Unilever has reduced operational emissions 77% but Scope 3 is rising, missing 1.5°C targets by 45%. Plastic targets revised downward with 700kt annually still in use. Two regulatory greenwashing findings and a credible NGO report on insufficient climate ambition expose gaps between stated commitments and measurable outcomes.
Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleStrongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Controversies & Red Flags (4/10, 5/10).
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.
6 of 12 sources are third-party verified or public record.
“Independent limited assurance is performed by KPMG LLP in accordance with ISAE (UK) 3000”
“In 2024, the total Scope 1 emissions of Unilever were 480,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e)”
“In 2024, we engaged with 291 suppliers…who account for approximately 42% of our Scope 3 GHG emissions”
“The direct Scope 3 emissions were only 1.4% lower compared to 2022”
“We have reduced our scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 77% vs 2015”
“missing emission targets set by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) by 45% when total GHG emissions were considered”
“by the end of 2024, this had helped to protect and restore 430,000 hectares of natural ecosystems”
“We reduced our use of virgin plastics for our product packaging by 29% versus 2019”
“Unilever reported 53% of its packaging was reusable, recyclable or compostable in 2023, far from the 100% goal”
“In 2025, we implemented nine additional water stewardship programmes, bringing our total to 29 active programmes in water-stressed areas in 14 countries”
“The self-regulated Advertising Standards Authority banned a video ad for Unilever's Persil laundry detergent in 2022”
“The CMA has decided as a matter of administrative priority to close this investigation”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Among the 41 major fmcg / consumer goods brands we've scored, Unilever is tied =21st of 41, with 1 other.
Score history begins 8 February 2026.
As Unilever's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.
We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.
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Unilever is a multinational FMCG conglomerate headquartered in London, operating across personal care, home care, foods, and refreshment categories. With €60bn annual revenue and 148,000 employees, it ranks among the largest consumer goods manufacturers globally, making its supply chain sustainability material to millions of tonnes of agricultural commodities annually.
Comparable scale FMCG peer; similar supply-chain deforestation and plastic reduction challenges across global commodity sourcing.
View breakdown →Direct competitor in home care and personal care; comparable regulatory scrutiny on greenwashing and emissions trajectory sufficiency.
View breakdown →European FMCG manufacturer; comparable scale, similar water and plastic footprint, relevant to assessing sector-wide progress.
View breakdown →FMCG peer with published net-zero targets; smaller scale but offers contrast on climate ambition and third-party validation approach.
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