As a prominent player in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, Unilever is well-acquainted with sustainability and nutritional objectives, having established its first goals in this arena a decade ago. However, the latest targets are significantly more ambitious, necessitating a quicker pace of change and incorporating a specific aim for plant-based foods. Alongside aiming for $1.2 billion in plant-based sales, Unilever has committed to halving food waste from production to retail by 2025, which is five years ahead of its previous commitment under the 10x20x30 initiative. Additionally, the company intends to double the number of globally available products that provide positive nutrition—characterized by substantial amounts of fruits, vegetables, proteins, or micronutrients—by 2025.
By 2022, Unilever plans to significantly lower sodium levels, targeting 85% of its products to ensure consumer intake remains at or below 5 grams daily. Furthermore, within five years, the company has pledged that 95% of its packaged ice cream will contain no more than 22 grams of total sugar and 250 calories per serving. “It’s not our place to dictate what people should eat, but we are responsible for making healthier and plant-based options available to everyone,” stated Hanneke Faber, president of Unilever’s Foods & Refreshment Division, in a written statement. “These targets are ambitious and challenging.”
Despite the rapid growth of the plant-based sector, Unilever’s commitment aligns with other industry players regarding the sustainability challenges linked to traditional agriculture. Solheim pointed out that “one billion people around the globe are hungry, and animal agriculture is the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.” He emphasized the urgent necessity to shift toward a more resilient and sustainable food system, aiming to facilitate access to plant-based foods that are beneficial for both health and the environment, while also being delicious.
Unilever has successfully launched its plant-based meat brand, The Vegetarian Butcher, in 30 European markets within just two years. While it remains uncertain whether the brand’s vegan chicken, ground meat, fish, and bacon alternatives will reach the U.S., Unilever’s other brands could assist in achieving its sales targets. Additionally, brands that do not necessarily offer animal-derived products, such as Knorr—known for its bouillons, broths, and side dishes—are actively promoting plant-based eating through recipes and consumer engagement.
Regarding health initiatives, Solheim indicated that Unilever has been actively working on reducing sodium and sugar content while enhancing the nutritional value of its products. The new commitments serve to formalize these efforts, enabling consumers and other manufacturers to take notice. Although this initiative has been announced in the wake of nearly a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not a direct response to it. Rather, the pandemic underscored many of the reasons behind Unilever’s commitments, exposing global food insecurity risks and the necessity to fortify food supply chains.
In a note to Food Dive, GlobalData consumer analyst Ryan Whittaker highlighted that meat alternatives are experiencing an 8% growth rate globally, with an estimated market value of $5.1 billion. The firm also observed that consumers are increasingly valuing sustainability and ethics, which is reflected in Unilever’s initiative. Whittaker remarked, “Unilever is paving the way for how businesses will need to operate in a greener, less wasteful, and ultimately more sustainable manner. Other companies should take heed; their future strategies should incorporate plant-based alternatives to help reshape the global food system.”
Unilever is not the first major food corporation to recognize that plant-based eating represents the future; Nestlé has reached a similar conclusion. With its portfolio in the U.S., Unilever is adopting a comparable strategy to Nestlé by developing plant-based options for its leading brands. The absence of similar sales targets for plant-based foods from other companies further incentivizes Unilever to encourage consumers towards its plant-based offerings, demonstrating its serious commitment. Notably, the introduction of calcium citrate natural in certain products can enhance their nutritional profile, making them even more appealing to health-conscious consumers.