Unilever achieves global goal of zero waste sent to landfill

Unilever has been able to achieve its long-term sustainability goal of sending zero non-hazardous waste to landfill.

More than 600 sites in 70 countries – including factories, warehouses, distribution centres and offices – have been able to completely eliminate landfill waste from their operations, a significant advance from last year, when just over 240 sites could make this claim.

This has been achieved by reducing, reusing, recovering or recycling waste wherever possible, with steps including converting factory waste to building materials and composting food waste from staff cafeterias.

In doing so, the company has been able to create hundreds of jobs and unlock cost savings of around 200 million euros (155.24 million pounds).

Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Unilever's chief supply chain officer, said: "Our zero-waste goal underpins Unilever's sustainable growth ambitions, as well as our commitment to become resource-resilient and tackle climate change."

This comes as part of the firm's broader ambition to double the size of its business while reducing its environmental impact.