Unilever to Stop Using Fossil Fuels in Cleaning Products

Unilever commits to eliminating fossil fuels from cleaning products by 2030 under Clean Future Vision, backed by EUR 1 billion investment Unilever, the world's leading fast-moving consumer goods company, has announced it will replace 100% of carbon derived from fossil fuels in the formulas of household and laundry care products with renewable or recycled carbon. This will create a transformative impact on the sustainability journey of global and local brands such as OMO, Cif, Domestos and Yumoş. Unilever's Clean Future Vision, a global innovation programme, represents a unique example in terms of circular economy principles through the changes it will bring to product development, manufacturing and packaging methods. Most household and laundry care products today contain chemicals derived from fossil fuels. Unilever's transition from these non-renewable sources to renewable or recycled carbon sources represents a move away from a fossil fuel economy.

Raw materials used in Unilever's household and laundry care products constitute the largest share (46%) of the carbon footprint of products in this category.

By phasing out fossil fuel-derived raw materials from product formulas, the company aims to achieve up to 20% reduction in the carbon footprint resulting from formulas. The Clean Future Vision programme is critical to Unilever's commitment to reduce product-related emissions to net zero by 2039. Leyal Eskin Yılmaz, Vice President and Board Member responsible for Unilever Turkey's Household Care Category, shares his views on the Clean Future Vision: "The Unilever Clean Future Vision represents a fundamental transformation of our business. As an industry, we must free ourselves from our dependence on fossil fuels, including in our raw materials. We must stop extracting carbon from underground because there is already plenty of carbon we can use on and above ground. The EUR 1 billion in new global investment for Unilever's Clean Future Vision will be used to develop affordable household and laundry care products with lower environmental impact and superior cleaning performance as consumers demand. We believe that large companies like ours have a responsibility in closing the gap between wanting to buy sustainable products and having the means to afford them. This vision, which has been developed over some time, has already inspired some innovations that we have brought to consumers in our country. OMO Bio Active, developed with plant-based stain removers and featuring 50% less plastic in its special packaging, Domestos Zero Chlorine, enriched with active oxygen formula, and Cif Cream, which draws its strength from 100% natural cleaning minerals, have gained the appreciation of our consumers."

How will the EUR 1 billion investment be used?

The EUR 1 billion allocated by Unilever for the Clean Future Vision will be used to finance biotechnology research that will facilitate the shift away from fossil fuel-derived chemicals, carbon dioxide and waste utilisation, and low-carbon chemistry research. With this investment, while creating biologically degradable and water-efficient product formulas, the programme will also support cutting primary plastic use in half by 2025.

Carbon Rainbow™

At the heart of the Clean Future Vision lies 'Carbon Rainbow™', a new approach to diversifying the carbon used in Unilever's product formulas. With the Carbon Rainbow approach, instead of non-renewable fossil carbon sources (black carbon), the company will use captured carbon dioxide (purple carbon), plants and biological sources (green carbon), marine sources such as algae (blue carbon) and carbon recovered from waste materials (grey carbon). Carbon sourcing in line with the Carbon Rainbow will be managed through environmental impact assessments. To prevent undesirable pressures on land use, Unilever will also implement industry-leading sustainable sourcing programmes. Peter Tel Kulve, President of Unilever's Household Care division, comments on the matter: "A new bioeconomy is rising from the ashes of fossil fuels. We have repeatedly heard that people want sustainable products that are as good as traditional ones, more affordable and sustainable. Rapid advances in science and technology are driving us in this direction, from ultra-gentle cleaning agents to self-cleaning clothes and surfaces. Diversifying carbon sources is critical to growing while respecting the boundaries of our planet. Our suppliers and innovation partners play a critical role in this transition. By sharing our Carbon Rainbow model, we are calling everyone to a transformation across the economy in how we use carbon." Tanya Steele, CEO of WWF UK, states: "The world must transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources and contribute to nature's recovery to reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems. When Unilever's important targets for moving towards an economy that works with nature, not against it, are combined with a strong sustainable sourcing approach, they have real potential to make a significant contribution."

Support for world-leading sector projects in innovation

Unilever supports world-leading sector projects to change how chemicals in household and laundry care products are manufactured. For example, Unilever works with Evonik Industries, a biotechnology leader based in Slovakia, to develop the production of renewable and biodegradable rhamnolipids used in Sunlight liquid dishwashing detergent in Chile and Vietnam. The company sources soda ash—a component used in powder detergents—produced using pioneering carbon dioxide capture technology in Tuticorin, South India. Soda ash is produced with carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the energy used in the production process. Both technologies are expected to significantly increase in scale under the programme.