EUR 1 billion annual sales from plant-based meat and dairy alternatives by 2025-2027
Description
Consumer understanding is at the heart of our innovation and renovation agenda to be able to deliver food and beverage products that are appealing and tasty to our consumers and that have a better nutritional quality. This goes hand in hand with continuous investments in new technologies, together with third parties, allowing us to develop these products now and in the future.
Unilever's nutritional commitments are embedded in the innovation and reformulation roadmaps of our brands. For this commitment, the scope is vegetarian products, containing a nonanimal-derived alternative protein, that are specifically designed to look, taste or cook like products containing animal-derived proteins. The plant-based meat and dairy alternative categories are as follows:
• Meat replacement: Vegan or vegetarian products that contain a nonanimal-derived alternative protein that has replaced meat protein.
• Vegan mayonnaise: Vegan mayonnaise products in which all animal-derived ingredients are replaced by nonanimal-derived alternatives.
• Vegan or nondairy ice cream: Vegan and nondairy ice cream products in which all animal-derived ingredients are replaced by nonanimal-derived alternatives.
Nonanimal-derived alternative proteins include:
• Plant-based protein: A source of protein derived from plants. These sources include beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, canola, whole grains or similar.
• Other nonanimal-derived protein: A source of protein derived from sources including, but not limited to, algae or proteins produced via biotechnology routes like fermentation.
Overarching commitment (for commitments submitted pre-2025)
Title
Increase sales of plant-based meat and dairy
Description
Plant-based foods are better for the health of people and the planet. The EAT-Lancet Commission’s summary report on healthy diets from sustainable food systems showed that if people eat more plant-based foods, emissions could be cut by up to 80%. Eating meat alternatives and vegetables (whatever their colour) really is a ‘green’ or environmentally friendly thing to do. Eating a plant-based diet also benefits human health. Different studies have shown that plant-based diets can prevent diseases by improving glycaemic control, reducing the risks of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and being overweight. There are also strong scientific indications that plant-based diets are generally associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, overall cancer incidence and/or mortality. We have been using our expertise and product knowledge for several years to increase consumer choice by introducing more plant-based options. We have now embedded plant-based thinking into our Unilever Food & Refreshment Strategy, and we will grow our portfolio by delivering more meat and dairy alternatives. This commitment is aligned with Unilever’s Responsible Business Pledge under the Product (Re)formulation and Innovation for Improved Nutrition commitment area.
GNR assessment
| Verification status |
Verified
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| SMARTness index |
High
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Details
| Nutrition Action Classification(s) |
Policy >
Food supply chain
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Measurement
| Key indicator | Total sales (€) of Unilever's products containing plant-based meat and dairy alternatives in the reporting period from 1 January to 31 December |
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| Measurement plan | Collect own data |
| Value | Measurement date | |
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| Baseline | EUR 215,000,000 | 2020 |
| Target | EUR 1,000,000,000 | December 2027 |
Progress
| Value | Measurement date | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress report | EUR 1,200,000,000 | December 2023 |
On Course
The data for one year (or an average of years) suggests that the target could be met by its end date.
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