Unilever: British-Dutch Consumer Goods Company
Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer goods company, best known for the vast range of products it distributes, from food and groceries to personal and home care products. Unilever has been in business since 1929 and is one of the biggest and most recognizable brands in the world, employing over 169,000 people in over 190 countries. It is one of the largest entities in the FTSE 100 Index, a stock market index of the 100 most highly ranked companies on the London Stock Exchange.
With a business model focused on making sustainable products and responsible business practices, Unilever has been a leader in the consumer goods industry for many years. This article will provide a closer look at the company’s history, some of their most popular products and brands, and their commitment to sustainability.
History of Unilever
Unilever began in the late 19th century when the Dutch margarine producer, Jurgens, and the British soapmaker, Lever Brothers, decided to combine their companies. Initially, both companies provided different products, but as time passed, they began to diversify their offerings. In 1929, the two companies officially merged and created the Unilever company.
Over time, the company began to acquire many of their well-known brands. Unilever acquired Calbo in 1958, Pepsodent in 1961, and Elizabeth Arden in 2004. These acquisitions led to even more diversification for the company, and Unilever now offers many products under different brands.
Today, Unilever owns many of the world’s top-selling products such as Dove, Lipton, Ragu, Vaseline, Axe, Hellman’s, and Lipton. The company’s extensive product range covers foods, beverages, home care, health and beauty products, personal care, ice cream, and pet food, among many others.
List of Unilever’s Most Popular Products
Unilever’s most popular products include:
• Dove – Dove is a personal care brand that offers everything from soap and body washes to shampoo and conditioners.
• Lipton – Lipton is a globally recognized tea brand that is known for using natural ingredients and quality brewing processes.
• Ragu – Ragu is one of the most popular pasta sauces on the market.
• Vaseline – Vaseline is a widely recognized brand of petroleum jelly used to protect and moisturize skin.
• Axe – Axe is one of the most popular male body care brands in the world.
• Hellman’s – Hellman’s is a well-known condiment brand that offers various types of mayonnaise and salad dressings.
• Lipton – Lipton offers a variety of tea products as well as tea mixes, tea bags, and iced tea mixes.
Unilever and Sustainability
Unilever is committed to doing business responsibly and sustainably. The company has set a series of sustainability goals, which include reducing its environmental impact and working towards having a positive impact on society.
In 2020, Unilever released its Sustainable Living Plan, the company’s ten-year milestone and a framework to help the company meet their goals. Unilever has committed to a halving of its total environmental footprint by 2030 and sourcing 100% of its agricultural raw materials sustainably by the same date.
To reduce its carbon emissions, Unilever has set an ambition to be net zero across its global value chain by 2039. The company is also targeting to ensure 100 percent of its plastic packaging is either reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. In addition, Unilever has committed to helping educate 1 billion people about sustainable consumption and empowering 5 million people in the company’s value chain by 2030.
Unilever’s Commitment to Allocating Resources
Unilever is committed to investing in their business to create long-term, sustainable growth opportunities. The company has selected child rights, water, sanitation and hygiene, and girls’ and women’s empowerment as focus areas to invest in. Unilever has also set a goal to ensure that people in the company’s value chain are not in abusive or exploitative work conditions.
The company also has ambitious goals for creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Unilever set targeted goals to recruit and retain a workforce with a 50/50 gender split and to promote 20 percent of women in senior positions.
Unilever is a leading consumer goods company that has been in business since 1929. The company produces a wide range of products from food and groceries to personal and home care products. Unilever’s brands are well-known around the world, and their commitment to sustainability is evident through their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint and investing in their company. Unilever is dedicated to providing their customers with quality products and committing to sustainable business practices.
