Unilever Expands Focus, Operations In Emerging Markets

Unilever CEO Paul Polman said emerging markets are accounting for a growing share and focus of his company's business operations, as well as of those of other multinational corporations. At present, emerging markets account for 56 percent of the company's revenue, and this rate will rise to 75 percent by the end of the decade, according to Polman. He also said that innovation, anticipation of consumer needs, and business speed and agility will enable Unilever to double its turnover while reducing its environmental impact. Polman said that increasingly, innovation is coming from the emerging markets, and the company is expanding its investments in developing countries.

"Using the right Levers for emerging markets", The Hindu Business Line, November 29, 2012

Procter & Gamble Expands Fleet Of Lift Trucks Powered By Fuel Cells

Procter & Gamble Co. chose GenDrive fuel cells from Plug Power Inc. to power the electric lift trucks in the company's manufacturing plant in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. Three other P&G manufacturing sites are using green fuel cell technology, with more than 340 units deployed. Compared with lead-acid batteries, which require being changed, charged, stored, and maintained, GenDrive fuel cells are powered by hydrogen, can offer constant voltage, and can be refueled in minutes.

"PLUG POWER ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SITE FOR PROCTER & GAMBLE", Plug Power, November 29, 2012

Proposed Financial Reporting Method Includes Value Of Sustainability

More than 80 companies, including Clorox, Microsoft, and Coca-Cola, are evaluating the use of an integrated financial reporting framework that merges measurable financial results with sustainability, social, and regulatory factors. Overseen by the International Integrated Reporting Council, the pilot program aims to measure how sustainable a company’s operations are by considering the costs and benefits of its environmental strategies. Under the framework, companies must report all material information, including its sustainability goals and metrics. The IIRC believes integrated reporting, such as the pilot program, can help investors determine a company’s ability to generate cash flows.

"The Value of Sustainability", CFO Magazine, November 15, 2012

Unilever CEO Thinks Capitalism Needs Some Fixing

Unilever chief executive officer Paul Polman said he thinks capitalism as it is right now is burdened with several weaknesses, including its over-consumption of natural resources. Polman said the inability of international organizations to deal with the effects of globalization only worsens the impact of resource depletion, which is forecast to get worse in the future. Unilever’s move against quarterly financial reporting was aimed at reforming the company’s culture that was too focused on short-term results. Also, Unilever’s integration of sustainability into its business operations and enhancement of its competitiveness helped improve its revenue performance.

"Fixing Capitalism: Paul Polman interview", CBI magazine , November 14, 2012

Being A Good Corporate Citizen Helps Unilever Grow Its Business

Unilever said that, three years after its launch, the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan has helped the company's East and Southern Africa division advance significantly toward its goal of doubling business while reducing its environmental footprint. USLP is the company's contribution to global efforts in "easing pressure on the world's resources," according to Unilever East and Southern Africa managing director Yaw Nsarkoh. Toilet soaps manufactured by Unilever help reduce the incidence of diarrhea and upper respiratory infections in Kenya, where 30,000 children under five years die from these diseases each year.

"Unilever rides consumer welfare to make money", Standard Media, November 29, 2012

Unilever, Earth911 Launch First Deodorant Stick Recycling Project In The United States

Unilever partnered with Earth911 to launch a project aimed at testing the feasibility of recycling deodorant sticks. Supported by partners Nextlife and FundingFactory, the project also seeks to demonstrate that the millions of deodorant sticks can be an important raw material resource for communities that recycle plastics. Students from 50 high schools and colleges in the United States will help collect deodorant sticks for the recycling test, which is part of Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan sustainability initiative.

"Earth911, Unilever in the USA Pioneer Mass Recycling Program for Deodorant Sticks and Two-Resin Packaging ", PRNewswire, November 15, 2012

Procter & Gamble's Sustainability Efforts Help Bottom Line In UK

Procter & Gamble cut by half the environmental impact of its business operations in 2002–2011 by reducing carbon emissions by 53 percent and using 52 percent less energy and 58 percent less water, according to Huw Waters, P&G product supply director in the UK. Claiming that the sustainability efforts have not been acts of charity, the company asserts that the changes in its supply chain have helped P&G reduce costs and improve its relationships with its partner supermarkets. Profitability and sustainable logistics should "go hand in hand," according to Waters. In the UK, P&G delivers about 7 percent of its products to retailers, such as Tesco. P&G also has a truck-sharing deal with Tesco, which the company plans to duplicate with other retailers.

"Procter & Gamble at cutting edge of brand sustainability", Telegraph, November 14, 2012

Target Revises Design Plans To Gain LEED Certification For All 2013 Canadian Stores

Target announced it is seeking Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification for all its retail stores in Canada set to open in 2013. To achieve its LEED objective, Target has revised design plans of its stores to include conservation of energy and water, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease in landfill-bound waste. One of the first Canada organizations to join the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Volume Program, Target claims it has integrated sustainability in all aspects of its business operations and will invest more than $10 million on remodeling each store location.

"Target® Seeks LEED Certification for All 2013 Canadian Store Locations", Target, November 14, 2012

Coca-Cola Brazil Ups Investment In Amazon Rain Forest Preservation Program

Coca-Cola Brazil says it has expanded its partnership with the Sustainable Amazonas Foundation (FAS) to further economic development and conservation of Amazonian preservation reserves. The main focus of the FAS is to generate jobs and income so that workers can guarantee their living conditions without harming the forest. Without plant coverage, desertification could leave the greatest watershed of the world unprotected. The expanded effort will put an additional $1.3 million into programs that support income generation and conservation in the Rio Negro Sustainable Development Reserve. Coca-Cola says its investment in the initiative will total $13 million by 2017.

"Coca-Cola Increases Conservation Support for World’s Largest Forest", Press release, the Coca-Cola Company, November 12, 2012