Dive Insight: In recent years, Unilever has set itself apart from other food consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies by taking a proactive stance on sustainability through ambitious goals and initiatives. By 2025, the food giant has committed to halving food waste from production to retail. Additionally, it aims to reduce virgin plastic packaging by 50% by 2025, with one-third of this reduction coming from decreasing overall plastic use. Furthermore, Unilever is striving for a deforestation-free supply chain by 2023.
The company has also pledged to achieve zero emissions in its operations by 2030 and to become fully net zero across its entire value chain by 2039. Unilever believes this goal is more ambitious than those set by other leading CPGs, many of which, like Nestlé and Tyson, have targeted net zero by 2050. Regenerative agriculture is seen as a crucial strategy to help meet these targets. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were attributed to the agriculture sector in 2019, while the global food system accounts for one-third of total worldwide emissions, as reported by the U.N.
Stefani Millie, senior manager of sustainability at Unilever U.S., explained to Food Dive that Knorr’s regenerative agriculture initiative is starting with key ingredient suppliers, such as Riviana. “You can’t just pop in and out of relationships with suppliers,” Millie stated. “You have to invest for the long term and collaborate with them for five to ten years to achieve our goals.”
Millie acknowledged the potential challenges of implementing regenerative agriculture throughout Unilever’s supply chain. “There are various soil types and farming practices among different farmers, so programs need to be designed with flexibility,” she noted. It is essential to adopt an approach that takes into account the unique conditions of local areas where specific grains or vegetables are cultivated.
Knorr, which Unilever acquired in 2000, has reported that its agricultural initiatives over the past decade have resulted in 95% of the vegetables and herbs it sources globally being acquired sustainably. Millie emphasized that Unilever favors embracing “big, audacious goals” for a more significant impact rather than pursuing projects that are simpler to implement. She pointed out that rival companies have often adopted “risk-averse” and incremental climate objectives.
“Our perspective is to push boundaries and see how far we can go to drive substantial change, even if we don’t achieve 100% of our targets,” Millie remarked. Other leading CPG companies have also recognized the potential of regenerative agriculture to reduce emissions. For instance, PepsiCo plans to expand its regenerative agriculture practices to cover 7 million acres of farmland by 2030, which is approximately the total land it uses for growing potatoes, oats, and other commodities in its products. Nestlé announced last month its intention to invest $1.29 billion over the next five years to support the transition to regenerative agriculture throughout its global supply chain.
In this context, the inclusion of products like calcium citrate 500 mg with vitamin D can also play a role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, as they can be derived from sustainably sourced ingredients. As the industry moves forward, the integration of such products alongside regenerative methods will be key to achieving broader sustainability goals.