Chilled by the sun Tackling climate change: contributing through eco-efficiency, advanced refrigeration and renewables hen Constandina rainfall patterns, soil moisture in Unilever’s factories uses of the industry that climate- Katsanevaki and and storm patterns,” he says. ammonia, which does not friendly technology is available Wher brother Sotiris affect the ozone layer or and must now be used.” chose their Magnum and Unilever’s environmental contribute to climate change. Cornetto on a baking hot day strategy concentrates on But thousands of older HC refrigerant does not during the 2004 Athens areas where it can have the retail cabinets still use CFC increase the concentration Olympics, they probably biggest positive effect. This or HCFC gases. These damage of those gases that contribute didn’t notice that the ice is why its three sustainability the Earth’s protective ozone to climate change (known cream cabinet was powered initiatives are in agriculture, layer as well as contributing as greenhouse gases). The by the sun. And they couldn’t fish and water. Also, part of to climate change. The hole principal greenhouse gas is tell that the ice creams were its strategy is to increase in the ozone layer lets in carbon dioxide, produced chilled by gases that don’t eco-efficiency – making more harmful ultraviolet sunlight, mainly from burning fossil contribute to global warming. with less. Essential elements of which restricts plant growth fuels, such as coal and oil. its eco-efficiency programme and can cause skin cancers. Unilever’s greenhouse gas The cabinet is one of five are to improve energy emissions from its operations solar-powered units Unilever efficiency in manufacturing, The company is now are produced mainly from tested during the Olympics – use renewable energy where introducing cabinets using energy used in manufacturing an example of how the possible and devise better a hydrocarbon (HC) gas, (see chart). The company company is trying to reduce technologies for refrigeration. which avoids both the has a global programme to its impact on the environment, ozone depletion and global improve energy management including climate change. “Warmer weather warming effects. HC cabinets and achieve annual use up to 9% less energy greenhouse gas reduction Unilever makes food, home might seem good than older technologies. targets in its manufacturing and personal care products. for ice cream sales, operations. Its target for Its brands include Dove, but global warming The first HC cabinets were carbon dioxide emissions Sunsilk, Lipton, Knorr and ice installed in Denmark in from energy was just missed creams such as Magnum and brings unpredictable 2003 and Unilever aims to in 2003, but many sites Cornetto. It has operations environmental have 15,000 in 18 European made impressive progress in in over 100 countries and consequences for countries by the end of 2004. energy efficiency and the its products are sold in a company beat its overall further 50. society and business.” Since 1996, the company has target to reduce energy been working in close co- consumption. Warmer weather might operation with environmental seem good for ice cream sales, Unilever’s carbon dioxide campaigners Greenpeace in In the United States, for but global warming brings emissions from energy use the development of this example, the Home and unpredictable environmental in manufacturing have new technology. Unilever Personal Care division cut consequences for society and dropped by 0.8 million tonnes successfully trialled 50 HC energy use by over 10% in business. Professor Dan Esty, since 1999. This represents freezers at the 2000 Sydney one year when in 2001 it director of the Yale Centre for a reduction of 8% for every Olympics before launching began to publish energy costs Environmental Law and Policy tonne of product. Professor its HC freezers in Europe. for each site, encouraging and a Unilever adviser on Esty acknowledges the Stephen Tindale, Greenpeace internal competition to make the environment, warns that progress and urges the UK executive director, savings. Unilever’s food global warming threatens company to do more. supports Unilever’s actions. business in the UK is aiming the company’s key sources “Unilever has shown genuine to beat targets set as part of ingredients – agriculture In Europe, considerable commitment to the of the UK government’s and fisheries. “Unilever could progress has been made in environment and genuine programme to raise be vulnerable to changes in improving ice cream cabinet business leadership. This sends energy awareness and global temperatures, sea level, technology. Refrigeration a powerful message to the rest improve efficiency. Where Unilever’s manufacturing greenhouse gas emissions come from (2003) Expressed as % of CO2 equivalent 8 9 7 1 Electricity (41.8%) 6 10 2 Natural gas (19.8%) 3 Heavy fuel oil (10.0%) 5 4 Wood and biomass (7.4%) 1 5 Coal (5.6%) 4 6 Others (steam, LPG) (5.1%) 7 Light fuel oil (3.7%) 3 8 Landfill (3.0%) 9 Refrigerants (2.3%) 10 Wastewater treatment (1.3%) 2 Fast-growing eucalyptus trees are grown to provide carbon-neutral fuel on Unilever’s tea estates in India. Over 80% of the power used by the estates comes from renewables. Moses Mavoko, planning manager at Unilever’s tea estate in Kericho, Kenya, with tea bushes in the foreground and a eucalyptus plantation behind. The eucalyptus provides carbon-neutral fuel to fire the estate’s boiler. Renewables provide 96% of the estate’s energy. “In Kenya, 96% of the energy used by the for wood burning in well- company’s Kericho tea estate comes from managed plantations. Burning wood only releases renewable sources.” carbon taken from the air during growth, so there is no net impact on the Emissions from road transport 5,000 truck journeys a year atmosphere (carbon neutral). are difficult to cut because by making its own bottles most products and supplies for liquid detergent on site, In Kenya, 96% of the energy are increasingly delivered rather than transporting used by the company’s Wood specially grown to provide by truck – often the most them from elsewhere. Kericho tea estate comes carbon-neutral energy fires the boiler at economically efficient form of from renewable sources. Unilever’s tea estate in Kericho, Kenya. Unilever has been working with Kenya transportation. The challenge As well as working to make These include hydro electricity Forestry Research to increase the use of to reduce exhaust emissions its own operations more and fuel wood. The estate wood grown for fuel on the estate. has increased since the energy efficient, Unilever has been working with company began moving aims to help consumers save Kenya Forestry Research to towards fewer, larger energy when they use its increase the use of wood, factories. These plants are products. Laundry detergents, improve yields and boost more efficient (saving energy for example, have been boiler efficiency. and other resources) but developed to work at low are often further away from temperatures, so less energy Much can be achieved by markets, resulting in longer is needed to heat the industry through individual journeys to deliver products. washing water. company efforts to cut energy Transport emissions can be consumption, but substantial reduced by switching from The use of renewable progress to combat climate Hydro-electricity is generated from this road to rail or sea where energy, such as solar, wind change will only be made reservoir on Unilever’s tea estate in possible, and by improving and biomass, can contribute if business, government and Kericho, Kenya. The estate also uses wood specially grown on the estate to the efficiency of distribution to reducing emissions. stakeholders work together. fuel the boiler. networks so that more Wood and other vegetation The collaboration between products are carried on (biomass) are currently the Greenpeace and Unilever each journey. main renewable fuels used that produced the HC cabinet by the company, followed programme – which chilled Some Unilever companies by hydro and wind electricity. the ice creams enjoyed by have been working to In total, 11% of Unilever’s Constandina and Sotiris – improve their distribution energy consumption came is just one example of what efficiency in this way. from renewable sources in can be achieved by working Unilever recognises that 2003, but in some places in partnership. it needs to spread the renewables provide the learning throughout the main source of power. group if it is going to meet the environmental challenge In India, for example, that road transport poses. around 80% of the power Sometimes, taking a new used by the company’s tea approach to production can estates comes from wood. make a big difference. For The factories used to be example, the Lever Fabergé powered by coal, but the factory in northern Italy saves company now grows trees Chilled by the sun: the ice creams enjoyed by Constandina Katsanevaki, her brother Sotiris and their aunt Elpida Koutsoubaki were chilled by this solar-powered ice cream cabinet – one of five tested on the streets of Athens during the 2004 Olympics. nilever believes that one of the best There you will also find copies of previous Or write to: and most sustainable ways it can help to articles in this series, as well as our latest Corporate Relations Uaddress global social and environmental environmental and social reports. These can Unilever PLC concerns is through the very business of be read online or downloaded. PO Box 68 doing business in a socially aware and London responsible manner. We would like to hear from you. If you EC4P 4BQ have any questions, comments or suggestions United Kingdom This is the third in a series of occasional about this publication or any other aspect of articles that looks at how Unilever companies Unilever’s environmental and social policies, Corporate Relations around the world are tackling global social please contact: [email protected].