2Sustain

Unilever is now the first global FMCG company to commit to sourcing all of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or recycled material within a clearly defined timeframe.

Last week, the company announced that it wants to source 75 percent of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2015, rising to a goal of 100 percent from these sources by 2020.

Of course, Unilever is already a recognized leader in sustainable packaging. The company is a founding member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and since 1995, has reduced its total waste (kg/tonne of production) by 73 percent.

“As a leading consumer goods company, we buy considerable quantities of paper and board for packaging to ensure our products are protected and transported safely. As such it is important that we promote sustainable forestry practices and help combat deforestation and climate change through the responsible sourcing of these materials,” says Marc Engel, Unilever’s Chief Procurement Officer. “We are committed to working in partnership with all of our suppliers to progressively increase the proportion of paper and board packaging which comes from recycled materials, or sustainably managed forests, in order to achieve this ambitious target.”

More about Unilever’s commitment to sustainable packaging is available here.

Obviously, packaging is essential. It’s used to protect, distribute, and display product, and it has impact throughout the value chain. The crucial point –as Unilever clearly recognizes –is that we need to find ways to optimize packaging performance while minimizing the risks of supply chain inefficiencies and maximizing benefits to a company’s overall sustainability plan.