CDP Climate Change / CDP Forests Questionnaire (2022) - page 4

 

  Index      Manuals     CDP Climate Change / CDP Forests Questionnaire (2022)

 

Search            copyright infringement  

 

   

 

    

 

Content      ..     2      3      4      5     ..

 

 

 

CDP Climate Change / CDP Forests Questionnaire (2022) - page 4

 

 

Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Other, please specify
Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, Fairtrade
Start year
2010
Target year
2023
Quantitative metric
Target (number)
Target (%)
100
% of target achieved
99
Please explain
Cocoa is one of our priority crops and it’s essential to Magnum, our biggest ice cream
brand which is on sale in 52 countries. We buy certified materials in accordance with
recognized sustainability standards that are equivalent or exceed the requirements of
Unilever Sustainable Agriculture Code, namely Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Fairtrade.
We work with suppliers through these long-standing certification schemes to help
manage risk and to audit our suppliers to monitor compliance with our no deforestation
commitments. RA and Fairtrade promotes ecosystem conservation, worker rights
(including the prohibition of child labour), safety and wildlife protection. It also covers
topics such as water and soil conservation, agrochemical reduction, decent housing,
legal wages and contracts for workers. These standards help improve productivity
through sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring that sustainable cocoa farming
supports farmers and their communities. Preparation for certification can play an
important role in capacity-building for cocoa farmers and, in addition to this, we also
deliver impact programmes to improve farmer livelihoods. Ben & Jerry’s worked with
suppliers to achieve Fairtrade Certification for all its cocoa by 2014. In 2021, Unilever
sustainably sourced 99% of its cocoa as Rainforest Alliance and (RA), and Fairtrade
certified.
Target reference number
Target 11
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Type of target
Traceability
153
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Description of target
We are committed to strengthening supply chain mapping, with the end goal of effective
and cost-efficient traceability at the farm-level. Unilever needs to be able to monitor the
origin of the cocoa that we buy - and we are working with the industry to develop the
framework and tools to make this happen. It is important to ensure a uniform approach
that applies equally to international and national traders, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire
where the local traders (traitants and pisteurs) have been identified as the primary direct
buyers of cocoa from protected areas.
Linked commitment
Zero net/gross deforestation
Traceability point
Farm
Third-party certification scheme
Start year
2018
Target year
2023
Quantitative metric
Target (number)
Target (%)
100
% of target achieved
80
Please explain
Unilever publicly commits to no sourcing of cocoa from National Parks and Reserves
through the traceable direct sourcing programmes of our Tier 1 suppliers. As a Cocoa &
Forests Initiative signatory, we have pledged to develop verifiable monitoring systems
for traceability from farm to the first purchase point for their own purchases of cocoa,
and to work with Industry/Government to ensure an effective national framework for
traceability encompassing all traders in the supply chain. This will enable us to better
define deforestation risk, and to identify issues on the ground that require remediation.
Once the mapping of our dedicated farmers in Côte d’Ivoire is complete, and a
differentiated approach based on the level of degradation of forests for the current
Classified Forests is developed, we will be able to firm up a progressive strategy based
on findings, a prescribed timeline and key roles and responsibilities specified in the land
use plans. This process requires inputs from the government currently finalizing the
154
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
operational decrees that provide further guidance on the new forest policies, which will
further inform our remediation and investments. We are hoping to be in a position to
update this information in mid-2021. We conducted farm mapping via Tier 1 supply
chain partners to identify cocoa farm boundaries polygon data to ensure cocoa is not
being sourced from forest lands, National Parks and Reserves, and Classified Forests.
We also conducted deforestation risk assessments in all direct sourcing areas. We use
geospatial risk assessment combined satellite imagery and other geographical
information to identify where deforestation is or is likely to occur based on land cover
and recent land cover changes. Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land-use, socio-
economic data on cocoa farmers, and detailed operational guidelines covering forest
management and land-use are being developed and will be publicly disclosed. In 2021,
we had mapped 25,006 cocoa farm plots in our direct cocoa supply chain, via our
suppliers, to improve traceability and better understand where our cocoa comes from.
This meant that 80% of directly sourced cocoa volumes was traceable from farm to first
purchase point in 2021. We also continue to publish a full list of our Tier 1 and 2 direct
cocoa suppliers publicly.
Target reference number
Target 12
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Type of target
Other, please specify
Transition to agroforestry with smallholder farmers
Description of target
We work with smallholders to help them build their resilience to market shocks and
fluctuations by helping them sustainably increase their yields and find additional sources
of income. For many cocoa farmers, lack of access to training and other services results
in poor yields, which in turn can lead to farmers switching crops or leaving farming and
moving to urban centres in search of better jobs. Building resilience among smallholder
farmers extends beyond supporting improvements in their agricultural practices. A
holistic approach that aims to address the wider challenges they face is essential - and
will play a crucial part in securing our supplies for the future.
Linked commitment
Zero net/gross deforestation
Traceability point
Third-party certification scheme
Start year
155
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
2021
Target year
2025
Quantitative metric
Absolute number
Target (number)
6,000
Target (%)
% of target achieved
32.5
Please explain
Productivity enhancements in cocoa are closely linked to improved livelihoods, reduced
deforestation and conversion risk due to planting area expansion. We are committed to
promote investment in long-term productivity to grow “more cocoa on less land” through
providing training in good agricultural practices, subsidization of inputs, and
development/capacity building of farmers’ organizations - critical enabling factors for
sustainable agriculture development. Lack of access to training and other services
results in poor yields, which can lead farmers to switch crops or abandon farms for
urban jobs. Additionally, gender empowerment and income diversification help cocoa
farmers build resilience to market shocks and fluctuations. Helping farmers diversify
crops - thereby boosting their income - helps provide financial security and secure land
tenure. This is important as farmers are less likely to have to resort to illegally
deforesting land to support their families.
In Côte d'Ivoire, we run impact programmes with partners to support cocoa
smallholders. We aim to reach 6,000 farmers with income diversification programmes
and opportunities by 2025. These pilots to test income diversification strategies and
entrepreneurship and focused on women empowerment, have reached over 3,000
farmers. To date, via suppliers, we have trained 18,697 farmers to comply with RA
Certification requirements.
Key to this program, in 2021 we kicked off our agroforestry program with our suppliers
and partners like ICRAF and CARE International. The goal of this 4-year program is to
protect and regenerate forest areas and improve farmer livelihoods with a transition of
6,000 hectares of farms to agroforestry. By end of 2021 over 1,950 hectares were
transitioned to agroforestry. While this is 33% of the 2025 target we set, we are well
ahead of our 2021 interim target of 1,050 hectares.
We also supported the assessment of the development needs for twenty farmers’
groups and ad-hoc support to develop improvement plans such as the provision of
cooperative management training and financing transportation. We recognize the
importance of access to financial mechanisms for farmers to enable farm investment
156
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
and income diversification. Specifically, we are promoting access to saving and credit,
including the establishment of Village Loans and Savings Associations for over 3,500
farmers.
Target reference number
Target 13
Forest risk commodity
Palm oil
Type of target
Engagement with direct suppliers
Description of target
Our People and Nature Policy (2020) sets requirements for all Direct Suppliers for In-
Scope Materials in Unilever’s supply chain, including Palm. Our target is to engage with
100% of direct suppliers of Palm oil & palm derivatives with clear requirements for
deforestation and conversion free palm, to ensure suppliers have traceability to sourcing
origins and they monitor and manage deforestation risk, and that we have mutual
agreement on policy compliant sourcing solutions. As Unilever aims for a deforestation
and conversion-free palm supply chain by 2023, working closely with all our suppliers is
crucial. Suppliers are directly responsible for managing their own operations and supply
chain, including their third party suppliers, and for ensuring that the agricultural origin is
deforestation free.
Linked commitment
Zero net/gross deforestation
Traceability point
Third-party certification scheme
Start year
2020
Target year
2023
Quantitative metric
Target (number)
Target (%)
100
157
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
% of target achieved
99
Please explain
Our People & Nature Policy requires all direct suppliers, their supplier groups & their
third-party supply chains to commit to the four principles. In 2021, we engaged with all
(100%) of our palm suppliers to communicate the new People & Nature Policy
requirements and to understand their performance in implementing the requirements of
the policy. To meet Principle 1 - no deforestation & conversion, we have engaged
suppliers to begin to consolidate of the number of 3rd-party palm mills from 1600
globally to 500, mainly in Indonesia and Malaysia. We embed our Policy requirements in
supplier contracts, resulting in approximately 80%% of our core palm oil sourced with
additional contractual controls on deforestation and conversion by Q4 2021. To fulfil
Policy Principle (3) Transparency and traceability, we engage suppliers on a semi-
annual basis to provide traceability information through 3Keel Finally, the Policy requires
independent verification of their compliance and remediation of non-
compliance/breaches within a Suppliers corporate group operations and third-party
supply chains. When we detect non-compliance we engage suppliers in verification and
in addressing/ remediating that non-compliance.
F6.2
(F6.2) Do you have traceability system(s) in place to track and monitor the origin of
your disclosed commodity(ies)?
Do you
Description of traceability
Exclusions
Description of exclusion
have
system
system(s)
in place?
Timber
Yes
Our People and Nature Policy
Not
products
requires all suppliers to provide
applicable
traceability information to a level
defined by the specific country
level risk - including mill names
& GPS coordinates. Suppliers
are also strongly encouraged to
identify & compile spatial data of
natural ecosystems at risk of
deforestation or conversion in
our supply chains. We use GTS
System to collect supplier data
quarterly via custom
questionnaires on paper &
board (P&B) materials delivered
to Unilever, as per our policy
requirement. One of the data
attributes is the country of origin
158
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
of the embedded fibre. In 2021,
we also used GTS to collect
additional origin data focused
on suppliers handling
“controlled wood” that
previously resisted disclosure.
We are expanding the scope of
this assessment to include pulp
mills to complement our
understanding of sub-national
sourcing and origination based
on knowledge of countries’
wood fibre production regions.
This enhances our ability to
track and monitor origins of
wood fibre and the sustainability
of local forest management.
Example: In 2021 we fully
implemented the Google Earth
Engine (GEE) platform for
global scale risk analysis that
incorporates new datasets &
enables greater visibility than
GFW. We used GEE to conduct
geospatial analyses of wood
producing regions in key forest
risk jurisdictions like Riau,
Indonesia & Parana, Brazil, to
help us understand landcover
dynamics in key areas and
enable ongoing geospatial
monitoring of wood origins,
despite the well known and
documented limitations in
geospatial data for forest land
cover/use change.
Palm oil
Yes
Since 2016, we have partnered
Other,
Non-core volumes refer to
Rainforest Alliance (RA) to
please
derivatives of palm fatty acid
capture suppliers' traceability
specify
distillates, which are by-
data and information about their
Non-core
products of the refining
NDPE Policy & sustainability
volumes
process, and tail ingredients.
implementation, via a six-
Tail ingredients represent
monthly questionnaire, which is
very small volumes in our
combined with PalmTrace data.
products (2% of total annual
In 2021, we partnered with
volume) and given our
3Keel to gather traceability data.
footprint and our sourcing of
159
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Currently, we are at about 90%
these by-products compared
traceable to mill with visibility to
with palm oil, palm kernel oil
around 1400 mills in our
and their derivatives, our
extended supply chain. Our
impact and influence on the
People and Nature Policy,
supply chain is limited. We
through our requirements
are also reducing our
embedded in supplier contracts,
consumption of these by-
asks all suppliers to provide
products from 2020. Due to
traceability information from
these reasons, by-products
Unilever factories to secondary
and tail ingredients are
processing, mills and
excluded, summing to around
plantations. Suppliers are also
14% of the total volume we
required to compile spatial data
purchase annually.
of their supply base to disclose
to Unilever through our data
collection tools. In 2021, we
continued building our capacity
to use satellite data, geolocation
tools, & blockchain as new
approaches to monitoring &
traceability from mill to
plantation. We work with
partners, including Earthqualizer
(EQ), World Resources Institute
(WRI), Google (Google Earth
Engine), NGIS, Descartes Labs
& Orbital Insights to utilise
industry data & build bespoke
tools for improved traceability &
analysis to enhance monitoring
& response to environmental &
social risks in our palm supply
chain.  Our partnership with
Orbital Insights anonymises
geolocation-tracking capability
to increase traceability from
plantation to mill, enabling
identification of deforestation
risks in our supply chain. We
access anonymised geolocation
data for inferred traceability on
the OrbitalGo platform. Our
work with Descartes Labs
partnership allows for geospatial
data layers on palm and forest
to allow for traceability data in
160
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
our own deforestation
monitoring platform. In 2021,
together with NGIS and Google,
we built our NDPE Dashboard
which combines the power of
cloud computing with Google
Earth’s satellite imagery
capabilities for better detection
of deforestation and priorities
areas of urgent forests or
habitat protect creating a digital
space for monitoring purposes.
Soy
Yes
We use satellite data,
Other,
Non-core volumes of soy are
geolocation, blockchain & AI to
please
spread across various
build new monitoring &
specify
materials sourced by Unilever
traceability approaches,
Non-core
that may contain non-material
extending from mill to
volumes
amounts of soy (e.g.
municipality of origin and soy
confectionary items,
farm. We work with various
condiments, sauces). Non-
partners, including Proforest,
core volumes represent 3% of
Google (Google Earth Engine),
our total direct soy use.
NGIS, & Orbital Insights to
utilise industry data & build
bespoke tools for improved
traceability & analysis to
enhance monitoring & response
towards environmental & social
risks in our soybean oil supply
chain. Since 2019, we have
partnered Proforest to capture
our suppliers' soybean origins,
sustainability implementation
and deforestation risk using a
custom questionnaire. Our
People and Nature Policy
requires all suppliers to provide
traceability information to a level
defined by the specific country
risk. In high-risk countries,
traceability to the farm level is
required in order to be able to
monitor and verify compliance
with our Policy. In 2021, we
were 97% traceable to mill and
96% traceable to the country of
origin of the soybean (country
161
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
origins can sometimes be less
clear than mill origins in soy
SC). In 2020, we partnered
Google to combine the power of
cloud computing with Google
Earth’s satellite imagery
capabilities for better detection
of deforestation & prioritise
areas of urgent forests or
habitats protection. We are also
working with Orbital Insights to
increase traceability from mill to
municipality and farm of origin,
which will empower us to better
identify deforestation risks in our
supply chain.
Other -
Yes
Unilever maintains long-term
Not
Cocoa
relationships with dedicated
applicable
cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire
through our suppliers. We
publicly commit to no sourcing
of cocoa from National Parks
and Reserves through the
traceable direct sourcing
programs of our Tier 1
suppliers. We conducted farm
mapping via Tier 1 supply chain
partners to identify cocoa farm
boundaries polygon data to
ensure cocoa is not being
sourced from forest lands,
National Parks and Reserves,
and Classified Forests. We also
conducted deforestation risk
assessments in all direct
sourcing areas. We use
geospatial risk assessment
combined satellite imagery and
other geographical information
to identify where deforestation is
or is likely to occur based on
land cover and recent land
cover changes. Over 95%
(25006 farm plots) of our direct
cocoa supply chain has been
mapped, via our suppliers, to
162
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
improve traceability and better
understand where our cocoa
comes from. This will enable us
to better define deforestation
risk, and to identify issues on
the ground that require
remediation. 80% of directly
sourced cocoa is traceable from
farm to first purchase point. We
publish a full list of our Tier 1
and 2 direct cocoa suppliers
publicly.
F6.2a
(F6.2a) Provide details on the level of traceability your organization has for its
disclosed commodity(ies).
Forest risk
Point to which commodity is
% of total production/consumption volume
commodity
traceable
traceable
Timber products
Country
100
Palm oil
Mill
90
Soy
Mill
97
Other - Cocoa
Farm
80
Palm oil
Refinery
10
Soy
Country
3
Other - Cocoa
Country
20
F6.3
(F6.3) Have you adopted any third-party certification scheme(s) for your disclosed
commodity(ies)?
Third-party certification scheme
% of total production and/or consumption
adopted?
volume certified
Timber
Yes
92.9
products
Palm oil
Yes
90
Soy
Yes
100
Other -
Yes
99
Cocoa
163
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
F6.3a
(F6.3a) Provide a detailed breakdown of the volume and percentage of your
production and/or consumption by certification scheme.
Forest risk commodity
Soy
Third-party certification scheme
ProTerra certification
Chain-of-custody model used
Segregation
% of total production/consumption volume certified
6.2
Form of commodity
Soy bean oil
Volume of production/ consumption certified
18,611
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as RTRS or
ProTerra. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition
of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more marketable to us and
others. In 2021, 100% or roughly 300,251 metric tonnes of soybean oil were certified:
6.2% was ProTerra Segregated, 6.4% was ISCC Plus or EU, 18.7% was under our
Regenerative Agriculture Program in US Mid-West, and the remaining 68.6% was RTRS
certificates originated from our own Program in Southern Cerrado, in partnership with
Alianca da Terra. This program is in line with our commitment to protect and restore
native vegetation and to work on landscapes, by supporting farmers in Minas Gerais
and Goais States to certify against the RTRS standard
Forest risk commodity
Soy
Third-party certification scheme
RTRS Production
164
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
68.7
Form of commodity
Soy bean oil
Volume of production/ consumption certified
206,046
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as RTRS or
ProTerra. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition
of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more marketable to us and
others. In 2021, 100% or roughly 300,251 metric tonnes of soybean oil were certified:
6.2% was ProTerra Segregated, 6.4% was ISCC Plus or EU, 18.7% was under our
Regenerative Agriculture Program in US Mid-West, and the remaining 68.6% was RTRS
certificates originated from our own Program in Southern Cerrado, in partnership with
Alianca da Terra. This program is in line with our commitment to protect and restore
native vegetation and to work on landscapes, by supporting farmers in Minas Gerais
and Goais States to certify against the RTRS standard
Forest risk commodity
Soy
Third-party certification scheme
International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC)
Chain-of-custody model used
Mass balance
% of total production/consumption volume certified
6.4
Form of commodity
Soy bean oil
Volume of production/ consumption certified
19,248
165
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as RTRS or
ProTerra. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition
of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more marketable to us and
others. In 2021, 100% or roughly 300,251 metric tonnes of soybean oil were certified:
6.2% was ProTerra Segregated, 6.4% was ISCC Plus or EU, 18.7% was under our
Regenerative Agriculture Program in US Mid-West, and the remaining 68.6% was RTRS
certificates originated from our own Program in Southern Cerrado, in partnership with
Alianca da Terra. This program is in line with our commitment to protect and restore
native vegetation and to work on landscapes, by supporting farmers in Minas Gerais
and Goais States to certify against the RTRS standard
Forest risk commodity
Soy
Third-party certification scheme
Other, please specify
Own Regenerative Agriculture Program in US Mid-West
Chain-of-custody model used
Mass balance
% of total production/consumption volume certified
18.7
Form of commodity
Soy bean oil
Volume of production/ consumption certified
56,287
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as RTRS or
ProTerra. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition
of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more marketable to us and
166
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
others. In 2021, 100% or roughly 300,251 metric tonnes of soybean oil were certified:
6.2% was ProTerra Segregated, 6.4% was ISCC Plus or EU, 18.7% was under our
Regenerative Agriculture Program in US Mid-West, and the remaining 68.6% was RTRS
certificates originated from our own Program in Southern Cerrado, in partnership with
Alianca da Terra. This program is in line with our commitment to protect and restore
native vegetation and to work on landscapes, by supporting farmers in Minas Gerais
and Goais States to certify against the RTRS standard
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Third-party certification scheme
Other, please specify
Rainforest Alliance SAN Standard
Chain-of-custody model used
Segregation
% of total production/consumption volume certified
60
Form of commodity
Other, please specify
Cocoa
Volume of production/ consumption certified
30,016
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as Rainforest
Alliance (RA) or Fairtrade. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a
common definition of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more
marketable to us and others. In 2020, 100% of our cocoa volumes were sustainably
sourced via third-party certification schemes - 62.4% RA SAN Segregated, 31.0% RA
SAN Mass Balance, 6% Fairtrade, 0.4% IFOAM Organic Standards and 0.3% Supplier's
own certification system (Mondelez Cocoa Life).
By the end of 2021, 99% of our cocoa derivatives were sourced sustainably through
167
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
certification schemes such as the Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Fairtrade that allow
buyers like us to work with suppliers within existing sustainability frameworks.
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Third-party certification scheme
Other, please specify
Rainforest Alliance SAN Standard
Chain-of-custody model used
Mass balance
% of total production/consumption volume certified
33.1
Form of commodity
Other, please specify
Cocoa
Volume of production/ consumption certified
16,866
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as Rainforest
Alliance (RA) or Fairtrade. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a
common definition of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more
marketable to us and others. In 2020, 100% of our cocoa volumes were sustainably
sourced via third-party certification schemes - 62.4% RA SAN Segregated, 31.0% RA
SAN Mass Balance, 6% Fairtrade, 0.4% IFOAM Organic Standards and 0.3% Supplier's
own certification system (Mondelez Cocoa Life).
By the end of 2021, 99% of our cocoa derivatives were sourced sustainably through
certification schemes such as the Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Fairtrade that allow
buyers like us to work with suppliers within existing sustainability frameworks.
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
168
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Third-party certification scheme
Other, please specify
Fairtrade
Chain-of-custody model used
Mass balance
% of total production/consumption volume certified
5.2
Form of commodity
Other, please specify
Cocoa
Volume of production/ consumption certified
2,653
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as Rainforest
Alliance (RA) or Fairtrade. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a
common definition of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more
marketable to us and others. In 2020, 100% of our cocoa volumes were sustainably
sourced via third-party certification schemes - 62.4% RA SAN Segregated, 31.0% RA
SAN Mass Balance, 6% Fairtrade, 0.4% IFOAM Organic Standards and 0.3% Supplier's
own certification system (Mondelez Cocoa Life).
By the end of 2021, 99% of our cocoa derivatives were sourced sustainably through
certification schemes such as the Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Fairtrade that allow
buyers like us to work with suppliers within existing sustainability frameworks.
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Third-party certification scheme
Other, please specify
IFOAM Organic Standards
Chain-of-custody model used
Segregation
169
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
% of total production/consumption volume certified
0.3
Form of commodity
Other, please specify
Cocoa
Volume of production/ consumption certified
142
Metric for volume
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as Rainforest
Alliance (RA) or Fairtrade. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a
common definition of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more
marketable to us and others. In 2020, 100% of our cocoa volumes were sustainably
sourced via third-party certification schemes - 62.4% RA SAN Segregated, 31.0% RA
SAN Mass Balance, 6% Fairtrade, 0.4% IFOAM Organic Standards and 0.3% Supplier's
own certification system (Mondelez Cocoa Life)
By the end of 2021, 99% of our cocoa derivatives were sourced sustainably through
certification schemes such as the Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Fairtrade that allow
buyers like us to work with suppliers within existing sustainability frameworks.
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Third-party certification scheme
Other, please specify
Supplier’s Own system (Mondelez Cocoa Life)
Chain-of-custody model used
Mass balance
% of total production/consumption volume certified
0.3
Form of commodity
Other, please specify
Cocoa
170
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Volume of production/ consumption certified
131
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as Rainforest
Alliance (RA) or Fairtrade. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a
common definition of sustainable agriculture, which makes their products more
marketable to us and others. In 2020, 100% of our cocoa volumes were sustainably
sourced via third-party certification schemes - 62.4% RA SAN Segregated, 31.0% RA
SAN Mass Balance, 6% Fairtrade, 0.4% IFOAM Organic Standards and 0.3% Supplier's
own certification system (Mondelez Cocoa Life)
By the end of 2021, 99% of our cocoa derivatives were sourced sustainably through
certification schemes such as the Rainforest Alliance (RA) and Fairtrade that allow
buyers like us to work with suppliers within existing sustainability frameworks.
Forest risk commodity
Timber products
Third-party certification scheme
FSC Forest Management certification
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
44.6
Form of commodity
Paper
Boards, plywood, engineered wood
Primary packaging
Secondary packaging
Tertiary packaging
Volume of production/ consumption certified
426,608
Metric for volume
171
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as FSC and
PEFC. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition of
sustainable agriculture and production, which makes their products more marketable to
us and others. In 2021, 96.9% of the directly-purchased paper & board (P&B) packaging
materials we used were made from recycled fibre or came from certified sustainably
managed forests. Of this, 44.6% were sourced via FSC Forest Management
certification. In 2021, we engaged with both FSC and PEFC to understand the steps
they are each taking to enhance the integrity and assurance of their third party
certification schemes. Specifically, we initiated a collaborative engagement with FSC on
the use of technology in monitoring forests that are covered by or adjacent to FSC
certification, including use of blockchain and satellite data to map different forest cover
classes and their HCV/HCS status as well as to capture the flows of bulk pulp in
complex packaging supply chains.
Forest risk commodity
Timber products
Third-party certification scheme
FSC Recycled
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
37.3
Form of commodity
Paper
Boards, plywood, engineered wood
Primary packaging
Secondary packaging
Tertiary packaging
Volume of production/ consumption certified
356,782
Metric for volume
Metric tons
172
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as FSC and
PEFC. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition of
sustainable agriculture and production, which makes their products more marketable to
us and others. In 2021, 96.9% of the directly-purchased paper & board (P&B) packaging
materials we used were made from recycled fibre or came from certified sustainably
managed forests. Of this, 37.3% were sourced via FSC Forest Management
certification. In 2021, we engaged with both FSC and PEFC to understand the steps
they are each taking to enhance the integrity and assurance of their third party
certification schemes. Specifically, we initiated a collaborative engagement with FSC on
the use of technology in monitoring forests that are covered by or adjacent to FSC
certification, including use of blockchain and satellite data to map different forest cover
classes and their HCV/HCS status as well as to capture the flows of bulk pulp in
complex packaging supply chains.
Forest risk commodity
Timber products
Third-party certification scheme
PEFC Sustainable Forest Management certification
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
11
Form of commodity
Paper
Boards, plywood, engineered wood
Primary packaging
Secondary packaging
Tertiary packaging
Volume of production/ consumption certified
105,217
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
No
173
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains an important target in the new Unilever Compass strategy. We source materials
certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as FSC and
PEFC. These certification platforms help suppliers by providing a common definition of
sustainable agriculture and production, which makes their products more marketable to
us and others. In 2021, 96.9% of the directly-purchased paper & board (P&B) packaging
materials we used were made from recycled fibre or came from certified sustainably
managed forests. Maintaining this top-line level of certified sourcing from 2019-20
indicates that we manage & restrict P&B sourcing to suppliers who maintain compliance
with the standards. Of this, 11% were sourced via PEFC Sustainable Forest
Management certification.. In 2021 we contacted and engaged with both FSC and PEFC
to understand the steps they are each taking to enhance the integrity and assurance of
their third party certification schemes. Specifically, we initiated a collaborative
engagement with FSC on the use of technology in monitoring forests that are covered
by or adjacent to FSC certification, including use of blockchain and satellite data to map
different forest cover classes and their HCV/HCS status as well as to capture the flows
of bulk pulp in complex packaging supply chains. The pretext to the collaboration is that
the technology would be developed to be accessible to other material standards through
the ISEAL Alliance, which includes PEFC.
Forest risk commodity
Palm oil
Third-party certification scheme
RSPO Segregated
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
2.1
Form of commodity
Crude palm oil (CPO)
Crude palm kernel oil (CPKO)
Refined palm oil
Volume of production/ consumption certified
19,455
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
Yes
174
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains a 100% goal (no target date) in the Unilever Compass strategy. We source
materials certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Other certifications that we recognise as
equivalent are ISCC and RA and these are listed in our SAC Scheme Rules. In 2021,
90% (902,449 metric tonnes) of our palm core volumes were certified - 84.2% MB,
2.1% SG and 3.7 independent smallholder (IS) credits. Maintaining this level of
certified sourcing from 2020-21 indicates that we manage & restrict palm sourcing to
suppliers who maintain compliance with the RSPO standard and can consistently supply
certified volumes to Unilever. In 2021, Unilever was the largest buyer of independent
smallholder (IS) credits, purchasing over 33,000 tonnes of RSPO IS-Credits from 33
smallholder groups, directly benefitting over 11,000 IS farmers located across
Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. We secured volume in 2021 by guaranteeing
smallholders the purchase of their credits before certification renewal, Collectively, this
group of RSPO- certified IS represents over 30,000 ha of land.
Forest risk commodity
Palm oil
Third-party certification scheme
RSPO Mass Balance
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
84.2
Form of commodity
Crude palm oil (CPO)
Crude palm kernel oil (CPKO)
Refined palm oil
Palm oil derivatives
Palm kernel oil derivatives
Volume of production/ consumption certified
758,546
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
Yes
Please explain
175
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains a 100% goal (no target date) in the Unilever Compass strategy. We source
materials certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Other certifications that we recognise as
equivalent are ISCC and RA and these are listed in our SAC Scheme Rules. In 2021,
90% (902,449 metric tonnes) of our palm core volumes were certified - 84.2% MB,
2.1% SG and 3.7 independent smallholder (IS) credits. Maintaining this level of
certified sourcing from 2020-21 indicates that we manage & restrict palm sourcing to
suppliers who maintain compliance with the RSPO standard and can consistently supply
certified volumes to Unilever. In 2021, Unilever was the largest buyer of independent
smallholder (IS) credits, purchasing over 33,000 tonnes of RSPO IS-Credits from 33
smallholder groups, directly benefitting over 11,000 IS farmers located across
Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. We secured volume in 2021 by guaranteeing
smallholders the purchase of their credits before certification renewal, Collectively, this
group of RSPO- certified IS represents over 30,000 ha of land.
Forest risk commodity
Palm oil
Third-party certification scheme
RSPO producer/grower certification
Chain-of-custody model used
% of total production/consumption volume certified
3.7
Form of commodity
Crude palm oil (CPO)
Crude palm kernel oil (CPKO)
Volume of production/ consumption certified
33,112
Metric for volume
Metric tons
Is this certified by more than one scheme?
Yes
Please explain
Third-party certification schemes are a key part of our approach: our public commitment
to 100% sustainable sourcing was a Unilever Sustainable Living Plan target (2010-20)
remains a 100% goal (no target date) in the Unilever Compass strategy. We source
materials certified to sustainability standards which meet or exceed our SAC, such as
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Other certifications that we recognise as
176
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
equivalent are ISCC and RA and these are listed in our SAC Scheme Rules. In 2021,
90% (902,449 metric tonnes) of our palm core volumes were certified - 84.2% MB,
2.1% SG and 3.7 independent smallholder (IS) credits. Maintaining this level of
certified sourcing from 2020-21 indicates that we manage & restrict palm sourcing to
suppliers who maintain compliance with the RSPO standard and can consistently supply
certified volumes to Unilever. In 2021, Unilever was the largest buyer of independent
smallholder (IS) credits, purchasing over 33,000 tonnes of RSPO IS-Credits from 33
smallholder groups, directly benefitting over 11,000 IS farmers located across
Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. We secured volume in 2021 by guaranteeing
smallholders the purchase of their credits before certification renewal, Collectively, this
group of RSPO- certified IS represents over 30,000 ha of land.
F6.4
(F6.4) For your disclosed commodity(ies), do you have a system to control, monitor,
or verify compliance with no conversion and/or no deforestation commitments?
A system to control, monitor or verify compliance
Timber
Yes, we have a system in place for our no conversion and/or deforestation
products
commitments
Palm oil
Yes, we have a system in place for our no conversion and/or deforestation
commitments
Soy
Yes, we have a system in place for our no conversion and/or deforestation
commitments
Other - Cocoa
Yes, we have a system in place for our no conversion and/or deforestation
commitments
F6.4a
(F6.4a) Provide details on the system, the approaches used to monitor compliance,
the quantitative progress, and the non-compliance protocols, to implement your no
conversion and/or deforestation commitment(s).
Forest risk commodity
Timber products
Operational coverage
Direct operations
Supply chain
Description of control systems
Primary control system is certification (FSC/PEFC): provides assurance that volumes
comply with sustainable sourcing & no-deforestation commitments. In 2021, we worked
with suppliers to ensure compliance, checking FSC/PEFC Controlled Sources fibre
suppliers have 3rd party certified Due Diligence Systems, aligned with National Risk
177
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Assessments identification & mitigation measures. We review results of this system
quarterly.
We conduct annual 2nd-party verification with SGS and PwC on a sample of suppliers’
volume & certifications for chain of custody & forest management, to reach a 95%+
confidence in our reporting system. We extrapolate & apply this to 100% of our supply
base. When non-compliances are found we adjust our volumes according to statistical
extrapolation and establish timebound plans for the supplier. We collaborate on
geospatial tools for monitoring in wood-producing regions to address confounding in
public forest maps where natural & planted areas are undifferentiated.
Monitoring and verification approach
Geospatial monitoring tool
Second-party verification
Third-party verification
% of total volume in compliance
91-99%
% of total suppliers in compliance
91-99%
Response to supplier non-compliance
Suspend & engage
Exclude
Procedures to address and resolve non-compliance with suppliers
Developing time-bound targets and milestones to bring suppliers back into compliance
Providing information on appropriate actions that can be taken to address non-
compliance
Assessing the efficacy and efforts of non-compliant supplier actions through consistent
and quantified metrics
Re-integrating suppliers back into supply chain based on the successful and verifiable
completion of activities
Please explain
As stipulated in our People & Nature Policy, we identify & manage non-compliance (NC)
via our Grievance Procedure which has timebound steps for handling, investigating &
resolving NC allegations. Our Policy requires Suppliers remediate causal NC within their
corporate group operations and supply chains. For P&B suppliers with “controlled
sources” from FSC/PEFC med-to-high risk origins, verification audits assure us that
suppliers are Chain of Custody certified to handle controlled wood & the Due Diligence
Systems (DDS) of their suppliers meet Crit.4 of the FSC Controlled Wood Standard and
the PEFC equivalent. Where suppliers are non-compliant with the 2nd-party audit, we
adjust our volume to reflect this, & the supplier enters into corrective action to ensure
vigilance of their suppliers’ DDS’s or develop an exit strategy for that supplier’s
materials. Annually, 2nd-party verifier, SGS, reviews the integrity the evidence provided
by suppliers to substantiate our quarterly reporting results. A statistician extrapolates
the results to cover all volumes and suppliers, then the process is assured by PwC.
178
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Minor discrepancies result in statistical adjustments, whereas more significant errors,
especially if appearing to result from intentional manipulation, result in more severe
consequences including remediation & suspension of trade. We use geospatial data to
understand of deforestation risk, we follow FSC/PEFC guidance and use risk
measurement organizations like Maplecroft.
Forest risk commodity
Palm oil
Operational coverage
Direct operations
Supply chain
Description of control systems
3rd party verification: RSPO-certified materials verify and assure suppliers compliant
with standard + partially assures policy compliance. We review results on a quarterly
basis.
Geospatial Tools: to assess/manage risk, including: Descartes Labs (DL), GFW, WRI-
PALM, WRI’s RADD, GLAD alerts, Earthqualizer (EQ) Monitoring. DL, RADD & GLAD’s
enable geospatial monitoring of risk within key suppliers’ operations & supply chain.
Updated bi-weekly.
2nd party verification: 3Keel gathers semi-annual traceability data from suppliers & their
3rd-parties, using PalmTrace & questionnaires. We developed a Deforestation-Free
Verification Protocol & monitor progress with EQ.
EQ provides 2nd-party verification on detected non-compliances and supports
identifying risks with 250 direct & indirect suppliers (80-90% of sourced volume). We
embed deforestation & conversion free requirements in contracts covering ~80% of
volume and will carry-out 3rd-party verification audits of volumes from 2022.
Monitoring and verification approach
Geospatial monitoring tool
Second-party verification
Third-party verification
% of total volume in compliance
81-90%
% of total suppliers in compliance
81-90%
Response to supplier non-compliance
Suspend & engage
Exclude
Procedures to address and resolve non-compliance with suppliers
179
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Developing time-bound targets and milestones to bring suppliers back into compliance
Providing information on appropriate actions that can be taken to address non-
compliance
Assessing the efficacy and efforts of non-compliant supplier actions through consistent
and quantified metrics
Re-integrating suppliers back into supply chain based on the successful and verifiable
completion of activities
Please explain
In our People & Nature Policy, we identify and manage non-compliance (NC) via our
public Grievance Procedure (a framework with timebound steps for handling,
investigating & resolving allegations of policy NC).
Our P&N Policy requires Direct Suppliers to remediate causal NC within operations and
third-party supply chains, irrespective of buyer. For palm suppliers, we have a suspend
& engage protocol outlining actions required and ramifications for those who
disengage/do not remediate.
We engage suppliers to address root causes of NC in their operations & supply chains &
expect them to implement a transparent remediation plan with clear
timelines/milestones, appropriate to NC severity. Based on our re-engagement protocol,
these suppliers need to fulfil requirements & show policy compliance to be reinstated.
Suppliers unwilling/unable to comply are subject to purchase suspension/delisting. In
addition, RSPO certified suppliers are subject to the RSPO Grievance Mechanism and
Complaints Panel.
Example: we stopped issuing POs for a supplier buying from Felda (3rd party) in 2018-
2019, due to environmental & social NC in Felda’s operations. In 2021, we suspended
118 palm oil suppliers within Unilever’s supply chain (listed on our website).
Forest risk commodity
Soy
Operational coverage
Supply chain
Description of control systems
100% of soybean oil is monitored for compliance with our deforestation free
commitment. We embed our requirements for deforestation free soy in contractual
commitments with soybean oil suppliers and we partner with Proforest to capture our
suppliers’ soy origins and traceability information (second party verification). Such
information provides us the basis for the monitoring & response system of implementing
& ensuring compliance with our People and Nature Policy. We have various geospatial
monitoring partners e.g. Google Earth Engine, NGIS & Orbital Insights to utilize industry
data & build bespoke tools that enables us to monitor & rapidly respond to
environmental & other risks in our soy supply chain. Geospatial evidence indicates the
180
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
US is not a forest-risk country. In Brazil, we buy certified segregated materials from
suppliers in compliance with our sustainable sourcing commitments (ProTerra and
RTRS, third party verification).
Monitoring and verification approach
Geospatial monitoring tool
Second-party verification
Third-party verification
Other, please specify
soy materials sourced from countries with no risk of deforestation as per CDP list of
forest risk countries are considered compliant
% of total volume in compliance
91-99%
% of total suppliers in compliance
91-99%
Response to supplier non-compliance
Suspend & engage
Exclude
Procedures to address and resolve non-compliance with suppliers
Re-integrating suppliers back into supply chain based on the successful and verifiable
completion of activities
Please explain
To monitor supplier compliance with our requirements, we conducted a traceability
assessment with Proforest in 2021.The outcome showed that 90% of our soy volumes
and suppliers in 2020 were compliant with our low risk sourcing requirements and we
improved with our contract strategy to originate 93% in compliance with our low risk
sourcing requirements. We are engaging suppliers who are not yet in compliance to
develop low risk of deforestation solutions.
We buy certified materials from our key suppliers in Brazil. We have an RTRS
certification program with Allianca da Terra , which includes third party verification. If a
DCF non-compliance is identified, ADT engages the farmer remediate through an
agreed action plan (there have been no cases of non-compliance to date). We buy
Proterra segregated certified volume, which includes requirements on no land
conversion. Farmers undergo annual compliance audits, if D/C is found, the farmer’s
volume would not be certified. In the US, our suppliers are audited annually against the
Sustainable Soy Assurance Protocol (SSAP), which has a requirement for no
conversion.
We are also developing geospatial monitoring tool with Google Earth Engine, NGIS &
Orbital Insights, to strengthen our monitoring & reporting capabilities and we will carry-
out third-party verification audits on all our soybean oil suppliers next year.
181
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Forest risk commodity
Other - Cocoa
Operational coverage
Supply chain
Description of control systems
We buy materials in accordance with recognized standards equivalent/exceeding the
Unilever Sustainable Agriculture Code like Rainforest Alliance (RA) & Fairtrade. These
independently verified standards provide some assurance that purchased volumes are
sourced in accordance with our no deforestation commitments. RA and Fairtrade
promote ecosystem conservation. We rely on the certification process adopted by
standards & implemented by auditors to monitor compliance. This identifies non-
compliance & triggers corrective action. Certification standards are a powerful tool
across the sector when it comes to monitoring sustainable practices. Preparation for
certification can play an important role in capacity-building for cocoa farmers.
Monitoring and verification approach
Third-party verification
% of total volume in compliance
91-99%
% of total suppliers in compliance
91-99%
Response to supplier non-compliance
Suspend & engage
Exclude
Procedures to address and resolve non-compliance with suppliers
Re-integrating suppliers back into supply chain based on the successful and verifiable
completion of activities
Please explain
Cocoa is one of our priority crops and it’s essential to Magnum, our biggest ice cream
brand which is on sale in 52 countries. We buy certified materials in accordance with
recognized sustainability standards that are equivalent or exceed the requirements of
Unilever Sustainable Agriculture Code, namely Rainforest Alliance Sustainable
Agriculture Standard (SAS) and Fairtrade In 2021, Unilever sustainably sourced 99% of
its cocoa as Rainforest Alliance and (RA), and Fairtrade certified.
F6.6
(F6.6) For your disclosed commodity(ies), indicate if you assess your own compliance
and/or the compliance of your suppliers with forest regulations and/or mandatory
standards.
Assess legal compliance with forest regulations
182
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Timber products
Yes, from suppliers
Palm oil
Yes, from suppliers
Soy
Yes, from suppliers
Other - Cocoa
Yes, from suppliers
F6.6a
(F6.6a) For your disclosed commodity(ies), indicate how you ensure legal compliance
with forest regulations and/or mandatory standards.
Timber products
Procedure to ensure legal compliance
Procedure followed: Unilever is a signatory of the Cerrado Manifesto, which calls for a
halt to deforestation and native vegetation loss in Brazil’s Cerrado. The Cerrado
Manifesto supports the Brazilian Forest Code, and through the Manifesto the signatory
companies commit to working in collaboration with local and international stakeholders
towards environmental protection and good governance. Our Sustainable Agriculture
Code (SAC), goes beyond compliance with the BFC.
The first requirement for any FSC forest management certificate is compliance with
relevant national and international laws, including that downstream FSC certificate
holders have procedures in place to ensure that the commercialization of FSC certified
products comply with all applicable trade and custom laws. This ensures compliance
with both diverse local laws in countries of production, as well as destination market
regulations such as the USA Lacey Act and the EU Timber Regulation that are
considered trade and custom laws. By auditing the certification status of packaging
suppliers, Unilever can ensure legal compliance with key requirements, protecting our
supply chain.
Methods/tools used to assure legal compliance: Given that legality is a minimum criteria
relevant to even the ‘Controlled Sources’ that are part of certification schemes, we rely
on the auditing and verification of harvest and chain of custody to ensure that fibre
supplies reaching Unilever are compliant with forest regulations. We ensure this via our
annual verification audit which is in addition to the auditing regime implemented by
Certification Bodies that grant the FSC/PEFC accreditations.
Country/Area of origin
Argentina
Australia
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Brazil
Colombia
Côte d'Ivoire
Ecuador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
183
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Indonesia
Kenya
Malaysia
Mexico
Myanmar
Nigeria
Philippines
Thailand
Viet Nam
Law and/or mandatory standard(s)
General assessment of legal compliance
Australia Illegal Logging Prohibition Act
Forest Law - Argentina
Brazilian Forest Code
EU Timber Regulation
USA Lacey Act
Japanese Clean Wood Act
CITES
Comment
No comment necessary
Palm oil
Procedure to ensure legal compliance
Procedure followed: We work with suppliers through long-standing certification
schemes, like RSPO, to help manage risk and to audit our suppliers to monitor
compliance. RSPO standards require compliance with local laws and regulations, and
has been used to develop ISPO & MSPO, which are country-specific mandatory
standards for sustainable palm cultivation and production. RSPO requirements are
considered to be equivalent or exceeding those of ISPO and MSPO. Unilever buys
RSPO certified volumes from our Palm suppliers and by virtue of this, volumes in
compliance with RSPO standards are produced by farmers and suppliers who have
been assessed and found to be comply with forest regulations and any other mandatory
standards in the relevant jurisdiction.
Methods/tools used to assure legal compliance: We conduct quarterly checks on
suppliers’ RSPO certification status, which is renewed annually, to ensure that they
continue to be compliant with legal requirements set out in the RSPO framework.
Country/Area of origin
Brazil
Cambodia
Colombia
Côte d'Ivoire
Ecuador
Guatemala
184
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Honduras
Indonesia
Malaysia
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Thailand
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Law and/or mandatory standard(s)
General assessment of legal compliance
ISPO
MSPO
Comment
No comment necessary
Soy
Procedure to ensure legal compliance
Procedure followed: Unilever is a signatory of the Cerrado Manifesto, which called for a
halt to deforestation and native vegetation loss in Brazil’s Cerrado. The Cerrado
Manifesto supports the Brazilian Forest Code, and through the Manifesto the signatory
companies commit to working in collaboration with local and international stakeholders
towards environmental protection and good governance. We continue to support
collective action to protect the Cerrado and manage business responsibly.
Methods/tools used to assure legal compliance: Our Sustainable Agriculture Code
(SAC) and People and Nature Policy go beyond compliance with the BFC and
Argentinean Forest Law. We require no deforestation and conversion, legal or illegal. In
high risk origins, we use RTRS and ProTerra certifications, which require suppliers to be
compliant with local laws and regulations, and therefore in compliance with BFC. In
2021, we sourced more than half of the soy originated in high-risk countries with
ProTerra Segregated certification, which we consider as verified deforestation free.
Country/Area of origin
Argentina
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Brazil
Law and/or mandatory standard(s)
Forest Law - Argentina
Brazilian Forest Code
Comment
No comment necessary
Other - Cocoa
185
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Procedure to ensure legal compliance
Procedure followed: Unilever assesses legal compliance of our suppliers for the volume
that is certified by way of certification standards equivalent to the Unilever Sustainable
Agriculture Code (SAC).
Methods/tools used to assure legal compliance: Unilever buys Rainforest Alliance and
Fairtrade certified volumes from our cocoa suppliers, of which both standards contain
requirements to comply with local laws and regulations. By virtue of this, volumes in
compliance with these certification standards are produced by farmers assessed and
found to be comply with forest regulations and any other mandatory standards in that
jurisdiction.
Country/Area of origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Indonesia
Law and/or mandatory standard(s)
General assessment of legal compliance
Other, please specify
Cote D'Ivoire Forestry Code, Ghana Forest and Wildlife Policy, Indonesian forest
laws and regulations
Comment
No comment necessary
F6.7
(F6.7) Are you working with smallholders to support good agricultural practices and
reduce deforestation and/or conversion of natural ecosystems?
Are you
Type of
Smallholder
Number of
Please explain
working with
smallholder
engagement
smallholders
smallholders?
engagement
approach
engaged
approach
Timber
Not applicable
There are no
products
smallholders in
Unilever's paper and
board (P&B) supply
chain due the P&B
sector not having a
smallholder supply
bases. This is because
there is very low
economic gain for
smallholder to produce
wood for P&B industry
compared to alternatives
(subsistence agriculture
186
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
or export crops like
palm). Our P&B
suppliers consists of
feedstock suppliers and
converters, with some
suppliers being
integrated entities. If
smallholders are
identified in the supply
chain, Unilever will
develop plans to engage
them in programs
focused on best
management practices
to ensure they could
meet our sustainable
sourcing and
deforestation-free Policy
requirements. Unilever’
supply chain comprises
companies, across
multiple geographies
that are selected
because they are
consistently able to meet
our FSC/PEFC
requirements and our
Policy requirements.
Palm oil
Yes, working
Supply chain
Supplier
22,134
We actively invest in in
with
mapping
questionnaires
growing the number of
independent
Capacity
on
certified farmers, farmer
smallholders
building
environmental
groups and the volume
and social
of certified oil palm fruit
Financial and
indicators
in the global market, via
commercial
Developing or
independent
incentives
distributing
smallholders (IS)
supply chain
programs. The objective
mapping tool
is to increase profitability
through climate-resilient,
Supplier audits
sustainable farming
Offering on-site
practices,
technical
professionalising IS
assistance and
farming business &
extension
promoting RSPO
services
certification. We believe
that combining
187
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Providing
certification efforts with
agricultural
low-risk sourcing,
inputs
traceability and
Disseminating
technology to enable
technical
smallholder inclusion will
materials
help us create a
deforestation-free supply
Organizing
chain. Our field
capacity
programs unite
building events
traditional extension
Investing in
approaches & digital
pilot projects
technology to monitor,
Supporting
analyse & change
smallholders to
farming practices for
clarify and
improved sustainability
secure land
and profitability. Program
tenure
elements include
Prioritizing
capacity building &
support for
training in Good
smallholders in
Agricultural Practices
high-risk
(GAP) & NDPE
deforestation
principles, land mapping,
regions
facilitation of access to
Financial
goods & services (e.g.
incentives for
inputs, seedling, land
certified
titling, financial &
products
technical support) &
certification. Unilever
aims to empower SHF
through these programs
in various priority
landscapes as part of
our commitment towards
a deforestation-free palm
supply chain. We have
seven programs with
various partners such as
Conservation
International, Daemeter
& INOBU, involving over
9000 IS across
Indonesia & Malaysia.
For example, in 2021,
together with Inobu, we
mapped 536
independent oil palm
188
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
smallholder farmers and
trained 135 farmers on
good agriculture
practices, and 126
farmers on regenerative
agriculture practices.
Unilever has consistently
been one of the largest
buyers of RSPO
independent
smallholders (IS) credits
since 2017. We believe
that the purchasing of
RSPO IS-credits can
directly incentivise &
support the livelihoods of
smallholders.
In 2021, Unilever
purchased over 33,000
tonnes of RSPO IS-
Credits from 33
smallholder groups,
directly benefitting over
11,000 IS farmers
located across
Indonesia, Thailand and
Malaysia. This group of
RSPO- certified IS
represents over 30,000
ha of land.
Soy
Not applicable
There are no
smallholders in
Unilever's soybean oil
supply chain in USA or
LATAM, where we
source most of our soy
or in other origins. The
soy trading industry
tends to be comprised of
medium to large size
farmers. In our US SC,
the average farm size is
quite large at around
1300 acres, while in
Latam farm sizes also
189
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
tend to be larger than
what we would consider
qualifying as smallholder
sized farms.
Other -
Yes, working
Supply chain
Developing or
23,996
Productivity
Cocoa
with
mapping
distributing
enhancements in cocoa
smallholders
Capacity
supply chain
are closely linked to
building
mapping tool
improved livelihoods,
Supplier audits
reducing deforestation
Financial and
and conversion risks due
commercial
Offering on-site
to expansion of planting
incentives
technical
area. We are committed
assistance and
to promote investment in
extension
long-term productivity of
services
cocoa to grow “more
Disseminating
cocoa on less land”
technical
through the provision of
materials
training in good
Organizing
agricultural practices, the
capacity
subsidization of inputs,
building events
and the development
Investing in
and capacity building of
pilot projects
farmers’ organizations
Supporting
which are critical
smallholders to
enabling factors for
clarify and
sustainable agriculture
secure land
development. Lack of
tenure
access to training and
Prioritizing
other services results in
support for
poor yields, which can
smallholders in
lead to farmers switching
high-risk
crops or abandoning
deforestation
farms for urban jobs.
regions
Additionally, gender
Financial
empowerment and
incentives for
income diversification
certified
help cocoa farmers build
products
resilience to market
shocks and fluctuations.
Helping farmers diversify
their crops - thereby
boosting their income -
helps provide financial
security and secure land
tenure. This is important
as farmers are less likely
190
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
to have to resort to
illegally deforesting more
land to support their
families. In Côte d'Ivoire,
we run impact
programmes with
partners to support
cocoa smallholders. We
aim to reach 6,000
farmers with income
diversification
programmes and
opportunities by 2025.
These pilots to test
income diversification
strategies and
entrepreneurship and
focused on women
empowerment, have
reached over 3,000
farmers. Between
October 2020 and
September 2021, we
have trained 10,877
farmers on good
agricultural practices via
our suppliers, to comply
with Rainforest Alliance
Certification
requirements. We also
supported the
assessment of the
development needs for
twenty farmers’ groups
and the ad-hoc support
in developing
improvement plans such
as the provision of
cooperative
management training
and the finance of
transportation. We
recognize the
importance of access to
financial mechanisms for
farmers to enable them
191
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
to invest in their farms
and diversify their
incomes. Specifically, we
are promoting access to
saving and credit,
including the
establishment of Village
Loans and Savings
Associations for over
3,500 farmers.
F6.8
(F6.8) Are you working with your direct suppliers to support and improve their
capacity to comply with your forests-related policies, commitments, and other
requirements?
Are you
Type of
Direct supplier
% of
Please explain
working
direct
engagement
suppliers
with direct
supplier
approach
engaged
suppliers?
engagement
approach
Timber
Yes,
Capacity
Disseminating
100%
We are engaging with our 240
products
working with
building
technical
tier 1 suppliers
(100%) paper
direct
Financial and
materials
& board packaging suppliers
suppliers
directly to discuss our policy
commercial
Organizing
incentives
capacity
requirements & assess their
building events
capabilities. Supplier
engagement is channelled
Paying higher
through local buying &
prices linked to
procurement teams & is
best agricultural
supported by internal
practices
educational materials on
Financial
sustainable forest
incentives for
management, supply chain
certified
transparency & 3rd party
products
certification to equip Unilever
buyers with the knowledge
required for these
engagements. Our buyers
engage suppliers regularly to
support them in policy
compliance, by disseminating
technical materials or
knowledge & organizing
capacity building events. 100%
of the suppliers in our
192
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) systems were engaged
in 2021 to acquire data through
the Global Traceability System
(GTS). In 2021, we have
worked directly with 50-100
suppliers of uncertified
recycled volumes, in South
Asia, East Africa, West Africa
& Central America to attain
FSC/PEFC certification &
procure certified recycled fibre
for their own manufacturing
supporting the conversion to
certified recycled. E.g. Unilever
buyers, supported by Unilever
sustainability team, speaking
directly to account managers
from Smurfit Kappa (SK) Costa
Rica, to ensure SK had the
certifications & volumes to
deliver certified volumes to
Unilever into the future. These
efforts enable us to continue
increasing the volume of third
party certified material, from
79% in 2017 to 92.9% in 2021.
By providing financial
incentives for certified products
& paying higher prices linked
to best agricultural practices,
we send market signals to our
suppliers to continue their
certification & best practices.
Our suppliers self-assess &
report their sustainability
performance quarterly via the
GTS. Case study: In 2021, we
collected data for 98% of the
materials we purchase.
Annually, we engage SGS to
verify the information reported.
Each supplier reporting via
GTS receives a “Supplier
Sustainability Summary” that
summarises the overall
193
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
sustainable sourcing
percentage achieved by the
supplier based on data
provided. These reports
facilitate subsequent
discussions with Unilever to
identify gaps & develop
strategies to reach our
deforestation-free supply chain
target. This has resulted in a
key African supplier, Golden
Era, which provides over 70%
of our total volume in Africa,
continuing to deliver 100%
FSC Certified material in 2021.
Palm oil
Yes,
Supply chain
Supplier
91-99%
We have engaged with 99% of
working with
mapping
questionnaires
our suppliers (569) to ensure
direct
Capacity
on
their compliance with
suppliers
building
environmental
sustainable practices through
and social
procuring 90% RSPO-certified
Financial and
indicators
palm materials in 2021. Our
commercial
Developing or
People & Nature Policy
incentives
distributing
requires all direct suppliers &
supply chain
their third-party supply chains
mapping tool
(e.g. traders, distributors etc)
to commit to 4 principles for
Supplier audits
sustainable sourcing: (1)
Offering on-site
Protecting natural ecosystems
training and
from deforestation and
technical
conversion (2) Respecting and
assistance
promoting human rights (3)
Disseminating
Transparency and traceability
technical
(4) Being a force for good for
materials
nature and people. We also
Organizing
expect suppliers to provide
capacity
traceability information &
building events
disclose grievances (i.e.
Investing in pilot
environmental & social risks) to
projects
us. We embed our policy
Financial
requirements in supplier
incentives for
contracts.The execution of
certified
these contracts means
products
Unilever’s direct suppliers
Long-term
(such as Cargill, KLK, GAR,
contracts linked
Musim Mas) have to take
action and implement policies
194
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
to forest related
that support their compliance
commitments
with our Policy. This includes
independent verification of
their compliance e.g.
deforestation & conversion free
volumes and remediation of
non-compliance/breach of our
Policy's principles within their
corporate group operations
and third-party supply chains.
Case study: We continued
working with key supplier PT
Perkebunan Nusantara
(PTPN) to jointly support PTPN
mills and its supplying farmer
base to obtain RSPO
certification through a
combination of dedicated
resources, funding and
technical expertise, such as
disseminating technical
materials & organizing capacity
building events. As a result, 37
out of 44 PTPN mills have
been RSPO certified by 2021.
Our joint smallholder (SH)
programs with PTPN 3, 4, 5
and various partners (Fortasbi,
Conservation International,
Kompasioo, SNV, WRI) e.g.
RSPO training & certification
prep continued in 2021 despite
challenges due to COVID,
increasing the supply of RSPO
certified palm materials to
PTPN. Over 3,700
independent SH’s are now
mapped and have received
training with 2,500 achieving
certification status by the end
of 2021.
Soy
Yes,
Supply chain
Developing or
100%
We are working with 100% of
working with
mapping
distributing
our direct suppliers (45
direct
Capacity
supply chain
suppliers) to support and
suppliers
building
mapping tool
improve their capacity to
195
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
Financial and
Offering on-site
supply sustainable raw
commercial
training and
materials. We engage directly
incentives
technical
with our soybean oil suppliers
assistance
on a regular basis to assess
Organizing
the sustainability status and
capacity
risks in their supply chain and
building events
to jointly agree the best
approach to address those
Offering credit
risks. Progress towards
lines linked to
delivering our sustainability
best agricultural
requirements is monitored
practices
throughout the year as part of
Purchase
the supplier relationship
guarantee
management.
linked to best
agricultural
Case study: Our largest soy
practices
footprint is in the USA in terms
Other, please
of soy oil and we are making
specify
good progress by engaging our
Creating
key supplier and their farmers
dedicated
directly, through farmer field
farmer groups
days and webinars conducted
by Practical Farmers of Iowa.
In 2021, we recruited 408
farmers into our program
focused on improving soil
health and water quality
through cover crop adoption.
Our supplier plays an
important role by raising
awareness of the program
within their farmer base and by
reporting the sustainable
volumes delivered by the
farmers on a quarterly basis.
In Brazil, our programme with
Allianca da Terra (ADT) helps
farmers to attain RTRS
certification, by providing on-
site training and technical
assistance on agronomic
practices by ADT, the use of
agrochemicals (supported by
Bayer Crop Science) and
196
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
facilitated access to credit
(provided by Santander).
Other -
Yes,
Supply chain
Developing or
100%
We buy around 1.5% of the
Cocoa
working with
mapping
distributing
global production of cocoa,
direct
supply chain
mainly sourced from Côte
suppliers
mapping tool
d’Ivoire & Ghana. Partnerships
Supplier audits
& collaborations are an
essential part of our
engagement approach. In
particular, we engaged our 39
direct suppliers and
cooperatives with whom we
work in long-standing
certification and impact
programs, driving sustainable
agriculture standards across
sectors, a powerful tool when it
comes to monitoring
sustainable agricultural
practices. As a signatory of the
Cocoa & Forests Initiative
(CFI), we are committed to
strengthening supply chain
mapping, with the end goal of
effective & cost-efficient
traceability at the farm-level.
Our direct suppliers, which are
also CFI signatories, have
pledged to develop verifiable
monitoring systems for
traceability from farm to the
first purchase point for their
own purchases of cocoa, & to
work with Government to
ensure an effective national
framework for traceability. It is
important to ensure a uniform
approach that applies equally
to international & national
traders, particularly in Côte
d’Ivoire where the local traders
(traitants & pisteurs) have
been identified as the primary
direct buyers of cocoa from
protected areas. Our direct
suppliers hire surveyors to
197
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
conduct farm mapping within
direct supply chains to identify
& collect cocoa farm
boundaries polygon data to
ensure cocoa is not being
sourced from forest lands,
National Parks & Reserves, &
Classified Forests.
Deforestation risk
assessments are also
conducted in all direct sourcing
areas to identify the
deforestation risks involved.
Up-to-date maps on forest
cover & land-use, socio-
economic data on cocoa
farmers, & detailed operational
guidelines covering forest
management & land-use are
necessary to ensure an
evidence-based decision-
making process is undertaken
to minimize adverse social &
economic impact on the cocoa
farmers & forest-dependent
communities. Once the
deforestation risks have been
identified, remediation
programmes are put in place
with reputable implementors
such as NGOs with support
from the technical teams of
direct suppliers. During 2021,
we have mapped 25,006 farm
plots linked to 20,821 farms
and representing 87% of farms
in our programme.
F6.9
(F6.9) Are you working beyond your first-tier supplier(s) to manage and mitigate
deforestation risks?
Are you
Type of
Indirect supplier
Please explain
working
engagement
engagement
beyond
approach with
approach
first tier?
198
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
indirect
suppliers
Timber
Yes,
Supply chain
Developing or
As part of our overall wood-fibre strategy,
products
working
mapping
distributing
Unilever works with Tier 2 suppliers to
beyond
Capacity
supply chain
drive sustainable sourcing so that we can
first tier
building
mapping tools
be confident that our Tier 1 suppliers
Supplier
have sufficient volumes even if supplies
questionnaires on
get tight. Since 2011 we have worked to
environmental
expand the number of our feedstock
and social
suppliers to 14 suppliers who currently
indicators
supply 20% of the paper and board
(P&B) feedstock fibres to P&B
Supplier audits
converters. Our procurement team has 2
Disseminating
FTEs who work with Tier 2 suppliers to
technical
our strategic Tier 1 converters so that we
materials
can ensure consistent sustainable
Investing in pilot
feedstocks for our own operations. This
projects
team works with global suppliers to
ensure that forests are harvested at a
sustainable rate i.e. growth to drain ratio
is maintained at sufficient levels to
ensure replenishment of fibre and also
the ecosystem services provisioned by
managed forests. Our P&B sustainability
reporting requires all our suppliers to
provide chain of custody certification &
transparency of their P&B supply chain.
An example of how Unilever engaged
with our indirect suppliers in 2021 is the
integration of origin data collection into
our GTS survey. This enables visibility to
fibre origins which then enables
development of locally appropriate impact
programs. The quarterly survey requires
all Unilever suppliers to provide data on
the materials they deliver to Unilever,
including the source(s) of fibre included in
their products. This exercise has global
coverage and has specifically helped us
to understand links between fibre
importing countries and the forest regions
they are linked to, for example that a
Korean packaging supplier sources its
fibre from Chile’s Southern temperate
Radiata pine plantations. We also
disseminated technical materials on
199
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
supply chain disclosure for use by
indirect suppliers beyond our Tier 1.
Palm oil
Yes,
Supply chain
Developing or
Our People & Nature Policy requires all
working
mapping
distributing
direct suppliers, their supplier groups &
beyond
Capacity
supply chain
their third-party supply chains to commit
first tier
building
mapping tools
to the four principles. In 2021, we
Supplier
engaged with all (99100%) of our palm
questionnaires on
suppliers. We embedded our Policy
environmental
requirements in supplier contracts,
and social
resulting in approx 80% of our palm oil
indicators
sourced with additional contractual
controls on deforestation and conversion
On-site meetings
by Q4 2021.
with indirect
The execution of these contracts means
suppliers
Unilever’s direct suppliers have to take
Supplier audits
actions & implement policies that would
Offering on-site
support their compliance of policy
training and
requirements within their own group
technical
operations and third parties. In 2021 we
assistance
continued to drive transparency by
Disseminating
publishing a list of suspended Direct
technical
Palm Oil Suppliers or Oil Palm Growers.
materials
This document publicly communicates
Participating in
previous direct palm oil suppliers or
workshops
indirect oil palm growers that have been
Investing in pilot
suspended from Unilever’s supply chain
projects
due to non-compliance against the
People and Nature Policy and/or
Unilever’s Responsible Sourcing Policy.
Case study: Independent smallholders
are a key part of our sustainable palm oil
strategy and are beyond tier 4 of our
supply chain. Unilever is going beyond
tier one suppliers and actively engaging
in independent mills and the associated
smallholders. In 2021, 13 mills were
engaged and 8 mills were onboarded to
support long term partnerships and to
develop the independent smallholder
program. At the end of 2021 based on
the partnerships in place, we launched a
smallholder mapping program in
partnership with Meridia Land, with the
ambition to map over 30,000
smallholders. We had only just started at
200
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
the end of 2021 and had managed to
map 1500 smallholders. This work
requires on site engagements and
training with all of the mills and the
smallholder groups and is important to
help build the baseline for the future
smallholder development program. The
engagement occurred is through
providing consultations in raising
awareness, development of policy and
procedures in chain of custody as well as
on the ground support and capacity
building.
Soy
Yes,
Supply chain
Developing or
We believe traceability is the fundamental
working
mapping
distributing
enabler to advance our sustainability
beyond
Capacity
supply chain
program. Since our current visibility on
first tier
building
mapping tools
the soy supply chain is limited, we are
Supplier
working closely with 100% of our Tier 1
questionnaires on
suppliers to identify and engage our Tier
environmental
2 suppliers in our sustainability program.
and social
However, in certain regions such as
indicators
Brazil, we have been working directly
with the farmers (Tier 2) since 2015. In
On-site meetings
2021, we have engaged directly with a
with indirect
group of 34 farmers in the Brazilian
suppliers
Cerrado biome to drive the transition to
Supplier audits
responsible soy production, largely
Offering on-site
independently of our tier 1 supplier
training and
(processor/trader). The farmers have
technical
received technical assistance from our
assistance
local partner, Alianca da Terra, to
Disseminating
improve their farming practices, comply
technical
with legal regulations and achieve RTRS
materials
certification. In addition, we are
Participating in
connecting with our peers in order to
workshops
develop potential opportunities to
Investing in pilot
cooperate driving wider impact. For
projects
example, as part of the CGF Forests
Positive Coalition, we are working
together with like-minded companies to
map soybean origins and to set-up or
support existing initiatives to stop
deforestation in the Brazilian Cerrado
biome.
A case study of how Unilever are
investing in projects that go beyond our
201
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
tier 1 supplier is the work we are doing
with the Practical Farmers of Iowa. In
2021, we continued our work with them to
promote the adoption of cover crops
among farmers in the US Mid-West.
Farmers are provided a cost share
incentive to plant cover crops and on
enrolment, attend a workshop and
receive technical support. By engaging
farmers and facilitating the planting of
cover crops, this program helps
demonstrate the benefits of cover crops
to deliver improvements to the health of
the soil.
In Brazil, a financial bonus is paid to
certified farmers as a result of the RTRS
credits purchased by Unilever, which
provides farmers an incentive to invest in
social and environmental activities on
their farm.
Additionally, in 2019 and 2021 we
engaged all our soy bean oil suppliers in
a traceability assessment to map the
origination of beans and to develop
strategies to eliminate deforestation from
our supply chain. By working together
with our suppliers, we contribute to
improving their capacity to supply
sustainable materials not just to Unilever
but to other customers.
Other -
Yes,
Supply chain
Supplier audits
We buy around 1.5% of the global
Cocoa
working
mapping
Offering on-site
production of cocoa, mainly sourced from
beyond
Capacity
training and
Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. In 2021,
first tier
building
technical
Unilever sustainably sourced 99% of its
assistance
cocoa as Rainforest Alliance and (RA),
and Fairtrade certified. Through these
Disseminating
long-standing certification schemes, we
technical
work with cocoa cooperatives and
materials
smallholder farmers via our direct
Participating in
suppliers, driving sustainable agricultural
workshops
practices across the sectors. We run
Investing in pilot
impact programmes that complement the
projects
work of certification programmes and aim
to lift farmers out of poverty, tackle child
labour issues and empower women. In
Côte d'Ivoire, we have been involved in a
202
Unilever plc CDP Forests Questionnaire 2022 01 August 2022
number of partnerships which aim to
support smallholders who grow cocoa.
We aim to reach 6,000 farmers with
income diversification programmes and
opportunities by 2025. These pilots test
income diversification strategies and
entrepreneurship and focused on
women’s empowerment, reaching over
3,000 farmers. Helping farmers diversify
their crops - thereby boosting their
income - helps provide financial security
and secure land tenure. These are key
factors in sustainable production as
farmers are less likely to have to resort to
illegally deforesting more land to support
their families. Between October 2020 and
September 2021, we have trained 10,877
farmers on good agricultural practices via
our suppliers, to comply with Rainforest
Alliance Certification requirements. We
also supported the assessment of the
development needs for twenty farmers’
groups and the ad-hoc support in
developing improvement plans such as
the provision of cooperative management
training and the finance of transportation.
We recognize the importance of access
to financial mechanisms for farmers to
enable them to invest in their farms and
diversify their incomes. Specifically, we
are promoting access to saving and
credit, including the establishment of
Village Savings and Loans Associations
for over 3,500 farmers.
F6.10
(F6.10) Do you engage in landscape (including jurisdictional) approaches to progress
shared sustainable land use goals?
Do you engage in landscape/jurisdictional approaches?
Row 1
Yes, we engage in landscape/ jurisdictional approaches
203

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content      ..     2      3      4      5     ..