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Unilever Bangladesh Recognised for Leadership in Sustainability

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Bangladesh Brand Forum’s (BBF) SDG Brand Champion Award, which recognises initiatives taken by brands and businesses to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Bangladesh, has recognised two initiatives taken by Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) as Brand Champions for the 2024 version of the award. Two other UBL initiatives also received honourable mentions.

Unilever Bangladesh team group photo with award trophies and crests in hand.

Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) is considered to be one of the pioneers of integrating sustainability at the core of its business, setting many benchmarks and success cases to adapt effective and transparent sustainable practices in Bangladesh.

UBL’s approach to form effective collaboration and engage relevant institutions to drive plastic circularity was recognised as the best Sustainable Partnership and Institution initiative. UBL was also recognised as an SDG Brand Champion for Women’s Inclusion and Leadership in Manufacturin. Additionally, two other UBL initiatives to drive Responsible Consumption and Production and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure also received Honourable Mentions.

SDG Brand Champion in Sustainable Partnerships and Institutions

The first accolade, the SDG Brand Champion in Sustainable Partnerships and Institutions, was awarded for our Plastic Waste Management Initiative. We are proactively working to improve Bangladesh's plastic waste management system through systematic changes, capability development, innovative business models, and fostering a circular economy.

Our journey to establish a circular plastic waste value chain in Bangladesh started with insight gathering and concept field testing. After successful testing of 4 different intervention models in collaboration with Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we became inspired and confident to redesign and scale up our initiative.

In 2022, we partnered with Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), an NGO based in Chattogram, to scale up city-wide. A tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to implement systematic change, develop institutional capacity, empower the value chain actors, and mobilise the community to establish circularity. Today, UBL is managing 10% of Chattogram City Corporation's plastic waste, which is the second-largest city in the country and till date we have collected and processed 14,000+ tonnes of plastic waste.

SDG Brand Champion in Women’s Inclusion and Leadership in Manufacturing

The second prestigious award, SDG Brand Champion in Women Empowerment, was earned through our Women’s Inclusion and Leadership in Manufacturing initiative. Unilever Bangladesh's journey towards fostering inclusion began with the transformation of the Kalurghat Factory (KGF), established in 1962. While expanding capacity and capability, there was a critical need to overcome gender norms and barriers to attract diverse talent in manufacturing. In 2017, Unilever initiated an end-to-end cultural shift at KGF to foster diversity and inclusion. Through targeted recruitment, mentorship, and leadership development, the factory has grown into a model of gender inclusion in South Asia, empowering women across all levels.

Several initiatives have been critical to this transformation. Unilever has focused on actively recruiting women for roles traditionally held by men, leading to 35% of the UBL Supply Chain population being female, with 26% in managerial roles at KGF, aspiring to reach 30% by 2025. A structured Graduate Engineering Trainee programme has further created a pipeline of female talent, with 64% female representation. Alongside infrastructural changes, including a creche, safety measures, and partnerships, these efforts have made factory roles more accessible and attractive to women.

This award celebrates our strides in promoting gender equality and empowering women within the manufacturing sector. UBL’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace has not only advanced gender equity but also reinforced our role as a leader in sustainable business practices.

Honourable Mention for Responsible Consumption and Production

Our initiative, URefill: Driving Sustainable Consumer Behaviour Change, received an Honourable Mention in the Responsible Consumption and Production category. The main challenge for Bangladesh was developing refill technology suited for small retail shops, as over 95% of consumer products are sold in more than 2 million micro and small retail outlets. These retailers serve consumers with limited affordability, who buy in small quantities for convenience. Since 2023, Unilever Bangladesh has been working with BopInc, a global social impact consulting organisation, to experiment with scalable refill solutions that can function in minimal retail space.

By introducing refillable packaging systems in small retail outlets, UBL has made significant progress in reducing plastic waste. The URefill machine ensures a 90% reduction in plastic footprint, enhances affordability, and fosters a circular economy.

Honourable Mention for Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Another Honourable Mention was awarded for our initiative, Harnessing Environmental Sustainability towards a Greener Tomorrow, in the Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure category. We place sustainability at the heart of our operations, driving initiatives that positively impact society, the environment, and the economy. KGF, UBL’s largest and oldest in Bangladesh, exemplifies our longstanding commitment to sustainable practices.

Since 2010, we have implemented various water conservation and energy efficiency projects, reducing the carbon footprint. Our Water Stewardship initiatives include rainwater harvesting, recycling treated water and using Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. Our process reengineering and production efficiency initiatives have significantly increased our water savings. Since 2008, we have reduced the volume of water used per tonne in our manufacturing sites globally by around 50%. We have also adopted advanced energy-saving technologies such as efficient chillers and steam recovery systems. Additionally, we achieved a "Zero-Waste to Landfill" status back in 2014, and we are committed to upholding and maintaining this status.

Through these initiatives, Unilever Bangladesh continues to lead the way in sustainable manufacturing, setting a benchmark for responsible business practices.

Award creative showcasing the 4 awards earned by UBL- 2 champion categories and 2 honourable mention categories.

Looking Ahead: Committing to a Sustainable Path

Our award-winning initiatives exemplify our proactive approach to sustainability. At UBL, we understand that addressing environmental challenges requires innovation and collaborative efforts. The recognition we have received reaffirms our dedication to integrating sustainability into our core business practices, aligning with our Growth Action Plan (GAP) for 2023.

As we celebrate these achievements, we remain focused on our commitment to sustainability. Our journey is far from over, and we are dedicated to continuing our efforts to make sustainable living commonplace. The recognition we have received motivates us to push the boundaries of innovation and collaboration, ensuring that our impact on people and the planet continues to grow.

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