Hein Schumacher’s Post

I joined Unilever in 2010 when the pioneering Sustainable Living Plan was launched. Unilever has updated it's strategic sustainability priorities but not before pausing on what has been achieved (97.5% of our 5 key forest commodities are deforestation free). It was particularly good to hear from Hein and Rebecca in the Sustainability Live Session about 3 principles: * more focus (on the 4 priorities Climate, Nature, Plastics & Livelihoods and 15 goals ascribed to these) * more urgent actions * more systemic - driving for deeper partner collaboration, assertive policy advocacy and engaging more transparently thereby driving more systemic change at scale. I believe the last point is particularly important. We need systemic change at scale to avert the full force of the climate and bio-diversity crisis and Unilever has a unique and privileged position to able to influence this. #sustainability #unilever

A huge moment for us: we’ve just published our first Sustainability Report! Based on the guidelines of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the GHG Protocol, it highlights our green initiatives and chronicles our ongoing journey towards a more sustainable future. Read now https://lnkd.in/dwtQUsVy and discover how we: ‣ Limit our environmental footprint at each stage of production by sourcing raw materials locally, using FSC-certified wood, and striving to recycle all our production waste. ‣ Support the local community through numerous programs, scholarships, charity initiatives, and educational workshops. ‣ Foster a supportive and thriving workplace through a fair remuneration structure, equality practices, and integrations. Yet, the report is just the first step. The research conducted for the publication has given us many valuable insights into our impact and helped us set environmental goals for the coming years. Stay tuned for updates on our progress! #Sustainability #SustainabilityReport #GreenInitiatives

Yet another global corporation walking back on its promise to limit its environmental impact. The problem with these voluntary "pledges" is they're so easy to make because ultimately you have no obligation to actually follow through on them! When Unilever origianally made these pledges they got to bask in all the positive PR that came with it, but now just get to quietly walk them back hopefully without too many people noticing. This guardian article hints at something I think we've known all along, big corporations are either unable or unwilling to make the changes needed to curb environmental catastrophe when it will hurt their profitibility. The problem is that because companies like Unilever are so big and have such a huge impact on the environment, our fate is largely in their hands. If they dont curb their impact it negates all the efforts we as individuals make. Saving the planet will never be profitable so it shouldnt be left to companies whose first priority is financial gains!

Following our recent World Environment Day initiatives, we’re excited to share the tangible outcomes of our efforts, as illustrated in the attached impact dashboard. Measuring Impact through SROI. Our activities demonstrate that Social Return on Investment (SROI) can be effectively measured. For every $1 invested through our volunteering initiative, we’ve seen a return of $1.2 — proving that our efforts are not only ethically sound but also economically viable. Small Actions, Big Change. Planting 85 saplings and collecting 72 kg of plastic waste might seem modest, but these actions create ripples of change. Our dashboard shows a $384 positive environmental impact through future carbon sequestration and a $361 positive economic impact from the social benefit of volunteering — embodying our belief that small steps lead to significant shifts. Living Our Values. These numbers testify to our core values — sustainability, responsibility, and community engagement. Each volunteer, each sapling, and each kilogram of waste collected reflects our dedication to a greener, cleaner future. At GIST Impact, we believe in the power of data to drive meaningful change. Our ability to measure and report on the impact of one-off events is a testament to our commitment to transparency and accountability. We encourage other organisations to adopt similar practices, ensuring that every effort towards sustainability is recognised and maximised. Is your organisation interested in measuring the impact of your sustainability initiatives? Contact us to learn how we can help you quantify your social and environmental contributions.  Together, we can make a difference, one small action at a time. #Sustainability #SROI #EnvironmentalImpact #CommunityEngagement #GISTImpact #WorldEnvironmentDay #SmallActionsBigChange #SustainableFuture

Stepping up from the SEA of Solutions 2022, this year’s event will be covering over five new thematic areas this year:   🔬 Science and Evidence-Based Action: Delve into the research and data driving effective environmental strategies.   📜 Policy and Regulatory Measures: Understand the frameworks and policies that support sustainable practices and their impacts on industries and communities.   💰 Finance and Investment: Examine how finance mechanisms can drive meaningful change within the plastic crisis.   🔄 Circularity in the Plastic Value Chain: Redefining waste and inputs have incredible transformative and economic benefits in the path towards circularity.   👥 Community Engagement for Behavioral Change: Engage communities and youths are pivotal to drive impactful behavioral shifts for a more sustainable future.  There is a role for everyone in this climate crisis. Join SoS 2024 to discover how your individual skillsets and passions can play a key role in tackling the global plastic crisis from 18 –20 September.    Join the mission to reduce plastic pollution. Register now : https://lnkd.in/ghEaJ5Er      #UNEP #SEAofSolutions #SoS #EBImpact #EBI 

How can businesses and governments collaborate to reverse #NatureLoss? 🌱 There are significant economic and socioeconomic risks associated with #Nature’s decline which require our immediate attention. In a recent article for Unilever, Thomas Lingard, Unilever’s Head of Sustainability (Environment) and our CEO Eva Zabey call on governments and businesses to take urgent action to stop this decline. At #COP16Colombia, we’re working together with Unilever to advocate for policies that require governments and businesses to: 🌎 Protect, restore and ensure the sustainable use of nature.  🌎 Promote regenerative agriculture practices. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/e9P-YKJh

You know that feeling when you think you’ve ordered something high quality and it turns out to be junk, or when you’re catching the train instead of flying and they serve you a breakfast that contains more plastic packaging than food? Sometimes in this world doing the right thing can be an uphill battle. But don’t get disheartened, friends. Get active instead! Each time we take two steps forward on the sustainability path only to have the system push us one step back, we have the opportunity to channel that frustration into motivation. We can photograph the waste on the train trip and start making (polite) phone calls until we find that person in management who’s been looking to make things better, too. We can seek out businesses who are doing good in the world and give them positive reviews, leaving honest feedback for companies whose products are below standard. We can support initiatives that lobby for change in areas that we’re passionate about, and turn up to support our local groups that are building a culture of sustainability from the ground up. We can all, today, right now, move our money, savings and super into bank accounts that do good (it’s one of the easiest ways to vote for a future and say no to fossil fuels). One day, we might even run for council...it’s all up to us and what’s sustainable for our selves and our families. How have you been changing the system lately, and what prompted you to do it? #artwithpurpose #artasactivism #brennaquinlan

Overshoot Day in Austria! Posting about this on LinkedIn feels comparably easy to starting actual conversations with my relatives or non-activist friends on upcoming elections, divestment or civil protest. These conversations can be scary and uncomfortable, however, I started forcing myself into having these conversations because we need all hands on deck now more than ever! If you don't know how to start, this is what helped me: https://lnkd.in/d6ByBHiF and https://lnkd.in/dNrQfx3U. And what better day to start than today!?

General Mills Stands for People and Planet in 2024 Global Responsibility Report 📝 General Mills has published its 2024 Global Responsibility Report, highlighting achievements in the areas of Planet, People, and Food for the fiscal year spanning June 1, 2022, to May 28, 2023. This 54th annual report underscores General Mills' longstanding dedication to transparency and outlines the company's commitment to environmental and social responsibility through its "Standing for Good" initiative, which is a key element of its Accelerate business strategy 👉🏼 https://buff.ly/4elLvkC #sustainability #report #reporting #generalmills #sustainabilityreporting #socialresponsibility #environmentalfootprint #sustainablecompanies #sustainablebusiness

Recently, we evaluated the #socialimpact of our #volunteering activity in our Delhi and Mumbai offices on World Environment Day. This analysis highlights that even a single volunteering event can have a long-lasting impact. Measuring such events can reveal significant social and environmental benefits that are often overlooked. It’s fascinating to see how you can now measure impact and use this data to inform your strategies. Putting our words into action, we measured the Social Return on Investment (#SROI) of these one-off volunteering events. We always encourage our clients to do the same. I'm also proud to share that here at GIST Impact, we've developed a platform called Power SROI that allows organisations to quantify the true value and social return on investment of their programmes and initiatives. Interested in learning more? Comment on this post, and I'll provide free demo access. #socialimpact #sroi #socialvalue #volunteering #uksocialvaluemodel