Unilever Wins Wal-Mart International's Supplier of the Year for Sustainable Engagement
Last week (30 January) Unilever was named Wal-Mart International’s Supplier of the Year for Sustainable Engagement. This is an important award from one of the business’s leading global customers.
Michael B Polk, President, Unilever Americas and UEx sponsor for Customer Development, says: “This prestigious award recognises Unilever’s commitment to sustainable development and the hard work of our colleagues throughout the world.”
The award is recognition of Unilever’s strong commitment both to corporate responsibility and to Wal-Mart’s sustainability strategy. Suppliers were judged on several criteria, including how they worked to activate sustainability initiatives, and the level of communication with Wal-Mart International’s Supplier Development Team.
The award was presented by Scott Neal, VP and Paul Lewellen, Senior Director, Wal-Mart International Supplier Development.
Paul says: “Unilever is a valuable partner for us in terms of sharing Wal-Mart’s vision for sustainability with our customers around the world. Through collaborative programmes, Unilever has helped our customers in Brazil learn how to make their homes more eco-friendly, our customers in Puerto Rico measure their environmental impact, and our customers in China understand the importance of recycling. These are just a few examples of how Unilever and Wal-Mart are working together to promote sustainable practices and behaviour worldwide.”
In addition to the activities mentioned by Paul, consumers in Mexico who bought two pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream received a branded reusable shopping bag in the Lick Global Warming in-store programme.
More events will launch in 2008, with schemes planned in Canada and the UK.
The Unilever Wal-Mart team was also a key player in the first global ‘Customer & Sustainability’ workshop held last month, led by Nigel Bagley, Customer eBusiness Director. Bringing together Customer Development account teams and Unilever experts on areas such as sustainable agriculture, biofuels, carbon and carbon labelling, sourcing and packaging, the event kick-started the Customer & Sustainability programme across the function.
Chris Bull, Chief Customer Development Officer, adds: “Many congratulations to the team... This comes at a great point as we seek to leverage our Customers and Sustainability agenda across the world drawing on the US Wal-Mart experience and expertise.”
In a separate move, Humberto Garcia, Packaging Manager for Environmental Sustainability, has been named one of the world’s most influential people in business ethics by Ethisphere Magazine for his work “at the frontline of changing consumer consumption habits (and thereby environmental impact) without sacrificing corporate profits (or even better, improving them)”, with special mention for his work on All laundry detergent concentrates.
