Waste & packaging

From the factory floor to the shop shelf, we will use only the essential amount of packaging materials to contain our products and will continue to reduce, reuse, recycle and eliminate as much packaging materials as possible.

The packing challenge

Bird iconIn recent years, concern has been growing about the environmental impacts of packaging in terms of the resources used to make it and its contribution to waste. As part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan we have set ourselves a bold new target to halve the waste associated with our products by 2020. We will achieve this through a combination of reducing, reusing, recycling and eliminating certain packaging materials. We also continue to tackle the waste arising from our manufacturing operations through our eco-efficiency programme. At the same time we are addressing waste in our offices and aiming to source 100% of the paper and board for our packaging from certified sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2020.

Unilever warehouse

Our packaging & waste strategy

Recycling station in Sao Paolo, Brazil

Reducing our packaging without compromising on protection or safety.

Targets & performance

Recycling banner in Brazil

Ambitious targets to reduce the amount of waste associated with our products.

Our waste footprint

Crop from a Persil advert, UK

Analysis of our footprint has identified the biggest opportunities for reductions.

Reducing waste in manufacturing

Boosting our efforts to reduce waste from our manufacturing operations.

Tackling sachet waste

Working on technology solutions to reduce litter associated with product sachets.

Waste partnerships

Partnerships are crucial to help us increase recycling and recovery of packaging waste.