Unilever’s 2022-2024 sustainability and financial disclosures offer a detailed view into how a global consumer goods company is embedding climate action, circularity, and resource efficiency into its core business model while maintaining steady financial growth. The data shows that, as of 2024, Unilever has achieved a 74% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations compared to a 2010 baseline, with steady year-over-year progress: 70% in 2022, 72% in 2023, and 74% in 2024. This sustained decarbonization occurred alongside a consistent increase in revenue and net profit, highlighting the company’s ability to align sustainability with commercial performance.
This trajectory is underpinned by several interlocking strategic levers:
- Accelerated transition to renewable energy: Unilever has increased its use of renewable grid electricity from 95% in 2022 to 97% in 2024, moving closer to its goal of sourcing 100% renewable energy for its operations worldwide.
- Plastics and circularity leadership: The proportion of recycled plastic in Unilever’s packaging has risen from 18% in 2022 to 23% in 2024, reflecting targeted investments in circular packaging design and supply chain partnerships to reduce virgin plastic use and support a closed-loop system.
- Resource efficiency and waste minimization: Water use per consumer has declined each year, and waste sent to landfill has dropped from 1.2 kilotons in 2022 to just 0.9 kilotons in 2024, demonstrating operational efficiency and progress toward zero waste.
- Integrated reporting and transparency: Unilever’s reporting covers a broad set of ESG indicators, including climate, plastics, water, and circularity, and is mapped to global frameworks such as GRI and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Unilever’s emissions profile, like many in the FMCG sector, is increasingly dominated by value chain (Scope 3) sources, especially raw materials, packaging, and logistics. The company’s approach to Scope 3 includes supplier engagement, innovation in materials science, and advocacy for systemic change in recycling infrastructure.
Financially, Unilever’s revenue grew from €59.6B in 2022 to €62.8B in 2024, with net profit rising from €7.1B to €8.2B, indicating that sustainability initiatives are being implemented without compromising profitability. Governance structures ensure that sustainability targets are integrated into business strategy and executive incentives.