Unilever sustainability officer steps down amid company’s corporate restructuring – Food Dive

Report on Unilever’s Sustainability Leadership Transition and SDG Alignment

Executive Summary

• Unilever’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Rebecca Marmot, has announced her departure from the company after a tenure that significantly advanced the company’s sustainability agenda.
• Jonathan Stewart, the current Chief Corporate Affairs and Communication Officer, is set to assume leadership of the sustainability division, indicating a strategic integration of these functions.
• Under Marmot’s leadership, Unilever has made measurable progress toward its climate targets, directly contributing to key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
• The company’s long-term strategy, including the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, demonstrates a sustained commitment to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Leadership Transition in Sustainability Division

1. Departure of Chief Sustainability Officer: Rebecca Marmot, who has served as CSO since 2019 and has been with the company since 2007, is stepping down.
2. Succession Plan: Jonathan Stewart will take over the responsibilities for the company’s sustainability initiatives. The official title for this new integrated role has not been confirmed.
3. Marmot’s Tenure: Her leadership was instrumental in shaping Unilever’s sustainability framework, from the “genesis of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan” to its current climate transition strategy.

Progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Unilever has established ambitious climate targets, including achieving net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2039 and a 100% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from a 2015 baseline.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The company has made significant strides in decarbonizing its operations. It surpassed a near-term goal by achieving a 70% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2023, primarily through the increased use of renewable electricity and the implementation of energy efficiency programs.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The entirety of Unilever’s sustainability strategy, which encompasses its supply chain, operational emissions, and product lifecycle, reflects a core commitment to responsible production patterns.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Marmot highlighted the collaborative nature of Unilever’s sustainability work, emphasizing engagement with a diverse range of partners, including “governments, investors, NGO’s, retailers, [and] farmers,” which is central to achieving the global goals.

Future Outlook

1. The transition of sustainability leadership to the Chief Corporate Affairs and Communication Officer signals a continued high-level corporate commitment to integrating sustainability into core business communications and stakeholder engagement.
2. Unilever is expected to maintain its focus on the targets outlined in its Climate Transition Action Plan.
3. The company’s ongoing efforts will continue to contribute to multiple SDGs as it works to decarbonize its value chain and promote sustainable practices globally.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses Unilever’s corporate sustainability strategy, focusing on climate action, energy use, and partnerships. Based on this, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article mentions Unilever’s efforts to increase its use of renewable electricity and implement energy efficiency programs to reduce its operational emissions.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: As a large multinational manufacturer, Unilever’s actions to reduce emissions across its value chain and integrate sustainability into its corporate structure (evidenced by having a Chief Sustainability Officer and a climate transition plan) relate directly to promoting sustainable corporate practices.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is a central theme of the article. Unilever’s specific, time-bound targets for emission reduction, such as achieving net-zero by 2039 and reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions, are direct measures to combat climate change.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article explicitly quotes the outgoing CSO mentioning her work with a wide range of stakeholders, including “governments, investors, NGO’s, retailers, farmers and many more,” which highlights the company’s use of multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance its sustainability agenda.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article’s content points to several specific SDG targets:

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This is supported by the article’s statement that Unilever reduced emissions “primarily through increasing use of renewable electricity.”
2. Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This is connected to the mention of the company’s “energy efficiency programs.”
3. Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. Unilever, a large transnational company, demonstrates this through its “climate transition plan” and public reporting on its sustainability goals and progress.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. While this target is aimed at countries, Unilever’s corporate actions—creating a “climate transition plan” and setting ambitious emission reduction goals—reflect the integration of climate measures into corporate strategy, which is a key private sector contribution to this goal.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article directly supports this by listing the diverse partners Unilever collaborates with, including governments, NGOs, and investors, to achieve its sustainability objectives.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction: The article provides specific quantitative indicators of progress. It states Unilever’s goal to reduce “scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 100% by 2030” and to reach “net-zero across its value chain by 2039.”
• Progress Against Emission Targets: A clear indicator of performance is mentioned: Unilever “met a near-term 2025 target of slashing scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 70% in 2023.” This serves as a direct measure of progress toward its climate goals.
• Corporate Sustainability Reporting: The existence and public mention of Unilever’s “climate transition plan” implies the use of formal sustainability reporting to communicate goals and performance to stakeholders, which is an indicator for Target 12.6.
• Implementation of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Measures: The article identifies the methods used to achieve emission reductions, namely “increasing use of renewable electricity and energy efficiency programs.” The extent of implementation of these programs serves as an indicator of action towards SDG 7.
• Formation of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: The article’s reference to working with “governments, investors, NGO’s, retailers, farmers” indicates the existence and breadth of partnerships, which is a qualitative indicator for SDG 17.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: esgdive.com