Unilever

Reasons to avoid

1. Ranked #1 plastic sachet polluter globally — selling over 53 billion single-use sachets in 2023 (1,700 per second). Made of mixed plastic and aluminum, sachets are unrecyclable and overwhelmingly pollute waterways in developing countries where waste infrastructure is limited.greenpeace.org2024-10-15
2. Actively lobbied against plastic sachet bans in at least three Asian countries — including Sri Lanka — even as its own executives publicly called sachets "evil." The company pressed governments to reconsider bans and maneuvered around regulations once imposed.beyondplastics.org2023-12-11
3. Under formal investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority for greenwashing — specifically for making vague or unsubstantiated claims that products are "sustainable" or "better for the environment." The UK Advertising Standards Authority previously banned a Persil ad for the same reason.esgdive.com2023-12-20
4. Rolled back major sustainability pledges in 2024: downgraded its virgin plastic reduction target from 50% by 2025 to 30% by 2026, pushed its "100% recyclable packaging" deadline from 2025 to 2030–2035, and amended its living wage commitment to cover only 50% of direct suppliers.foodingredientsfirst.com2024-04-24
5. Ben & Jerry's sued Unilever in November 2024, alleging the company silenced the ice cream brand's social media accounts to suppress posts supporting Palestinian refugees and campus protesters — and then ousted the brand's CEO in retaliation for its activism, violating their 2000 merger agreement.npr.org2025-03-20
6. Supply chain linked to deforestation and labor rights abuses, including sourcing palm oil, tea, and cocoa from suppliers with documented environmental and worker harm — contradicting Unilever's sustainable sourcing claims.ethicalconsumer.org2024-08-01