MULTINATIONAL consumer goods giant Unilever announced today (16) that its facilities across five continents are now powered by 100 per cent renewable grid electricity.
The establishments include factories, offices, research and development facilities, data centres, warehouses, distribution centres, and others.
As far as possible, Unilever’s transition to renewable electricity has been delivered by supporting the development of local renewable energy markets, with 38 per cent of its grid electricity supplied through corporate power purchase agreements and green electricity tariffs.
Where it has not been feasible to do this, Unilever has purchased renewable energy certificates – openly-traded certificates linked to renewable electricity generation.
Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100 at the Climate Group, said: “Congratulations to Unilever – achieving 100 per cent renewable electricity across five continents means the company is quickly advancing on its RE100 goal as it works to become a ‘carbon neutral’ company by 2030.
“Through its membership of RE100, global companies such as Unilever are sending a strong demand signal to the few markets where renewables remain harder to access. They want to be able to source renewable electricity locally at an affordable price – and they want to do that now.”
Marc Engel, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Unilever, said: “…Of course, there is more work to do, but we hope that today’s announcement will inspire further action elsewhere and help prove that it is possible to combat the climate crisis and hold global warming at 1.5° Celsius. Renewable is doable.”
Unilever described its achievement as a significant step towards its target to become a carbon-neutral company before 2030.
The company has worked with partners around the world to generate renewable electricity at its own sites, with solar power in use at Unilever facilities in 18 countries.
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