July 2010: Business in the Community (BITC) names Unilever 'Company of the Year'

Global effort

UK-based sustainable business organisation Business in the Community (BITC) has named Unilever ‘Company of the Year 2010‘ for the positive impact it has on communities, environments, marketplaces and workplaces around the world.

In their report, the judges said: “Unilever has demonstrated a real depth of understanding on sustainability issues and consumer engagement right across the business and through its brands. By systematically analysing the environmental and social impacts of their products and implementing strategies to reduce and improve those impacts, Unilever is showing the rest of the business world how to make money the right way.”

Why Unilever won

The award is open to all companies who achieve Platinum Plus status in the annual BITC Corporate Responsibility (CR) Index.

In its presentation to the judges, Unilever described how it was an early adopter of sustainable business practices including its sustainable agriculture, Living Lakes and sustainable fisheries programmes. The company also explained how it is a leader in sustainable agriculture, with its commitments to sourcing 100% certified sustainable tea, palm oil and, most recently, paper and packaging. It outlined its health and hygiene initiatives that have an impact on millions of consumers: among them, Lifebuoy’s handwashing campaigns, the role some of our margarine brands (eg Blue Band, Rama) play in tackling under-nutrition and water purifier Pureit’s success in getting safe, healthy drinking water to billions.

Unilever highlighted how it has embedded sustainability into its way of working, and its efforts to look across the entire value chain from supplier to consumer use, in a drive to reduce the impact of its products. With two billion people using Unilever products on any given day, the company explained how the potential for its consumers to make a big difference is enormous, if – through its brands – it encourages every consumer to take small actions to improve their sustainability.

Unilever’s influence

Amanda Sourry, EVP, UK & Ireland, was presented with the Company of the Year award in London on 5 July by Philip Green, Chair of the Judging Panel and Chief Executive of United Utilities – last year’s Company of the Year  – in front of 1 000 business leaders and HRH The Prince of Wales, President of BITC.

Philip Green told the gathering: “Unilever is an outstanding example to others and a worthy winner. Unilever is a significant global market leader, with influence extending well beyond that.”

Accepting the award, Amanda said: "Business has a great responsibility and opportunity to create and enable positive change, for both society and the environment, particularly in such turbulent economic times. In the long run, we believe it will be the businesses which do the right thing, in the right way, to the best of their talents, which will ultimately prosper.”

"We have already declared our ambition to double the size of our business while reducing our environmental impact across our entire value chain.”

“This recognition inspires us to go further and faster – working with our consumers, business partners, employees, their communities and other partners throughout the UK and Ireland and beyond – to continue to deliver against our sustainable development goals and, importantly, their expectations of Unilever.”

BITC CR Index

The BITC Corporate Responsibility Index is a voluntary, business-led benchmark of responsible business practice. Companies are assessed on how effectively they address social and environmental issues – focusing on how they manage, measure and report their impact on society.

Companies are graded Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze according to their overall performance. Introduced in 2008, Platinum Plus is the highest ranking and recognises companies who underpin their commercial business strategy with thinking around long-term sustainability.

The 2009 Index was the first time Unilever had achieved Platinum Plus status but the company has been judged one of the most responsible food manufacturers in each of the eight years the Index has been produced.

The Index includes over 90 companies, representing Britain's largest businesses (from the FTSE 350) and some smaller BITC members.