Unilever achieves zero waste to landfill in UK

This was achieved whilst the Anglo-Dutch firm reported annual sales of 51 billion (32 billion) up from 40 billion (25 billion) when Unilever set out its new vision of doubling the size of its business whilst reducing its environmental impact.

Unilever, which owns over 400 brands including Persil, Knorr, Dove and Ben & Jerrys, has reached the milestone of 100% of sites sending zero waste to landfill in 18 countries including all of Unilevers factories in the UK and Ireland. Much of the waste isrecycledunder a contract withVeolia Environmental Services.

Unileversaid the overall achievement was equivalent to removing more than one million household bins of waste every year.

Over 130 Unilever factories across the world, from Costa Rica to Japan, send no non-hazardous waste to landfill. A key driver for this achievement is the elimination of waste in the factories. Additionally waste is reduced, reused, recycled and recovered.

Target

Under its Sustainable Living Plan, Unilever announced that by 2020, total waste sent for disposal will be at or below 2008 levels – despite producing significantly higher volumes. Now, Unilever is stretching the original target even further by bringing the 2020 commitment five years forward. A total of 252 factories across the world will not send any non-hazardous waste to landfill by end of 2015.

Tony Dunnage, group environmental engineering manager at Unilever, said: “This is a significant achievement for Unilever as we make progress towards reaching our ambitious sustainability goals. It’s a great example of how we are putting our sustainability strategy into action – by decoupling the growth of our business from its environmental impact. Today’s landmark demonstrates how our factories are more environmentally responsible, which is helping us to save money to invest in our business.

In late 2011, Unilever announced that it had teamed up with Torbay council to directly support the council’s mixed plastics recycling service by helping topublicise the scheme (see letsrecycle.com story).

Are you working towards zero waste to landfill? If so, please consider entering the Zero Waste Awards scheme organised by letsrecycle.com. To find out more, click here.