CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Welcome to your CDP Water Security Questionnaire

2022

W0. Introduction

W0.1

(W0.1) Give a general description of and introduction to your organization.

BACKGROUND

Unilever makes and sells more than 400+ brands in over 190 countries which are used by

some 3.4 billion consumers worldwide every day. Our brands include Knorr, Dove, Rexona,

Lipton, Hellmann’s, Omo, Lifebuoy and Ben & Jerry’s - amongst many others. In 2021, our

business was organised across three divisions: Beauty & Personal Care, Foods & Refreshment

and Home Care. Our total turnover in 2021 was €52.4bn.  

OUR PURPOSE

Unilever’s purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace which we believe is the best way

to deliver long-term sustainable growth.  We put sustainable living at the heart of everything we

do, including our brands and products, our standards of behaviour and our partnerships which

drive transformational change across our value chain. 

In June 2020, we released new commitments to fight climate change and protect nature as part

of our new integrated business strategy, the Unilever Compass which builds on the Unilever

Sustainable Living Plan, which came to an end in 2020. Some of our Unilever Compass

commitments include: 

• Net zero emissions for all our products by 2039. 

• A deforestation-free supply chain by 2023. 

• A new Regenerative Agriculture Code for all our suppliers.

• Water stewardship programmes to 100 locations in water-stressed areas by 2030. 

• Investing €1 billion in a new Climate & Nature Fund, which will be used by Unilever’s

brands over the next ten years to take meaningful and decisive action. 

OUR REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE

Unilever’s primary report is our

https://assets.unilever.com/files/92ui5egz/production/ea1cbe44628b469752b28c4ab92520bc39

9dc6d3.pdf Annual Report & Accounts (ARA) - https://www.unilever.com/investors/annual-

report-and-accounts/. In our ARA, we report progress against our Unilever Compass

commitments as well as a range of other non-financial indicators. Our ARA also includes TCFD

disclosures. We provide additional climate related disclosure and commentary in the Planet &

Society Hub - https://www.unilever.com/planet-and-society/ on Unilever.com. 

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

ASSURANCE

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) scope for their assurance work on selected Compass &

Environmental & Occupational Safety performance indicators can be found in the PwC Basis of

Preparation 2021 document in the Independent Assurance and metrics section on our website,

alongside their findings in the PwC Limited Assurance Statement for 2021.  

DISCLAIMER

This CDP submission may contain forward-looking statements, including ‘forward-looking

statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of

1995. Words such as ‘will’, ‘aim’, ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘looks’, ‘believes’, ‘vision’, or

the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and

their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-

looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding

anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Unilever Group (the ‘Group’). They are

not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-

looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause

actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking

statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document.

Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any

obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking

statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard

thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is

based.

W-FB0.1a

(W-FB0.1a) Which activities in the food, beverage, and tobacco sector does your

organization engage in?

Agriculture

Processing/Manufacturing

Distribution

W0.2

(W0.2) State the start and end date of the year for which you are reporting data.

Start date

End date

Reporting year

October 1, 2020

September 30, 2021

W0.3

(W0.3) Select the countries/areas in which you operate.

Algeria

Argentina

Australia

Bangladesh

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Switzerland

Taiwan, China

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Republic of Tanzania

United States of America

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Viet Nam

Zimbabwe

W0.4

(W0.4) Select the currency used for all financial information disclosed throughout

your response.

EUR

W0.5

(W0.5) Select the option that best describes the reporting boundary for companies,

entities, or groups for which water impacts on your business are being reported.

Companies, entities or groups over which operational control is exercised

W0.6

(W0.6) Within this boundary, are there any geographies, facilities, water aspects, or

other exclusions from your disclosure?

W0.7

(W0.7) Does your organization have an ISIN code or another unique identifier (e.g.,

Ticker, CUSIP, etc.)?

Indicate whether you are able to provide a unique identifier for

Provide your unique

your organization.

identifier

Yes, an ISIN code

GB00B10RZP78

W1. Current state

W1.1

(W1.1) Rate the importance (current and future) of water quality and water quantity to

the success of your business.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Direct use

Indirect use

Please explain

importance

rating

Sufficient

Vital

Direct primary use: Good quality water is a vital

amounts of good

ingredient in many of our products and

quality freshwater

fundamental to product quality. It is also vital for

available for use

heating, cooling & cleaning processes in all 250

manufacturing sites and employee health. Without

access to good quality freshwater we would not be

able to produce products, would have to find

alternative ways to access water (e.g. tankering)

or would have to invest further into pre-treatment,

resulting in increased operating costs. In a worst

case scenario, it would mean that we would have

to relocate manufacturing volume /facilities.

Indirect primary use: Many of our agricultural

suppliers need access to freshwater to grow the

raw ingredients we rely on. Most of our products

also need water to be used eg shampoo & laundry

detergent. Poor quality water or limited water

availability constrains demand for our products as

consumers reduce the frequency of use and/or

inhibit the product performance. Lack of water

availability can translate into lack of supply & price

volatility for us, resulting in the further revenue &

increased costs. If consumers reduce frequency of

use of our products, we would also lose revenue

from lower sales thus freshwater is rated vital for

our operations.

Future importance: Water scarcity is already a

material issue for Unilever, as outlined in our

materiality assessment however, if climate change

continues to impact the frequency of extreme

weather, availability of good quality freshwater will

likely become more of a risk where it has a direct

impact on our operations. Whilst we are innovating

to create products that use less water, we continue

to use freshwater as a primary input for products

as well as for cleaning, heating & cooling. The

demand for our products and our customer base

have increased over the last year. As it is also a

basic requirement for farming & for consumer use,

we expect that freshwater will continue to be vital

to our operations and value chain in the future.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Sufficient

Important

Direct primary use: This is important as recycled,

amounts of

brackish & produced water is used in our

recycled,

manufacturing wherever possible. This is primarily

brackish and/or

used to run our utilities e.g. cooling towers. An

produced water

example of water reuse & recycling beyond our

available for use

utilities is our Ceytea powdered tea Factory in Sri

Lanka which completed the 100% Re-Aqua

programme to recycle all water at the site,

reducing the water that is abstracted. Today over

90% of their water demand is met by recycled

water. Reuse & recycling enables greater

operational efficiency & minimises the amount of

water we abstract from shared resources. This is

important rather than vital, for multiple reasons

varying by location, but could include: reduces

competition for resources with neighbouring

industry, community & environment, reduces costs

of operations, needed to meet local regulation.

Secondary benefits include energy & chemical

efficiency, product recovery & cost reductions.

Indirect primary use: Sufficient amounts of indirect

use of recycled or brackish water are important for

irrigation of agricultural crops we buy for our

products. Most of our home & personal care

products also need water to be used. We also

recognise that water at a municipal level also

supports addressing the water supply-demand gap

& securing water for all.

Future importance: With increasing stresses on

water supplies through climate change,

industrialization & population growth, it is likely

access to recycled, brackish &/or produced water

will become more important. We continually seek

ways to reduce our impact and dependency. For

indirect use, the amount of recycled, brackish &/or

produced water available for use will likely gain in

importance to us too as water shortages will mean

consumers will prioritise where to use fresh water

supplies. At a municipal level, we anticipate water

recycling & reuse will become an essential means

of securing water for all.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

W-FB1.1a

(W-FB1.1a) Which water-intensive agricultural commodities that your organization

produces and/or sources are the most significant to your business by revenue?

Select up to five.

Agricultural

% of revenue

Produced

Please explain

commodities

dependent on

and/or

these agricultural

sourced

commodities

Other, please

Less than 10%

Sourced

We identified Unilever's biggest crops by

specify

purchased volume and compared them against

Cocoa

the Water Footprint Network database of water

intensity.

The % of revenue dependent on each commodity

is an approximation based on annual turnover for

our Beauty & Personal Care, Foods &

Refreshment and Home Care divisions. This is not

based on actual product specific data and does

not take into account the level of inclusion or

whether or not it is substitutable/one of a number

of sources.

Each commodity is assessed based on revenue

per division and an approximate calculation (%) of

brands within that division that use it. Cocoa is

used by our Ice Cream portfolio so the revenue is

calculated as 6 - 10% of the total.

Other, please

Less than 10%

Sourced

We identified Unilever's biggest crops by

specify

purchased volume and compared them against

Soy oils

the Water Footprint Network database of water

intensity.

The % of revenue dependent on each commodity

is an approximation based on annual turnover for

our Beauty & Personal Care, Food &

Refreshments and Home Care categories. This is

not based on actual product specific data and

does not take into account level of inclusion or

whether or not is substitutable/one of a number of

sources.

Each commodity is assessed based on revenue

per category and a rough calculation (%) of brands

within that category that use soy oils. Soy is only

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

used in only a small amount of our Foods &

Refreshment portfolio, so the revenue is

calculated as 6-10% of the total.

Palm oil

41-60

Sourced

We identified Unilever's biggest crops by

purchased volume and compared them against

the Water Footprint Network database of water

intensity. The % of revenue dependent on each

commodity is an approximation based on annual

turnover for our Beauty & Personal Care, Food &

Refreshments and Home Care categories. This is

not based on actual product specific data and

does not take into account level of inclusion or

whether or not is substitutable/one of a number of

sources.

Each commodity is assessed based on revenue

per category and a rough calculation (%) of brands

within that category that use palm oil.

Palm oil is used in Beauty & Personal Care, Home

Care and Food & Refreshments. Based on this

estimation, palm oil accounts for about 41-60% of

revenue.

Other, please

10-20

Sourced

We identified Unilever's biggest crops by

specify

purchased volume and compared them against

Wheat

the Water Footprint Network database of water

intensity.

Each commodity is assessed based on revenue

per category and a rough calculation (%) of brands

within that category that use wheat. Wheat is used

in our Food & Refreshments category. Based on

this, we estimate wheat accounts for about 10-

20% of revenue.

Other, please

Less than 10%

Both

We identified Unilever's biggest crops by

specify

purchased volume and compared them against

Tea

the Water Footprint Network database of water

intensity.

The % of revenue dependent on a commodity

relates to its use in that particular Unilever

category. Tea is a portfolio within our Foods and

Refreshment category only. In 2021, the tea

portfolio accounted for around 5% of our Group

revenue.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

W1.2

(W1.2) Across all your operations, what proportion of the following water aspects are

regularly measured and monitored?

% of

Please explain

sites/facilities/operations

Water withdrawals -

100%

Our global Environmental Performance

total volumes

Reporting system records withdrawals for 100%

of manufacturing sites (absolute & relative to

production). Data is measured via utility bills &

onsite meters monthly and assured annually, in

line with our Basis of Preparation. Water

withdrawals - Total volumes = sum of

withdrawals for all factories. Externally we report

global performance but internally we report by

site, region, category to drive improvements. For

CDP, volumes are in line with GRI however,

there is disparity between total withdrawals & the

total abstraction metric reported in our online

Planet & Society Hub as we identify rainwater

harvesting as a means of minimizing water

abstraction & the impact of factories on shared

water resources. Our measurement, monitoring

& target (MM&T) system is now in 200+ factories

(over 80% of our manufacturing footprint). Hourly

information helps validate our data & drive

efficiency.

Water withdrawals -

100%

Water withdrawals by source are reported in the

volumes by source

global Environmental Performance Reporting

(EPR) system for 100% of manufacturing

operations. Water withdrawals by source is

measured on a monthly basis by each factory.

Within Unilever's central EPR system we

differentiate between water by source of

abstraction, i.e. municipal, ground water, surface

water etc for 100% of manufacturing sites. Data

is measured by using utility bills and onsite

meters monthly and assured annually, in line

with Unilever’s Basis of Preparation. Where

rainfall patterns suit, various sites have installed

rainwater harvesting to minimize the amount of

water that we abstract from municipal or ground

water sources. Sites can monitor the use of

collected rainwater through onsite flow meters

and report via the EPR system. We currently

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

have 28 sites reporting rainwater collection &

use in our manufacturing operations.

Water withdrawals

100%

Water withdrawal quality is measured and

quality

reported for 100% of manufacturing operations,

in line with the Unilever Safe Water Usage

Guidance, part of the Unilever Good

Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Information on

water withdrawal quality is managed at site level

and not reported centrally. The frequency of

water withdrawal measurement and quality

testing is subject to local conditions, for example,

in some locations where we have a new local

water supply, we will perform microbial testing on

a weekly or daily basis. Control systems &

methodologies applied are based on hazard

analysis and critical control points (HACCP)

study.

Water discharges -

100%

Water discharge volumes are measured at 100%

total volumes

of manufacturing operations, where needed to

meet local effluent & surface water compliance

requirements. Information relating to discharge

volumes is managed locally by the site teams &

used for compliance, managing costs & targeting

efficiencies. The frequency of measurement is

determined locally and based on legal

requirements and /or infrastructure e.g. might

include continuous flow metering connected to

the Scada system to support real time tracking or

manual composite sampling. The data used

within the CDP report are based on a

combination of a water model which estimates

wastewater volumes based on technologies &

product type and direct reporting by sites.

Water discharges -

100%

Water discharge volumes are measured and

volumes by

reported at a site level for 100% of

destination

manufacturing operations where needed to meet

local effluent and surface water compliance

requirements. The destination of the water

discharge forms part of our consent and informs

stakeholder management activities. In most

cases, water discharge volumes are measured

by inline flow meters reviewed daily. The

volumetric data used within the CDP report is

based on a combination of a a water model

which estimates wastewater volumes based on

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

technologies & product type and direct reporting

from sites. The destination is based on the

reported Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

destinations, this information is reported on a

monthly basis within our Environmental

Performance Reporting Systems.

Water discharges -

100%

Water discharge volumes are measured &

volumes by

reported at a site level for 100% of

treatment method

manufacturing operations where needed to meet

local compliance requirements. Sites are not

required to report water discharges by treatment

type on a monthly basis. Through our internal

central technology inventory we have oversight

of the treatment methods in all sites. The

treatment methods are updated on an ongoing

basis, reflecting changes in onsite infrastructure.

Volumetric discharge data used in CDP reporting

is measured based on a combination of a water

model which assumes the wastewater volumes

based on technologies and products at sites and

direct reporting by sites. When combined with

the information in the technology inventory, we

are able to measure and report an estimate of

discharge volumes by treatment method on a

monthly basis.

Water discharge

100%

Discharge water quality parameters are

quality - by standard

measured and reported & for 100% of

effluent parameters

manufacturing operations. Centrally, using our

global EPR system, we measure Chemical

Oxygen Demand (COD) as a standard effluent

parameter across all manufacturing operations.

This is measured monthly and reported and

assured by an external party (ISAE 3000)

annually. At site level, the parameters monitored

and reported vary based on production type,

discharge destination and local regulation e.g.

common parameters include BOD, pH,

temperature. The frequency of monitoring is

determined locally in accordance with regulatory

requirements, for instance in some sites we use

automatic composite sampling, whereas others

use daily grab or spot sampling. Water treatment

technologies vary by category, age & location

(for instance, the effluent treatment for an ice

cream factory will be different to a homecare

factory).

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Water discharge

100%

Discharge water quality parameters are reported

quality - temperature

& measured for 100% of manufacturing

operations, where local regulations require.

Testing protocols and frequency of measurement

are subject to local permit requirements and are

tracked and managed at site level in line with

requirements for instance, approximately 1/3 of

have installed automated continuous monitoring

systems for temperature.

Water consumption -

100%

Water consumption has been calculated using

total volume

the definition recommended by CDP using

information available for 100% of manufacturing

operations. This is an annually calculated field

using the measured data from above (water

consumption=water withdrawal by volume -

water discharge by volume). Water consumption

as a metric is not used internally as an

operational KPI, but the data used is within the

calculation is, and is measured monthly. As an

internal metric Unilever measure and report

water used as an ingredient, allowing us to

differentiate process water and track and target

process improvements.

Water

100%

We reuse & recycle water in our operations as a

recycled/reused

way to reduce abstraction. Initiatives include

optimisation such as increasing cycles of

concentration in cooling towers, small loop

recycling & reuse of cleaning waters or reuse of

treated wastewater for utilities. Although our

onsite metering provides much more granular

oversight of water use, this is not in place at all

sites. In 2020, we introduced a monthly

measurement requirement for all sites for

recycled final treated wastewater. This does not

capture the many short-loop recycling initiatives

but will give oversight of & encourage greater

use of treated wastewater for uses such as

utilities. Reporting and data accuracy on water

recycling is being developed. Volumetric data

used within this report are calculated based on a

water model which estimates the water

recycled/reused volumes created by

technologies & processes.

The provision of fully-

100%

Within 100% of manufacturing operations, we

functioning, safely

provide access to WASH services for workers

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

managed WASH

and ensure that we are meeting good practices

services to all

laid out in the WBCSD WASH in the Workplace

workers

Pledge. We measure this annually through an

annual review through the SHE Positive

Assurance Review for 100% of manufacturing &

non-manufacturing sites, including a question

relating to the WBCSD WASH in the Workplace

Pledge. Based on responses, sites with

significant improvement areas will be provided

with action plans. WASH services to all workers

are also explored within the implementation of

the Alliance for Water Stewardship standard

being rolled out across water stressed sites. We

engage in partnerships and external advocacy to

create systems change on WASH issues. For

example, we have been signatories of the UN

CEO Water Mandate since its inception, active

members of the WBCSD WASH Leadership

Group and the WEF WASH Steering Group.

W1.2b

(W1.2b) What are the total volumes of water withdrawn, discharged, and consumed

across all your operations, and how do these volumes compare to the previous

reporting year?

Volume

Comparison

Please explain

(megaliters/year)

with previous

reporting year

Total

30,087

About the

Total water abstraction has increased by 1.5%

withdrawals

same

vs. previous year. This is associated with growth

in water intensive production related products,

namely the Health Food Drink acquisition in

South Asia which offset efficiencies delivered in

homecare and personal care facilities in the

year.

During covid-19 pandemic Unilever, remained

focused on efforts to protect our people, the

communities we operate in and the continuity of

our business. Restrictions to personnel and

onsite presence of suppliers has meant the

continuous improvement activities were limited,

and implementation of capex for improvement

projects slowed. However, simplification of

production and growth in volumes of water

efficient products in homecare for instance, has

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

driven some underlying efficiencies.

In addition, the roll out to the agility programme,

which aims to reduce working stock levels and

improve customer service are leading to

increased cleaning demands and impacts on

water use. To mitigate the impacts site teams

are conducting cleaning matrix reviews and

exploring opportunities for water reuse and

recycling. Unilever had a 2008 to 2020 target to

reduce water abstraction by 40% per tonne of

production. By the end of 2018, we had achieved

our 2020 target two years early, cutting the

amount of water abstracted by our factories, we

continued to drive efficiencies and at the end of

Q3 2021, we had achieved 48.8%.

Future total withdrawal: Short term projections

on water use are varied but overall expected to

increase. For instance, the ongoing agility

programme is anticipated to increase water use

as sites changed over more. At the same time,

continued focus on efficient cleaning, the

ongoing Clean Tech programme and introduction

of new internal targets on water efficiency are

sought to counteract these.

Longer term projections are that we will continue

to drive water efficiency as part of an overall

drive to improved sustainability and

manufacturing excellence.

Total

14,772

Lower

Total discharge data is from a combination of

discharges

reported monthly data from central performance

reporting system, and a calculated model for

data quality and improvements. Reported water

discharge volumes have reduced, in part as a

result of improved data reporting. Therefore

comparison with previous year does not reflect

the operational efficiencies and programmes

underway.

Future total discharges: Short term projections

on discharge volumes are varied but overall

expected to increase with the ongoing agility

programme.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

In the medium to long term discharge volumes

are expected to reduce significantly as sites

increase the amount of wastewater recycling and

reuse. Technology pricing is expected to reduce,

know-how is expected to increase and regulation

tightening as a result of public pressure and

increasing national water security issues.

Total

15,315

Higher

Calculated water consumption for 2021 has

consumption

increased vs previous years, this is largely a

result of improved data reporting on water

discharge volumes. Therefore comparison with

previous year does not reflect the operational

efficiencies and programmes underway.

Future water consumption: Water consumption

will be largely influenced by changes in the

Homecare categories. In Homecare there are 2

key trends occurring 1) a move from powders to

liquid laundry products in emerging markets, this

will likely result in an increase in water

consumption as the ingredient water will be

higher than the slurry mix for powders and at the

same time - 2) In more mature markets and

where direct to consumer purchasing there is a

move to concentrated laundry products will

reduce the amount of water used as an

ingredient.

W1.2d

(W1.2d) Indicate whether water is withdrawn from areas with water stress and provide

the proportion.

Withdrawals

Comparison

Identification

Please explain

are from

withdrawn

with previous

tool

areas with

from areas

reporting

water stress

with water

year

stress

Row

Yes

26-50

About the

WRI

Tool used: 100% Unilever

same

Aqueduct

manufacturing operations are

allocated a water stress rating

based on a combination of the

WRI Aqueduct tool, discussions

at site level and media reviews.

Tool Applied: An internal water

stress rating uses a 1-5 scale.

Volumes withdrawn from sites

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

which scored a water stress

rating of 4 and 5 are considered

water stressed. Water

abstracted from these water

stressed sites are reported in

our EPR reporting system. The

performance is tracked and

communicated separately within

the business on a quarterly

basis, and more ambitious

targets applied to water stressed

sites. Water stress ratings are

updated on an ongoing basis off

the back of direct engagement

with sites, local authorities and

media reviews. In 2021 we had

100 factories located in water

stressed locations.

Performance: The number of

water stressed sites has

remained consistent with 2019

and 2020. In 2021 38% of our

water abstraction is from sites in

water stressed locations vs.35%

in 2020. Explanation:

Performance in water stressed

sites overall has been driven by

production mix changes, and

eco-efficiency initiatives in a

number of sites including CuChi,

Pondicherry and Manila.

Positive impact was offset with

the growth of water intensive

production facilities in the

Nutrition and Health Foods

Drinks (HFD) category in South

2 of which are located in highly

water stressed areas.

W-FB1.2e

(W-FB1.2e) For each commodity reported in question W-FB1.1a, do you know the

proportion that is produced/sourced from areas with water stress?

Agricultural

The proportion of

Please explain

commodities

this commodity

produced in areas

sourced from

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

with water stress

areas with water

is known

stress is known

Other

Not applicable

Yes

Unilever does not produce any cocoa.

commodities

To identify the proportion of commodity

from W-FB1.1a,

sourced from areas with water stress

please specify

we identified Unilever's biggest crops

Cocoa

by purchased volume and compared

them against the Water Footprint

Network database of water intensity.

Other

Not applicable

Yes

Unilever does not produce any soy. To

commodities

identify the proportion of commodity

from W-FB1.1a,

sourced from areas with water stress

please specify

we identified Unilever's biggest crops

Soy oils

by purchased volume and compared

them against the Water Footprint

Network database of water intensity.

Other

Not applicable

Yes

Unilever does not produce any wheat.

commodities

To identify the proportion of commodity

from W-FB1.1a,

sourced from areas with water stress

please specify

we identified Unilever's biggest crops

Wheat

by purchased volume and compared

them against the Water Footprint

Network database of water intensity.

Other

Yes

Unilever both sources and produces

commodities

tea. To identify the proportion of

from W-FB1.1a,

commodity sourced and produced from

please specify

areas with water stress we identified

Tea

Unilever's biggest crops by purchased

volume and compared them against

the Water Footprint Network database

of water intensity.

Palm oil

Not applicable

Yes

Unilever does not produce any palm

oil. To identify the proportion of

commodity sourced from areas with

water stress we identified Unilever's

biggest crops by purchased volume

and compared them against the Water

Footprint Network database of water

intensity.

W-FB1.2f

(W-FB1.2f) What proportion of the produced agricultural commodities reported in W-

FB1.1a originate from areas with water stress?

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Agricultural

% of total

Please explain

commodities

agricultural

commodity

produced in

areas with water

stress

Other produced

How this metric is used within Unilever: The Maplecroft

commodities from

Water Stress Index and WRI Aqueduct are used to

W-FB1.2e, please

determine the proportion of commodity volume sourced

specify

from water stressed countries. Countries classified with

Tea

high or extreme water stress were counted. Of the

agricultural commodities in scope, Unilever only produces

tea in plantations in Kenya and Tanzania. Neither of these

countries are classified as water stressed which results in

low sourcing risk to us when we assess the vulnerability of

certain commodities/products in our portfolio.

Anticipated future trends: The latest IPCC Report shows a

prediction of no to little change in precipitation levels in

these countries against the 1.5⁰c and the 2⁰c scenarios &

we therefore anticipate we will continue production in these

regions in the future with proportions being reliant on a

number of factors such as M&A activity and/or consumer

trends (preference for fruit teas over standard). This was

the case last year and there has been no change between

reporting years.

W-FB1.2g

(W-FB1.2g) What proportion of the sourced agricultural commodities reported in W-

FB1.1a originate from areas with water stress?

Agricultural

% of total

Please explain

commodities

agricultural

commodity

sourced from

areas with water

stress

Other sourced

How metric is used within Unilever: The figure provided

commodities from

was obtained using Water Footprint Network data on crop

W-FB1.2e, please

water intensity, the Maplecroft Water Stress Index and

specify

the latest available Unilever volume data for 2021. The

Cocoa

risk rating and percentage of commodity produced in

water stressed countries has not changed since the

previous reporting year. The majority of our cocoa

supplies come from Cote d’ Ivoire and Ghana which are

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

not currently areas associated with water stress.

Anticipated future trends: According to the latest IPCC

Report however, there is evidence that West Africa could

witness negative impacts in the future from climate

change on crop yields and production against a 2⁰c or

above scenario. It is expected that this demand will

increase thus proportion reported will increase. Unilever’s

cocoa suppliers address ESG risks that are endemic to

the geography and commodity, like poverty, child labour

and deforestation. Although not a priority issue in cocoa

given the relatively high rainfall of Ghana and Cote d’

Ivoire, heat and water stress of trees is addressed

through the effective maintenance of shade trees.

Moreover, water risks are covered by the Rainforest

Alliance and UTZ certification standards implemented by

our suppliers.

Other sourced

1-10

How metric is used within Unilever: The figure provided

commodities from

(2%) was obtained using Water Footprint Network data

W-FB1.2e, please

on crop water intensity, the Maplecroft Water Stress

specify

Index, & the latest available Unilever volume data for

Soy oils

2021. The risk rating & percentage of commodity

produced in water stressed countries has not changed

since the previous reporting year. We source most of our

soy oil from the USA, which has a moderate water stress

rating. States in the country with high water stress do not

overlap with those in which our soybeans are produced.

We therefore classify our exposure to water stress in the

United States as low to medium-low. Water management

is an important component of farm and crop management

in this supply chain, a co-benefit of planting cover crops,

which farmers are incentivised to do. The second country

from which Unilever sources soybeans by order of

volume is Brazil, which has a low risk to water stress.

Anticipated future trends: It is expected we will continue

sourcing from these countries to meet future volume

demand. In 2018, we developed a piloted approach to

assess the impact of climate change on our key

commodities through our annual scenario analysis,

selecting soy for the initial pilot. Our analysis showed that

soybean yields may actually increase over the 2030 and

2050-time horizon given the areas we source from. Water

management forms part of the production curriculum for

soy farming, with risks addressed by standards RTRS,

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Proterra and the United States Sustainable Soy

Assurance Program implemented by Unilever’s suppliers.

Other sourced

11-25

How metric is used within Unilever: The figure provided

commodities from

was obtained using Water Footprint Network data on crop

W-FB1.2e, please

water intensity, the Maplecroft Water Stress Index, and

specify

the latest available Unilever volume data for 2021. We

Wheat

source the majority of our wheat from United States of

America, Germany, Pakistan, South Africa, United

Kingdom and Mexico. From these countries, Pakistan and

Mexico are considered High water stress. Both United

States and South Africa are considered Low to Moderate

in water stress. However, wheat growing in areas of the

United States, tend to be in states with high water stress,

making water management an important pillar of good

agricultural practices. Unilever worked to source 100% of

our cereals volumes sustainably by the end of 2020 (67%

of our agricultural raw materials were sustainably sourced

by the end of 2020, including 59% as physical sustainable

sources and 8% in the form of certificates for palm, soy

and sugar). Despite missing our target to source all

agricultural raw materials sustainably, for the 12 priority

crop groups - of which cereals is one - that make up

around two-thirds of our total volume of agricultural raw

materials, 79% were sustainably sourced in 2021.

Anticipated future trends: We are working to buy certified

wheat that meets the requirements of certification

standards like the Sustainable Agriculture Code and Farm

Sustainability Assessment, which address water-related

risks.

Other sourced

26-50

How metric is used within Unilever: The figure was

commodities from

obtained using Water Footprint Network data on crop

W-FB1.2e, please

water intensity, the Maplecroft Water Stress Index, and

specify

the latest available Unilever volume data for 2021. The

Tea

risk rating and percentage of commodity produced in

water stressed countries has not changed since the

previous reporting year. We source the majority of our tea

from India, Kenya, Turkey Argentina and Indonesia. From

these countries, India and Turkey are considered High

water stress countries. Whilst the latest IPCC Report

shows a prediction of no to little change in precipitation

levels in the countries against the 1.5⁰c and the 2⁰c

scenarios where we produce tea, we source around 38%

of our tea from other countries in Africa and Asia which

are more vulnerable to the extreme weather events linked

to climate change.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Anticipated future trends: In the future, we may

experience greater pressure on higher altitude growing

regions to overcome losses in more vulnerable locations.

It is expected we will continue sourcing from these

countries to meet our requirements. Water management

forms part of the production curriculum of tea plantations

and estates, with risks addressed by standards like

Rainforest Alliance and Trustea, against which our

suppliers are certified.

Palm oil

1-10

How metric is used within Unilever: The figure provided

was obtained using Water Footprint Network data on crop

water intensity, the Maplecroft Water Stress Index, and

the latest available Unilever volume data for 2021. The

risk rating and percentage of commodity produced in

water stressed countries has not changed since the

previous reporting year. The majority of our palm oil

supplies come from Indonesia and Malaysia which are

not currently associated with water-stress.

Anticipated future trends: However, according to the

latest IPCC Report, Asia may be more vulnerable to the

extreme weather events linked to climate change in the

future. It is expected we will continue sourcing from these

countries to meet our current requirements. Water

management forms part of the production curriculum of

palm oil plantations, with risks addressed by the

Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard, to

which the majority of Unilever’s palm oil supply is

certified.

W1.2h

(W1.2h) Provide total water withdrawal data by source.

Relevance

Volume

Comparison

Please explain

(megaliters/year)

with

reporting

year

Fresh surface water,

Relevant

2,050.3

Higher

Whilst surface water remains

including rainwater,

a relevant source of water, it

water from wetlands,

only accounts for 7% of total

rivers, and lakes

water withdrawals. 67% of

fresh surface water is used for

non-contact cooling activities.

This takes place in 4 water

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

abundant locations. Using

water to transfer heat is cost

effective & minimises overall

impact vs electrical

cooling/refrigerants.

Performance: Surface water

has increased (+7%). Use of

rainwater increased by 26%

vs 2019. There are 22 sites

across our network collecting

and reusing rainwater.

Rainwater makes up a small

% of total use (<0.5%) it is

increasingly important,

minimizing reliance on

municipal supplies &

supporting downstream flood

mitigation. Over the last year

we have increased rainwater

use in our operations by 15%.

This is driven by sites like

Dapada in India where

rainwater makes up almost

40% of the sites total water

use. We anticipate we will

continue to drive reductions in

surface water, focused in

areas of water stress &

continue to promote rainwater

harvesting.

Brackish surface

Not

Brackish surface water /

water/Seawater

relevant

Seawater is no longer used

within our operations following

the spreads divestment where

it had been used as a form of

non-contact cooling. In the

future, Seawater could

become a more important

source of water e.g. for

ground source heat pumps,

cooling or direct water

abstraction with desalination.

Groundwater -

Relevant

8,255.2

About the

Ground water is used in

renewable

same

manufacturing operations as

both a process and as a raw

ingredient. This makes up

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

27% of the Unilever’s total

water withdrawal.

Performance: Compared to

the previous year,

Groundwater has increased

by 2%, this has been driven

by recent growth in South

Asia. Future Trend: We

expect that groundwater will

continue to be a relevant

source of water for Unilever. It

is anticipated that Unilever will

continue to drive reductions in

ground water, therefore, we

anticipate that future use will

continue to decline.

Groundwater - non-

Not

Groundwater from non-

renewable

relevant

renewable sources is not a

water source that we

withdraw from today. In the

future, it is unlikely that the

this will become a source for

abstraction given our

increasing awareness of

water resources, and the

tightening regulatory

environment.

Produced/Entrained

Not

Today, we do not use water

water

relevant

from produced / entrained

sources of water. The majority

of our raw materials arrive to

the site ready for production

process e.g. dried vegetables

for stock-cube production. In

the future, as water becomes

increasingly stressed,

produced / entrained water

may become more of an

opportunity.

Third party sources

Relevant

19,781.5

About the

Performance: Water provided

same

by municipalities, water

authorities, industrial parks or

other represents 66% of

Unilever’s total water

withdrawal. During 2021

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

municipal water use

increased by 1.5%. Impacts to

municipal water consumption

were a result of production

growth in large personal care

factory in the US and

increased demand from ice

cream production in Italy.

Future trend: It is anticipated

municipal water will continue

to be a relevant source of

water for Unilever. As part of

our overall sustainability

programme, we will continue

to drive water efficiency and

water recycling to reduce

demand on 3rd Party sources.

We expect treated

wastewater from other

organisations could offer

opportunities to minimise

demand from shared water

resources & minimise risks of

over abstraction in the future.

Likewise, finding secondary

uses for our wastewater could

represent a more significant

opportunity going forward.

W1.2i

(W1.2i) Provide total water discharge data by destination.

Relevance

Volume

Comparison

Please explain

(megaliters/year)

with previous

reporting

year

Fresh surface

Relevant

2,549

Higher

Relevant: Calculated discharge to

water

surface water accounts for

approximately 17% of Unilever’s

wastewater discharged. Where we

are discharging directly to the

environment. Performance:

Overall reported water discharges

have reduced by 68% vs previous

year, this is largely a result of

improved reporting capabilities,

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

moving away from calculated

wastewater volumes to reported.

We are adopting a Circular Water

philosophy in many sites where

wastewater is treated & reused.

Water discharge volumes are

estimated using a category level

mass balance. Future: We expect

volume of water discharged to

surface water to reduce as

recycling activities & Circular

Water programmes increase and

local regulation increases.

Efficiencies in production and

treatment can lead to reduction in

abstraction & sludge & cost

savings, forming part of our

continuous improvement strategy

Brackish

Not

Water discharged to brackish

surface

relevant

surface water is not relevant for

water/seawater

our operations any longer.

Previous reporting periods had

reported volumes of water

discharged from non-contact

cooling activities associated with

our spreads business which was

divested previously, as reported in

2020 CDP Water Disclosure.

Future: . It is unlikely that direct

discharge of wastewater to oceans

will increase into the future, as we

seek to recover and reuse water

within our operations. And whilst in

the past non-Contact Cooling is a

low cost, with (in most cases) low

/negligible environmental impact

we are increasingly using heat

recovery systems which also

support our decarbonisation and

energy reduction agenda.

Groundwater

Not

Water discharged to groundwater

relevant

is not relevant for our operations.

We do not discharge wastewater

to groundwater. As regulated, and

as part of our water stewardship

agenda, we are recharging

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

groundwater in some places either

through direct recharge with

collected rainwater or through

nature based solutions in the

wider community

Future: Ground source heat

pumps represent a low carbon

opportunity to provide space

cooling that could gain increased

traction in the future. With

increasing water insecurity,

groundwater recharge with

rainwater may increase, subject to

local requirements and regulation.

However, unlikely that this will be

done with treated production

wastewater. We therefore do not

foresee discharge of treated

wastewater to groundwater

increasing in the future.

Third-party

Relevant

12,223

Lower

Relevant: Many of our sites use

destinations

municipal, public or private utilities

for additional treatment of

wastewater. This has remained

much the same as the previous

year, increasing by 0.2%. Due to

improvements in reporting

capabilities of wastewater

volumes, 83% (vs 61% in previous

year) of Unilever’s wastewater is

sent offsite for further treatment

prior to release back to the

environment or for subsequent

uses. Future: Short term

projections on water discharges

expected are varied. The agility

programme is anticipated to drive

an increase in change overs,

resulting in greater wastewater

volumes. Longer term however,

active mitigation programmes to

increase water recycling and

support a Circular Water

Programme, will create greater

value from wastewater minimising

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

discharges to municipal

wastewater treatment plants.

W1.2j

(W1.2j) Within your direct operations, indicate the highest level(s) to which you treat

your discharge.

Relevanc

Volume

Compariso

% of your

Please

e of

(megaliters/year

n of treated

sites/facilities/operation

explain

treatment

)

volume

s this volume applies to

level to

with

discharge

reporting

year

Tertiary

Relevant

4,592

Much lower

31-40

Situation:

treatment

Note that

there have

been

improvement

s in central

data reporting

associated

with

wastewater

volumes

which provide

a more

accurate

picture of the

wastewater

discharges by

source.

Therefore

comparison

with previous

year does not

reflect the

operational

efficiencies

and

programmes

underway.

Rationale: As

part of our

ongoing

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

centrally

reported

wastewater

volumes.

Discharge

Not

We do not

to the

relevant

discharge

natural

wastewater to

environmen

the nature

t without

environment

treatment

without

treatment.

Discharge

Relevant

1,722

Much lower

11-20

Rationale:

to a third

There are 31

party

sites that

without

discharge

treatment

wastewater to

a third party

without prior

treatment.

These sites

are generally

low flow and

relatively low

water users

e.g. Tea,

savoury,

deodorants

and where we

have an

agreement

with an offsite

third party or

municipality

to treat the

wastewater

before

release. It is

expected that

the volumes

discharged

without

treatment will

reduce into

the future as

we place

increasing

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

W1.3

(W1.3) Provide a figure for your organization’s total water withdrawal efficiency.

Revenue

Total water

Anticipated forward trend

withdrawal

volume

efficiency

(megaliters)

Row

52,440,000,000

30,087

1,742,945.4581713

Note that there is a difference between

Unilever’s externally reported Water

withdrawal data and that disclosed in

CDP Water. This is because Unilever’s

Water Abstraction metric excludes

collected rainwater used for production

related activities. It is excluded to

incentivise rainwater collection which

generally has longer paybacks. This is

outlined in Unilever Basis of

Preparation.

W-FB1.3

(W-FB1.3) Do you collect/calculate water intensity for each commodity reported in

question W-FB1.1a?

Agricultural

Water intensity

Please explain

commodities

information for this

produced commodity is

sourced commodity is

collected/calculated

Other

Not applicable

Yes

We do not collect actual

commodities

water intensity data, but the

from W-FB1.1a,

‘theoretical’ total water

please specify

consumed has been

Cocoa

calculated by dividing the

volumes purchased by the

global average footprint

(m3/ton) for water provided

by the Water Footprint

Network.

Other

Not applicable

Yes

We do not collect actual

commodities

water intensity data, but the

from W-FB1.1a,

‘theoretical’ total water

please specify

consumed has been

Wheat

calculated by dividing the

volumes purchased by the

global average footprint

(m3/ton) for water provided

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

by the Water Footprint

Network.

Other

Not applicable

Yes

We do not collect actual

commodities

water intensity data, but the

from W-FB1.1a,

‘theoretical’ total water

please specify

consumed has been

Soy oils

calculated by dividing the

volumes purchased by the

global average footprint

(m3/ton) for water provided

by the Water Footprint

Network.

Other

Yes

We do not collect actual

commodities

water intensity data, but the

from W-FB1.1a,

‘theoretical’ total water

please specify

consumed has been

Tea

calculated by dividing the

volumes purchased by the

global average footprint

(m3/ton) for water provided

by the Water Footprint

Network.

Palm oil

Not applicable

Yes

We do not collect actual

water intensity data, but the

‘theoretical’ total water

consumed has been

calculated by dividing the

volumes purchased by the

global average footprint

(m3/ton) for water provided

by the Water Footprint

Network.

W-FB1.3a

(W-FB1.3a) Provide water intensity information for each of the agricultural

commodities identified in W-FB1.3 that you produce.

Agricultural commodity

Other produced commodities from W-FB1.3, please specify

Tea

Water intensity value (m3)

47.79

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Numerator: water aspect

Total water consumption

Denominator

Tons

Comparison with previous reporting year

About the same

Please explain

Change from previous year: We have changed the methodology for how we calculate

this information. Therefore, it is not comparable with previous years.

How metric is used internally: Water consumed (blue, green, grey) has been calculated

using the WFN modelled data against volume consumed. Understanding water intensity

of crop production helps identify sourcing regions facing water stress & climate-related

risk. We produce tea in Kenya & Tanzania, neither of which are currently at high risk

(Maplecroft Water Stress Index). Influencing water intensity however would be

challenging, given 82% of consumption is via green water sources.

Future trends: We anticipate selling more in the future. If the intensity figure (from WFN)

changes, as too will the intensity for tea. We do not anticipate a change in the short/mid-

term.

Strategy to reduce intensity: Unilever produces tea against RA certification standard

which has water management requirements. In Kenya, we partnered with IDH to stop &

reverse deforestation in the SW Mau Forest, aiming to disrupt the effects.

W-FB1.3b

(W-FB1.3b) Provide water intensity information for each of the agricultural

commodities identified in W-FB1.3 that you source.

Agricultural commodities

Other sourced commodities from W-FB1.3, please specify

Cocoa

Water intensity value (m3)

2.55

Numerator: Water aspect

Total water consumption

Denominator

Tons

Comparison with previous reporting year

About the same

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Please explain

Change from previous year: We have changed the methodology for how we calculate

this information. Therefore, it is not comparable with previous years.

How metric is used internally: The underlying theoretical water intensity conversion

provided by the Water Footprint Network did not change between years. However, in

previous years, we used the blue water conversion only as opposed to blue, green,

grey. We have now used the combined conversion figure from WFN against volume

purchased. This water use is rainfed, so there are no opportunities to reduce crop

intensity.

Future trends: We anticipate we will sell more in the future. If the intensity figure (from

WFN) changes, as too will the intensity for cocoa. We do not anticipate a change in the

short/mid-term.

Strategy to reduce intensity: Unilever’s cocoa suppliers address endemic ESG risks to

the geography & commodity, like poverty, child labour & deforestation. Although not a

priority issue in cocoa given the relatively high rainfall of Ghana & Cote d’ Ivoire, heat &

water stress of trees is addressed through the effective maintenance of shade trees.

Moreover, water risks are covered by RA & UTZ certification standards implemented by

our suppliers.

Agricultural commodities

Other sourced commodities from W-FB1.3, please specify

Soy oil

Water intensity value (m3)

71.65

Numerator: Water aspect

Total water consumption

Denominator

Tons

Comparison with previous reporting year

About the same

Please explain

Change from previous year: We have changed the methodology for how we calculate

this information. Therefore, it is not comparable with previous years.

How metric is used internally: The underlying theoretical water intensity conversion

provided by the Water Footprint Network did not change between years. However, in

previous years, we used the blue water conversion only as opposed to blue, green,

grey. We have now used the combined conversion figure from WFN against volume

purchased.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Future trends: We anticipate we will sell more products in the future. If the intensity

figure (from WFN) changes, as to will the crop intensity for soy oil. We do not anticipate

a change in the short to mid-term.

Strategy to reduce intensity: We do not currently have strategies to apply this knowledge

to decision-making in soy oil sourcing. More broadly, we invest in sustainability

programs like the United States Sustainable Soy Assurance Protocol, RTRS and

Proterra, which include requirements for the management of water risks. Influencing

water intensity, however, would be challenging, given that 95% of modelled

consumption comes from green water sources.

Agricultural commodities

Other sourced commodities from W-FB1.3, please specify

Wheat

Water intensity value (m3)

72.11

Numerator: Water aspect

Total water consumption

Denominator

Tons

Comparison with previous reporting year

About the same

Please explain

Change from previous year: We have changed the methodology for how we calculate

this information. Therefore, it is not comparable with previous years. The underlying

theoretical water intensity value did not change between years.

How metric is used internally: One-fifth of modelled consumption comes from blue water

sources, so there are opportunities to reduce water use coming from surface and

groundwater sources. These opportunities are evaluated by producers supply us with

volume that is certified against a sustainability standard like the Sustainable Agriculture

Code and the Farm Sustainability. Management requirements of these standards

include having a water management plan and ensuring equitable distribution of water in

the catchment.

Future trends: We anticipate we will sell more products in the future. If the intensity

figure (from WFN) changes, as to will the crop intensity for soy oil. We do not anticipate

a change in the short to mid-term.

Strategy to reduce intensity: We do not currently have strategies to apply this knowledge

to decision-making in wheat sourcing.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Agricultural commodities

Palm oil

Water intensity value (m3)

181.54

Numerator: Water aspect

Total water consumption

Denominator

Tons

Comparison with previous reporting year

About the same

Please explain

Change from previous year: We have changed the methodology for how we calculate

this information. Therefore, it is not comparable with previous years.

How metric is used internally: The underlying theoretical water intensity conversion

provided by the Water Footprint Network did not change between years. However, in

previous years, we used the blue water conversion only as opposed to blue, green,

grey. We have now used the combined conversion figure from WFN against volume

purchased. Palm oil is a rainfed crop, of which 96% of total water consumption is

attributed to this source.

Future trends: We anticipate we will sell more products in the future. If the intensity

figure (from WFN) changes, as to will the crop intensity for palm oil. We do not

anticipate a change in the short to mid-term.

Strategy to reduce intensity: Given this dependence on rainfall, there is no opportunity

to influence the water use intensity of the crop and we therefore do not currently have

strategies to apply this knowledge to decision-making in palm oil sourcing.

Agricultural commodities

Other sourced commodities from W-FB1.3, please specify

Tea

Water intensity value (m3)

47.79

Numerator: Water aspect

Total water consumption

Denominator

Tons

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Comparison with previous reporting year

About the same

Please explain

Change from previous year: We have changed the methodology for how we calculate

this information. Therefore, it is not comparable with previous years.

How metric is used internally: In most countries, tea is a rainfed crop, which is why 82%

of the modelled water intensity for tea is attributable to green water.

Future trends: We do not anticipate a change in the short to mid-term.

Strategy to reduce intensity: We do not currently have strategies to reduce the water

intensity of tea, as this is seen as infeasible in most producing countries. Nevertheless,

we have a commitment to source all of our tea sustainably, by buying volume certified

against standards like Rainforest Alliance and Trustea. These standards contain

requirements for water conservation and management, which ensures certified farmers

implement strategies to manage water-related risks. If the intensity figure (from WFN)

changes, as to will the crop intensity for tea.

W1.4

(W1.4) Do you engage with your value chain on water-related issues?

Yes, our suppliers

Yes, our customers or other value chain partners

W1.4a

(W1.4a) What proportion of suppliers do you request to report on their water use,

risks and/or management information and what proportion of your procurement

spend does this represent?

Row 1

% of suppliers by number

26-50

% of total procurement spend

26-50

Rationale for this coverage

Unilever spends around €34bn on goods & services annually from around 53,000

suppliers, giving us scale & impact to influence those we work with. Aligned with our

strategy to sustainability source 100% of our key agricultural crops, we collect water use

information from agricultural suppliers through the use of our Sustainable Agriculture

Code (SAC) or equivalent scheme. These suppliers were chosen because they are key

suppliers of the commodities we use in our operations.

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

These suppliers are incentivised to report as measuring progress is a mandatory

requirement of our SAC where ‘Unilever suppliers must provide the necessary data’ for

calculating their water intensity metrics and would risk being unfavorable if they did not.

Of our total supplier spend, we spend 33% on raw materials. 45% of which comply with

our sustainable sourcing requirements and who via this program are requested to report

on water use, risks and/or management information. Since 2010 we have implemented

our sustainable water practices on 70% of our supply chain of key agriculture materials

and 56% of our total agricultural supply chain by volume. This corresponds to have

engaged with 1085 suppliers (38% of all agriculture suppliers).

Impact of the engagement and measures of success

Unilever engages suppliers to improve the sustainability practices of their farmers using

a team of specialized consultants. We count materials as sustainable when they are

Sustainable Agriculture Code (SAC) compliant or certified against an equivalent 3rd-

party standard. These standards set requirements for the management of water risks

e.g. abstraction of water from water sources for irrigation. Suppliers are requested to

report on water use, water risks and management practices. To monitor compliance with

the code, a 3rd-party body conduct audits of suppliers implementing the SAC. This

includes water management requirements and where deviations are found, corrective

actions are taken to rectify.

Our measure of success is the rate of compliance against the SAC. In 2020, only 1% of

suppliers were non-compliant.

In addition, we collect quantitative data related to the volume of irrigation water used per

tonne of crop produced. The data collected is used to track suppliers’ water use

performance over time, test the impact of particular interventions and engage with

suppliers on possible improvements.

Comment

Coverage here is based on agricultural raw material suppliers as a proportion of total

suppliers which is why it seems low. Our SAC has the expectations set out for our

suppliers, including water management practices which are mandatory, expected &

leading. See SAC sections 4.1 - Improving water use & efficiency, 4.2 - Irrigation for

more information.

W1.4b

(W1.4b) Provide details of any other water-related supplier engagement activity.

Type of engagement

Innovation & collaboration

Details of engagement

Encourage/incentivize innovation to reduce water impacts in products and services

Unilever plc CDP Water Security Questionnaire 2022 29 July 2022

Provide training and support on sustainable agriculture practices to improve water

stewardship

Educate suppliers about water stewardship and collaboration

% of suppliers by number

26-50

% of total procurement spend

26-50

Rationale for the coverage of your engagement

Coverage: Unilever spends around €34bn on goods & services annually from around

53,000 suppliers, giving us scale & impact to influence those we work with. Aligned with

our strategy to sustainability source 100% of our key agricultural crops, we collect water

use information from agricultural suppliers through the use of our Sustainable

Agriculture Code (SAC) or equivalent scheme. These suppliers are chosen because

they are key suppliers of the commodities we use in our operations. Coverage here is

based on agricultural raw material suppliers as a proportion of total suppliers. Our SAC

has the expectations set out for our suppliers, including water management practices

which are mandatory, expected & leading.