Unilever Adopts Frugal Innovation, Aims To Make More With Less

Unilever, along with Renault-Nissan and Siemens, is a pioneer in using frugal innovation as a business strategy. Defined as "the ability to generate considerably more business and social value while significantly reducing the use of scarce resources," frugal innovation helps enterprises perceive scarcity in resources as a growth opportunity. Unilever CEO Paul Polman has adopted the theory, integrating frugal innovation into his company's business operations. For example, Unilever gets almost 25 percent of its agricultural inputs from sustainable sources and uses lower-emission trucks in distributing its products.

"Frugal Innovation: A New Business Paradigm", INSEAD, January 10, 2013

Procter & Gamble Supports China's Environment Education Program For Young People

Procter & Gamble announced its support for the Little Green Scouts, a program aimed at helping young people in China to study, observe, and get in touch with nature and the environment. Peking University primary school students performed the “Greenhouse Effect” drama during the program’s launch in Beijing. Started by the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, the Little Green Scouts program was integrated by the State Council into its action plan for the country’s science literacy in 2012.

"Scouting out a greener future", China Daily, January 07, 2013

Unilever's Social Experiment Aims To Find Ways To Improve Household Sustainability

Unilever launched the Bathroom Challenge, the second chapter of its sustainability social experiment in the United Kingdom. Highlighting the company's personal and household care brands Radox, Domestos, and Persil, the program asks 12 UK households to discover ways to lower their water and energy use and bathroom waste while doing daily activities, such as washing hands and brushing teeth. Data from Futures Company show heating water for household use accounts for 23 percent of domestic heating bills and one-fifth of households' carbon footprint in the UK. Launched in November 2012, the first part of the Sustain Ability Challenge asked 12 households to reduce the environmental impact of their kitchens.

"Unilever launches second phase of sustainability scheme", Marketing Week, January 30, 2013

Unilever Joins Davos Conference On Global Development

Unilever chief executive officer Paul Polman discussed at the 2013 World Economic Forum in Davos the challenges the world faces as resources decline and demand for food, water, and energy keeps rising. Polman joined United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron, and other world and business leaders in discussing ways to deal with poverty and related issues. Polman is a member of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons convened by Ban Ki-moon in July 2012 as his advisory council on global development issues beyond 2015.

"Unilever debates global development at Davos", Unilever, January 25, 2013

Walmart's MSP Program Encourages Employees To Adopt Healthy, Sustainable Lifestyle

Walmart’s My Sustainability Plan (MSP) encourages the retailer’s 2.2 million employees worldwide to adopt a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Launched in 2010, MSP has reinforced and expanded the company’s sustainability efforts, which began in 2007 when the company launched a pilot program for employees. Within the next few years, the company saw 20,000 employees adopting healthy options which included giving up smoking and losing weight. Consulting firm BBMG helped Walmart in developing MSP. The company helped Walmart transform the program into a comprehensive guide that would offer employees “easy, incremental, and realistic steps” in adopting sustainability habits. Also, in 2010, Walmart began offering MSP to its employees worldwide.

"How Walmart associates put the 'U' and 'I' into sustainability", Greenbiz, January 09, 2013

Peanut Butter Project Tests Beneficial Effects Of Whey Protein On Malnourished African Children

The humanitarian organization known as the Project Peanut Butter (PPB) that developed a Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food to battle childhood malnutrition in African countries, is launching a clinical trial to determine whether adding whey protein to the mix would provide even greater health benefits. The current nutritional supplement – a mix of peanuts, powdered milk, oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals – is energy dense, resists spoiling, does not need to be cooked and can be given in small amounts. The organization is testing whether lactose-rich whey permeate – a by-product of cheese making– would benefit immature digestive systems by promoting mineral  absorption and stimulating beneficial bacteria growth in the gut, creating a stronger digestive and immune system.

"Project Peanut Butter", Joanna Cosgrove, January 24, 2013

Dietary Changes Since 1960 Have Strained The Supply Of Rare Resource: Phosphorous

Over the last four decades, increases in meat consumption and total calorie intake have led to a 38 percent increase in the world’s per capita phosphorous footprint, according to researchers at Canada’s McGill University. They calculated the total amount of phosphorus applied to food crops for humans and animals by using fertilizer-application rates. They then looked at the statistical relationship between economic development and phosphorus-footprint values, finding that dietary changes since the early 1960s have fueled a sharp increase in the amount of mined phosphorus – a relatively scarce resource. "Our results demonstrate that changes in diet can be a significant part of the strategy for enhancing sustainability of phosphorus management," the lead author said.

"Dietary shifts driving up phosphorus use", Press release, Environmental Research Letters, January 17, 2013