Commitment

EUR 1 billion annual sales from plant-based meat and dairy alternatives by 2025-2027

Private sector food business / United Kingdom

January 2021 — December 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 with a better nutritional quality. This goes hand-in-hand with continuous investment in new technologies, together with 3rd parties, that allow 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 are vegetarian products that contain a non-animal derived alternative protein, that are specifically designed to look like, taste like, 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 non-animal derived alternative protein that has replaced meat protein.

- Vegan Mayonnaise: Vegan mayonnaise products in which all animal derived ingredients are replaced by non-animal derived alternatives.

- Vegan or non-dairy ice cream: Vegan and non-dairy ice cream products in which all animal derived ingredients are replaced by non-animal derived alternatives.

Non-animal derived alternative protein: These include:

- Plant-based protein: A source of protein derived from plants. These sources include beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, canola, whole grains or similar.

- Other non-animal-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 plant-based meat & dairy

Description

Plant-based foods are better for the health of people and the planet. The EAT-Lancet Commission 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've been using our expertise and product knowledge for several years to increase consumer choice, by introducing more plant-based options. We've now embedded plant-based thinking into our Unilever Food & Refreshment strategy and we will grow our portfolio delivering more meat and dairy alternatives. This commitment is aligned with the Responsible Business Pledge, commitment area Product (Re)formulation and Innovation for Improved Nutrition.

GNR assessment

Verification status
Verified
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SMARTness index

Details

Nutrition Action Classification(s)
Policy > Food supply chain
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Linked event(s)
  • 2021 Tokyo N4G Summit
N4G Summit theme(s)
  • Food

Measurement

Key indicator Total sales (Euros) of Unilever's products containing plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, in the reporting period from 1st January to 31st December.
Value Measurement date
Baseline EUR 215,000,000 2020
Target EUR 1,000,000,000 December 2027

Progress

Status:
On Course
Why this status?
The data for one year (or an average of years) suggests that the target could be met by its end date.
Value Measurement date
Progress report EUR 1,200,000,000 December 2023

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