Unilever Achieves Zero-to-Landfill Manufacturing Commitment in the UK

The commitment also helps Unilever meet its waste-to-landfill targets beyond the UK, since the company's 11 manufacturing sites produce around 25 per cent of its overall European waste.

Sep 19 2011 --- Unilever can announce that it has achieved its ambition of becoming a "zero to landfill" manufacturer in the UK.

The FMCG company's 11 manufacturing sites across the UK - from its PG tips factory in Manchester to its Colman's factory in Norwich - do not send any non-hazardous waste to landfill.

The commitment is part of Unilever's global Sustainable Living Plan, which sets out its ambition to double the size of the business whilst reducing its environmental impact.

Unilever has achieved its target in the UK by striking an agreement with its waste supplier Veolia to ensure that more than 97 per cent of its waste is recycled. The remaining 3 per cent will be converted into usable energy.

As well as Unilever's manufacturing sites, the company's two strategic research and development laboratories in at Port Sunlight and Colworth Science Park, and its two major offices in Blackfriars, London, and Leatherhead, Surrey, are also included in the arrangement.

Tony Dunnage, Unilever European Eco-Efficiency Manager said: "This is a significant achievement for Unilever in the UK as we make progress towards reaching our ambitious sustainability goals. It's a great example of how we are putting our sustainability strategy into action - by decoupling the growth of our business from its environmental impact. Today's landmark demonstrates how our factories, office sites and R&D laboratories are more environmentally responsible, which is helping us to save money to invest in our business.

"Managing waste in a manufacturing process has similarities to managing waste as a consumer - it requires the application of the "three R's" principle: reduce, reuse, recycle. While this announcement is all about our commitment to recycling, we are also determined to find ways to reduce and reuse the materials which we need in our factories."

The commitment also helps Unilever meet its waste-to-landfill targets beyond the UK, since the company's 11 manufacturing sites produce around 25 per cent of its overall European waste.

Unilever has reduced its total waste in manufacturing per tonne of production by 77% since 1995.