Climate
Unilever Pakistan now runs on 97% renewable electricity, cutting operational emissions by 95% since 2015 from our factories and powers we buy, primarily through our transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.
100% Sustainable Sourcing
192.5 Million litres/year to be conservedThrough Our Water Stewardship Project
Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world
Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, and one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. For a business that has been part of Pakistan since 1948, reaching 90% of Pakistani homes every day through more than 40 brands, this is not a future problem. This is a challenge we are facing today in the very rivers, canals, and groundwater resources that our factories, farmers, and consumers rely on every day.
At Unilever, we believe businesses have every reason to act on challenges like these. That belief has shaped our sustainability agenda for over two decades, and today it shapes the very practical work we are doing on water, right across Pakistan.
Why Water, Why Now
Water sits at the heart of our "Nature" priority one of the four big areas (alongside Climate, Plastics and Livelihoods). We didn't pick these areas at random. They represent the biggest risks to our business, they are areas where we can make a real difference at scale, and they matter to the people who buy our products every day.
For Unilever globally, nature's decline is a direct threat to the business. Many of the crops and ingredients we rely on depend on healthy ecosystems and reliable water. And of course, our consumers need clean water, simply, to use many of our everyday products from shampoo to soap to laundry detergent.
Pakistan is ranked as the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change globally. So being a responsible steward of water here isn't optional. It's essential.
Our Global Water Commitment
Globally, Unilever has committed to implementing water stewardship programmes in 100 locations across water-stressed regions by 2030. But this commitment goes beyond reducing water use within our factory walls. While we continue to drive efficiency through our Manufacturing Excellence Network and collaboration with industry partners and suppliers, true water stewardship requires us to look beyond the factory gate and help protect the shared water resources that communities, agriculture, and businesses depend on.
That means:
- Studying the river basin that each factory sits in, to understand where the real risks lie.
- Working together with other water users and stakeholders in that same area to fix the most pressing problems.
- Following the principles of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), a global body that Unilever is a member of, which sets out best practice for managing water responsibly.
What This Looks Like in Pakistan
In Pakistan, our global commitment comes to life through the Water Stewardship Project at our Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) and Lahore factories.
Our goal is clear: conserve 192.5 million litres of water annually through initiatives that extend beyond our factory gates:
- Watercourse lining to reduce water loss and improve irrigation efficiency.
- Groundwater recharge wells to replenish local aquifers and strengthen water security.
- Community awareness programmes to promote water-saving behaviors and responsible water use.
Together, these initiatives are helping protect shared water resources and build resilience in the communities where we operate.
Why It Matters for Pakistan
Water scarcity is already a reality in Pakistan, impacting communities, agriculture, and industry alike. Through targeted interventions such as watercourse lining and groundwater recharge, we are helping strengthen local water security in Pakistan.
Partnering on water stewardship in our value chain
We can do more to protect water supply by working with NGOs and other businesses.
Our regional implementation partners – including DKM in Turkey, TNC in Brazil and WWF in South Africa, Algeria and Pakistan – bring local knowledge and expertise to our programmes.
We also expect our suppliers to comply with the mandatory water-related requirements of our Responsible Partner Policy (PDF 4.45 MB).
Responsible Sourcing
Responsible Partner Policy (PDF 4.45 MB). By embedding sustainability into our sourcing practices and working closely with responsible partners, we help ensure that the raw materials used in our products are produced with respect for both people and natural resources.
How is Unilever working in partnership on nature?
- Unilever can only meet its nature goals by working closely with others in our value chain. That’s why our partnerships are so important.
- We’re working closely with our suppliers to deliver positive impact, guided by our People & Nature Policy (PDF 2.04 MB) and our People & Nature Policy Guidelines (PDF 1.63 MB).
- We’re building the capacity of smallholder farmers to embrace sustainable farming practices, training around 29,500 palm oil smallholders in Indonesia since the start of 2024.
- We’re supporting programmes leveraging multi-stakeholder collaboration in our palm sourcing areas, such as through Conservation International in North Sumatra.
- We’re working pre-competitively with other companies to drive uptake of sustainable agriculture, partnering with PepsiCo and others in the US to help provide access to tools, training and funding.
- We’ve joined forces with finance partners Axa and Tikehau Capital to form a large private equity fund to help scale regenerative agriculture globally.
- And through Business for Nature, we’re one of more than 100 business and financial institutions that have been pushing governments to implement and enforce ambitious nature policies.
Our other sustainability priorities
Plastics
A wrapper can only be recycled if someone actually collects, and for packaging to be reusable and recyclable, effective collection and processing systems must exist first. We're investing in that collection system so plastic stays in use, not in the ocean or a landfill.
Livelihoods
What started as support during COVID has grown into a bigger commitment, helping improve the lives of over 21,000 people connected to Unilever Pakistan, from our employees to the wider people in our value chain.