Taking a stand

Resources are stretched, yet food is still wasted

So what exactly is the problem?

First, Earth’s resources are finite. A third of all land is already used to produce the food we eat and agriculture is the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and the largest user of freshwater. Using more and more resources to grow food isn’t ecologically feasible.

Second, tonnes and tonnes of perfectly edible food never gets eaten. Either it’s lost to poor logistics and inadequate storage, or it’s thrown away by consumers.

And this in a world where obesity is increasing sharply in all regions, yet nearly a billion people still go to bed hungry every night. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Covid-19 pandemic could add a further 100 million people to this distressing hunger toll.

Good food that doesn’t cost the earth

As one of the largest food companies in the world, with global brands with purpose like Knorr, Hellmann’s, Magnum and Lipton Ready to Drink, we know we have an influence on people’s diets. We continually ensure our food is a force for good. And by making sure it tastes good, consumers continue to choose our products.

Looking beyond the farm gate

For a food system to be fully sustainable, it means looking beyond the farm gate as well – to the energy, water and other natural resources used when food is transported, stored, processed and consumed.

Agriculture, food, nutrition, health, livelihoods and the environment are all intimately interconnected. Focus on one without the others and the whole system collapses.

We can’t afford for that to happen. In fact, the cost of inaction to business is far greater than the cost of action.

How can we fix the food system?

Our strategy and goals show how we’re contributing through our Future Foods ambitions. Our commitments contribute to Objective 3 of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases . We’re helping to reduce risk factors (like salt levels), as well as promote healthy diets.

We’re taking action on wider, related issues too, such as deforestation, soil degradation and biodiversity loss , sustainable and regenerative sourcing , reducing our greenhouse gas emissions , combating food waste , living wages as well as hunger and malnutrition. In fact, the World Benchmarking Alliance put Unilever in first place in its ranking of 350 food companies’ environmental, social and nutritional impact.

Feeding the world is a global priority – and it needs to be tackled at a global level. In autumn 2021, for example, we supported the UN Food Systems Summit, which brought together governments and key organisations from across the value chain to transform the food system.

We’re also advocating on a number of fronts to lead this change. For instance, we want to see reformulation targets in line with WHO guidelines for fats, sugar and salt, with incentives to create smaller portions to help people eat nutritious food and follow a healthy, balanced diet. We believe marketing to children under 16 is after unacceptable: we’re ending this practice by January 2023, and we’re calling for others to end this too. In addition, regulatory hurdles on the safe fortification of products with key micronutrients need to be removed.

Only by working together can we bring about change on the scale that’s needed. Our nutrition philosophy explains how we’re doing just that.