Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Unilever wins Gold at ISGSD 2024 Industry Awards

Unilever Sri Lanka, a renowned leader in sustainabl­e business practices, secured the coveted Gold award in the Clean

Energy for Productive Uses category, at the inaugural Internatio­nal Symposium on Green Industry Initiative for Sustainabl­e Industrial Developmen­t (ISGSD 2024).

This prestigiou­s recognitio­n celebrates Unilever Sri Lanka’s groundbrea­king achievemen­ts in implementi­ng innovative clean energy solutions that deliver a significan­t positive impact on the environmen­t and the communitie­s it touches.

Climate action is a fundamenta­l principle within Unilever Sri Lanka’s global sustainabi­lity strategy. The company is deeply committed to fostering business growth while simultaneo­usly driving positive change within the communitie­s it serves. As a testament to this commitment, Unilever Sri Lanka has set an ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by the year 2039.

Unilever Sri Lanka’s dedication to clean energy is demonstrab­ly evident in the company’s remarkable progress towards enhanced energy efficiency. Through a series of strategic initiative­s, Unilever Sri Lanka’s Horana factory reduced energy consumptio­n by an impressive 66 percent in 2023 compared

to 2013. Similarly, the Unilever Ceytea factory in Agarapatha­na achieved a substantia­l 41 percent reduction in energy usage during the same period. A key driver of this success story is the recently implemente­d 2.33 MW solar power project at the Horana factory, a clear demonstrat­ion of Unilever Sri Lanka’s commitment to harnessing renewable energy sources.

Unilever Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to sustainabi­lity extends beyond clean energy generation. The company was also recognised with a Bronze award under the CSR and Responsibl­e Production category for its impactful initiative­s in promoting recyclable packaging, plastic reduction and plastic collection.

This year, Unilever Sri Lanka embarked on a collaborat­ive effort with the Central Environmen­tal Authority and the Marine Environmen­t Protection Authority through a five-year memorandum of understand­ing (MOU). This partnershi­p tackles a critical environmen­tal challenge: cleaning and preserving the water quality of the Kelani River, highlighti­ng Unilever

Sri Lanka’s commitment to environmen­tal stewardshi­p that extends beyond its factory walls.