Unilever to set new benchmark for Healthy Nutrition
Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels
Unilever has announced that it will be the first global foods company to publicly report the performance of its product portfolio against at least six different government-endorsed Nutrient Profile Models (NPM) as well as its own Highest Nutritional Standards (HNS).
Unilever will publish the assessment on an annual basis both globally and for 16 key strategic markets and will report its performance both by volume of product and by sales revenue. Its first report will be published by October 2022.
The move comes following extensive, constructive engagement with ShareAction and the Healthy Markets Initiative.
Unilever will also continue to set stretching nutrition targets for its portfolio, as part of its Future Foods commitments, which were published at the end of 2020. This includes timebound targets for plant-based sales, reduction of salt, sugar and calories, and increasing the sales of healthier ‘positive nutrition’ products.
Unilever will update and strengthen its specific targets that expire at the end of 2022 and will consider both HNS and at least six different NPMs to determine which is the most stretching target benchmark to increase sales of healthier products in a way that maximises positive impact for global consumer health.
Unilever’s new targets, and its updated Future Foods commitments, will be published by October 2022. Amongst others, Unilever will be guided by the latest Access to Nutrition Initiative’s assessment and recommendations in considering improvements to its strategy.
Unilever will continue to engage with ShareAction and investors from the Healthy Markets Initiative as these commitments are developed and implemented in the run up to the 2024 AGM.
Hanneke Faber, Unilever’s president of Foods & Refreshment, said: “We welcome the constructive dialogue we have had with ShareAction and the Healthy Markets Initiative. We share a common belief in the importance of having an ambitious long-term strategy for nutrition and health, and that companies should publish ambitious targets to deliver against. I am confident that with these new initiatives, we will set a new benchmark for nutrition transparency in our industry and accelerate our positive impact on public health.”
Catherine Howarth, CEO of ShareAction said: “A food manufacturer as large as Unilever has the power to improve the health of millions of people across the world. Responsible investors are challenging such companies to step up. We welcome Unilever’s new commitments. The transparency promised sets a new standard for the industry. We hope and expect that others will follow. ShareAction and the Healthy Markets investor coalition looks forward to working closely with Unilever as the company sets stretching new targets to sell more healthier food—and improve people’s health.”
A requisition, which ShareAction had put forward on behalf of a number of investors for a resolution on nutrition at Unilever’s 2022 AGM, has been withdrawn.
