by Julie Gramlich, Regional Sales Manager Nutrition and Ice Cream
Shoppers are looking for products that are better for the planet and better for us. More people are realizing that environmental issues are of great importance and that climate change, water pollution and plastic waste are of top concern. We know that we need to address sustainability in order to be trusted and chosen by shoppers, especially generation Z, and other future shoppers.
Unilever has opportunities to show shoppers there is no need to make sacrifices when making choices that are better for our planet. With food taking so many resources, and with those resources quickly diminishing, and the population growing, it is up to us to work together to grow food in ways that help safeguard the future of food production. We need to operate in ways that replenish the soil, create climate resiliency, reuse and recycle water, increase species above and below ground and, in turn, increase the yield/output on the farm.
Unilever has been growing ingredients following sustainable agriculture code for more than 10 years, with 95% of our vegetables and herbs sustainably sourced. Sustaining agricultural land and resources is necessary. Unilever is renewing or restoring the land to enable higher yields and healthy harvests into the future by using specific regenerative agriculture principles. Moving to regenerative agriculture means we are going from maintaining to renewing and restoring nature. We are already on our journey to regenerative agriculture with projects in many brands. Knorr, Unilever’s largest food brand, for example is partnering with Spanish tomato farmers who grow tomatoes for soups in Europe to improve soil health and reduce use of synthetic fertilizers. Knorr has been working with its main rice supplier to grow rice in ways that reduce water use and reduce methane emissions. This change helps to lower the
impact rice has on climate change and agriculture greenhouse gas. Hellmann’s is working with soy farmers to plant cover crops that naturally nourish the soil between harvests. Magnum has trained farmers in the vanilla supply chain to increase production, grow other crops and buy livestock helping to contribute to their improved livelihoods. Ben & Jerry’s have been in this space for a while implementing regenerative practices to improve yield and decrease resource use.
Unilever’s efforts to be environmentally conscious will increase loyalty, accelerate growth and increase market value. We know this is what current and future shoppers are looking for us to do. This will help us drive purchasing power. We are all expected to make moves for sustainability, our consumers are asking us to do this, however we don’t have to do this alone. Together we can make the changes to fix the food system and transform the food industry for the betterment of people and the planet.
