Unilever is facing criticism for the sale of billions of environmentally damaging plastic sachets, with Greenpeace International’s research suggesting that 1,700 of these sachets will be sold every second in 2023.
Greenpeace conducted an analysis using Unilever’s own reports, along with data from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Future Market Insights, to assess the consumer giant’s plastic footprint. Despite Unilever’s stated commitment to environmentally friendly practices, Greenpeace found that the company is the world’s largest corporate seller of plastic sachets, projected to sell 53 billion in 2023, equivalent to 1,700 per second.
Sachets, small disposable plastic packets of consumer products, have been increasingly marketed to Global South countries by major corporations like Unilever, according to Greenpeace. Despite Unilever’s 2010 pledge to address sachet waste, the company continued to produce an estimated 475 billion over the next decade, steadily increasing production.
This surge in production has led to a significant accumulation of plastic pollution, adversely affecting local communities and waterways where sachets are causing drainage issues and contributing to problems such as flooding.
Campaigners worldwide are calling for the ban of sachets due to their environmental and health impacts, particularly in Global South communities. A recent investigation by Greenpeace South East Asia and Greenpeace UK revealed images of Dove’s sachet waste polluting beaches and waterways in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Greenpeace is calling on Unilever to phase out single-use plastic from its operations, transitioning to reusable alternatives within the next decade, starting with plastic sachets. The environmental group is also urging the company to advocate for ambitious measures at the ongoing UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, supporting a treaty that caps and phases down plastic production by at least 75% by 2040.
Nina Schrank, head of plastics at Greenpeace UK, emphasized the need for Unilever to change its approach to plastic pollution, stating that the company cannot claim to be purposeful while contributing significantly to environmental harm. Greenpeace Philippines’ campaigner, Marian Ledesma, added that each sachet found polluting beaches should be a source of shame for Dove and Unilever.
In response, a Unilever spokesperson acknowledged plastic pollution as a top priority and highlighted progress in increasing the use of recycled plastic in their global portfolio to 21%. The spokesperson emphasized ongoing efforts to reduce the use of plastic sachets and explore alternative solutions, acknowledging the complexity of the challenge and the commitment to collaborate with industry partners and stakeholders. Unilever is also a member of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, advocating for an ambitious, legally binding UN plastic treaty to address plastic production and use.
