The group helps its raw material suppliers to improve their manufacturing process and limit their impact on the planet. To illustrate its point, Unilever has chosen to present its “responsible village”, producer of palm oil used for cosmetics and foodstuffs.
Since 2016, Unilever has launched the Inobu program, designed to support Indonesian palm oil producers. The objective being to help them integrate greener cultivation and harvesting processes.
The group has helped 1,000 smallholders to become RSPO certified. “We are currently supporting another 2,500. We have created the first certified sustainable villages in the palm oil sector, which means that the raw material from these areas is responsible,” explains Unilever. “Through the Inobu program, we are seeing a significant change in the way farmers treat the environment, including waste management and protection of surrounding land and water sources. The additional income is spent on improving facilities and infrastructure that benefit the entire community. In the village of Pangkalan Tiga, for example, profits are used to fund a convenience store to meet the daily needs of the people and an agri-tourism site to provide more recreational activities.”
Currently, Unilever is also supporting Malaysian palm oil producers. Unilever’s ambition is to help all agricultural industries that supply raw materials to integrate sustainable and regenerative practices.
