
Category winner: Sustainability as Opportunity:
Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan
The case |
![]() Who – the protagonistPaul Polman, Unilever CEO. What?![]() Unilever is a decentralised global company, listing 400 brands in its portfolio and engaging more than two billion consumers a day. The company has operated in developing countries for more than 100 years, and has built its business on applying innovation to the masses. Why?Sustainability has long been at the heart of everything that Unilever does. Its holistic approach – the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) – combines elements of modern day economic development with good business practices, creating sustainable communities even as it helps to generate sustainable revenues and profits. It is no wonder then, that Unilever seems to be one of the few companies who have successfully cracked the code of emerging markets, which are estimated to account for 50% of global consumption by 2050. Unilever reported that 57% of its revenue came from that sector in 2014, compared to an average 17% for most multinationals.
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Sustainability as Opportunity: Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan |
The authors |
![]() Joanne Lawrence, Andreas Rache and Kevina KennyJoanne and Andreas explain how they created a case while thousands of miles apart, and how role play made the case come alive in the classroom. Recognising sustainability as strategyJoanne said: “I am very pleased and honoured to win this award. Hult is striving to create case studies that are global, innovative and relevant for the 21st century, and this case captures that spirit. “We are especially pleased with all the interest shown in this topic – sustainability as a strategic opportunity rather than a risk to be managed – and to shed light on an enlightened leader (Paul Polman) who believes this to his core. “Furthermore, it’s great that our colleagues are finding the case useful for discussing with tomorrow’s leaders how sustainability can be a source of competitive advantage, and a positive way forward for businesses and for the world.”
The wonders of the internet
Andreas commented: “While you may lose a bit of the personal element of communicating face to face, speaking via the internet may actually turn into an advantage. “You are forced to organise your thoughts and coordinate more in written form, which helps you to structure your questions, and the possible arguments or challenges before you speak. It allows both parties to collect their thoughts and take a bit of time to reflect on their responses, enriching the conversation when we finally do connect. “In some ways, it actually can be more effective.”
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