Unilever commits to reusable, recyclable plastic

Consumer products firm Unilever has committed to utilising reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging for its products by 2025.

Unilever has several personal care and cosmetic brands such as Lakme, Fair and Lovely, Axe, Sunsilk, Brut, Pond's, Vaseline, and Elle 18.

The firm intends to renew its Ellen MacArthur Foundation membership for another three years and provide support to the New Plastics Economy initiative. The firm will also invest in developing a technical solution to recycle multi-layered sachets.

Unilever's chief executive officer Paul Polman said: “Our plastic packaging plays a critical role in making our products appealing, safe, and enjoyable for our consumers.

"Yet it is clear that if we want to continue to reap the benefits of this versatile material, we need to do much more as an industry to help ensure it is managed responsibly and efficiently post-consumer use."

As a part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, the firm has committed to minimise the weight of its packaging by one third by 2020, as well as increase the use of recycled plastic content in its packaging to a minimum of 25% by 2025 against a 2015 baseline.

Unilever has already achieved its commitment in 2015, to eliminate sending of non-hazardous waste to landfill across its manufacturing operations.

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Image: Unilever research & development building in Port Sunlight, UK. Photo: courtesy of Rept0n1x/Wikipedia.