion in annual sales from plant-based products by 2025, covering both divisions.

There is no evidence that the company has aligned its protein diversification target with recognised climate and health guidelines for dietary transition.

Unilever reported an increase of plant-based sales of €1.3 billion.

In FY2023 the company reported plant-based sales of €1.2 billion. In FY2024 this number was €1.3 billion.

Unilever has linked 15% of its long-term remuneration to progress against its Sustainability Progress Index, which includes the company's Scope 3 FLAG emission reduction target. However, there is no clear link between protein diversification to board-level remuneration.

Unilever has disclosed that 100% of its board members have experience in sustainability.

It is unclear whether the company's Board members have technical expertise in nutrition and/or health.

Unilever has disclosed a dedicated list of direct lobbying activities and has provided a clear list of its public policy positions. The positions include lobbying in aligning national climate strategies to a 1.5°C pathway, ensure carbon is priced at levels necessary for the delivery of the Paris Agreement, scale up renewable energy capacity and ensure the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, support forest protection and nature restoration, and encourage the evolution of the GHG Protocol standards to incentivise emissions reduction actions in value chains.

Unilever has disclosed direct lobbying actions that are aligned with both positive climate and nutrition outcomes. Some of the company's direct climate lobbying as it relates to its food business include policies that facilitate a deforestation-free supply chain and regulatory landscape that supports farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture. On nutrition the company directly lobbies on policies that help consumers make healthier diet choices and policies that restrict the marketing of food and beverages to children under 16.

The company provides a full list of its key industry associations it is a member of and their geographic presence. The company is member of industry associations in all its key operating geographies.

Unilever disclosed the alignment and misalignment of its trade associations with its climate and dietary shift goals through its Climate Policy Engagement Review. The company has disclosed its plans to address the alignment of these trade associations with specific recommendations linked to each group.

Unilever has publicly committed to Just Transition principles, however, there is no explicit mention of these commitments covering its animal agricultural supply chains.

Unilever is upskilling its procurement teams to support the company deliver on its climate plans, however, it is unclear the extent these procurement teams cover animal agriculture.

Unilever currently has 46 projects where it is working with its suppliers to implement regenerative agriculture practices across key ingredient commodities including dairy, however, it is unclear what the scale of these projects are. Additionally the company has its Lower Carbon Dairy Programme where it is piloting projects through its Ben & Jerry's brand in the US and the Netherlands.

The company outlines its approach to regenerative farming practices but has not established a Just Transition strategy that includes animal agriculture.

Unilever directly engages with its own workforce on the company's strategic priorities including its sustainability goals, however, the company does not have an official Just Transition strategy. Additionally, Unilever has disclosed that it engages with key stakeholders about key risks and opportunities around its sustainability materiality assessment.

Unilever does not have a specific Just Transition strategy and therefore does not report against any KPIs linked to a strategy.

Unilever does not have a specific Just Transition strategy and therefore does not report against any KPIs that are reported on an annual basis linked to a strategy.

Unilever launched own brand plant-based products in its largest US and European markets in the past year. These include expansion of Ben & Jerry’s oat-based non-dairy range with Mochaccino Chip, Strawberry Swirl, and Caramel Cookie Graham flavours globally and Bohemian Raspberry in the UK, and Breyers non-dairy chocolate made with an oat milk base.

Unilever evidences several types of resource allocation to improve the perfomance of alternative protein products in the past year. These include innovation through a third-party partnership with Macro Mike to launch the plant-based, gluten- and dairy-free Golden Almond Protein range, and reformulatation of its vegan Magnum recipe, replacing pea protein with soy to improve taste and texture.

Unilever has set a minimum health and nutrition requirement for its alternative protein source portfolio, however, this is not aligned with a government-endorsed nutrient profiling system. The company has established internal nutrition criteria, including the Unilever Science-based Nutrition Criteria (USNC) and Positive Nutrition Standards (PNS). Although these are aligned with WHO guidelines, it is unclear if they are based on a government-endorsed nutrient profiling system.

Unilever evidences reformulation of alternative protein products to improve nutritional attributes. The company's Vegetarian Butcher brand's vegan raw burger was fortified with vitamin B12 and iron this year to address common nutritional gaps in plant-based diets.

There is no evidence that Unilever is reformulating alternative protein products to improve sustainability attributes.

Unilever has committed to marketing and merchandising strategies related to its alternative protein brands, however, it is unclear if these include the company’s largest markets. The company has delivered campaigns like #CheatOnMeat and partnerships with The Vegetarian Butcher and Düzgün Food Group to promote plant-based products across multiple channels, including social media and in-store efforts.

Unilever is marketing and merchandising alternative protein products in its largest US and European markets. The company's #CheatOnMeat campaign launched during Veganuary to promote its vegan product range through plant-based recipes using products from its Hellmann’s, Knorr and The Vegetarian Butcher brands, social media channels, TV advertisements with celebrity endorsement such as The Hairy Bikers, and in-store. Additionally, the company has dedicated plant-based content and recipes on its Unilever Food Solutions website, and re-branded its Hellmann's Vegan Mayo to ''Plant-based'' in Canada. The company's brand Knorr also collaborated with South Africa's National Department of Basic Education to help teachers educate students about the importance of vegetables and plant-based protein consumption.

There is no evidence that Unilever is working to ensure its alternative protein source products are accessible and affordable in its largest markets. Although the company has disclosed general examples of how it is working to make food affordable and accessible, it is unclear if alternative protein products are included in these efforts.

Unilever has conducted consumer research investigating trends within the alternative protein sources sector. The company leverages third-party consumer research to identify demand for alternative proteins, finding that consumers are increasingly interested in plant-based proteins; the flexitarian market is on the rise; and meat eaters are more likely to choose a vegetarian meal when they make up at least 75% of the food options available. The company also identifies a particular demand for vegetable-based dishes.

Unilever has used consumer research relating to healthy diets to inform its marketing and merchandising strategy for alternative protein sources. The company finds that vegan and vegetarian consumers are moving away from indulgent foods and want to eat more healthily. In response, the company is promoting healthy plant-based recipes which incorporate its branded products.