Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Unilever PLC (UL)

Do you know what drives one of the world's largest consumer goods companies? What are the guiding principles behind their global operations and commitment to sustainability? With a strong financial performance in 2024, including underlying sales growth of 4.2% and a turnover of €60.8 billion, how does this company ensure its mission, vision, and core values align with such impressive results?

Dive in to discover how Unilever PLC integrates sustainability, integrity, and responsibility into its very core, shaping not only its business strategies but also its impact on the world. Explore how these principles contribute to their goal of making sustainable living commonplace and driving superior financial performance.

Unilever PLC (UL) An Overview of

Unilever PLC, a British multinational consumer goods company, has a rich history dating back to its formation in 1930 through the merger of Lever Brothers and Margarine Unie. Today, it stands as one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, offering a diverse portfolio of products spanning various categories, including:

• Food and Beverages: Including brands like Knorr, Hellmann's, Lipton, and Ben & Jerry's.
• Home Care: Featuring brands such as Omo, Sunlight, and Cif.
• Beauty and Personal Care: Encompassing brands like Dove, Axe, Rexona, and Sunsilk.

As of April 2025, Unilever continues to serve millions of consumers worldwide, maintaining a significant presence in both developed and emerging markets. While specific sales figures for April 2025 are not yet available, Unilever's annual turnover in 2024 was €59.6 billion. This reflects the company's strong market position and the enduring popularity of its brands.

Unilever's financial performance in its latest reporting period demonstrates its continued strength and growth. In 2024, the company reported a turnover of €59.6 billion and underlying sales growth of 7.0%. Beauty and Wellbeing grew 8.3%, Personal Care grew 11.8%, Home Care grew 4.6%, Nutrition grew 3.7%, and Ice Cream grew 2.3%. These figures underscore Unilever's ability to innovate and adapt to changing consumer preferences across its diverse product categories.

Unilever stands as a leader in the consumer goods industry, driven by its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and meeting the evolving needs of consumers worldwide. To delve deeper into the factors that contribute to Unilever's success and its appeal to investors, explore: Exploring Unilever PLC (UL) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

Unilever PLC (UL) Mission Statement

The mission statement of Unilever PLC is to add vitality to life. They meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good, and get more out of life.

Unilever's mission statement focuses on enhancing the quality of life for consumers through its diverse range of products. By addressing fundamental needs such as nutrition, hygiene, and personal care, Unilever aims to make a positive impact on the daily lives of individuals worldwide. The mission encompasses three core components:

• Meeting Everyday Needs
• Enhancing Well-being
• Brand Engagement

These components collectively drive Unilever's strategic initiatives and business practices, ensuring that the company remains focused on delivering value to both consumers and stakeholders.

Meeting Everyday Needs

Unilever addresses fundamental consumer needs through its extensive portfolio of products in nutrition, hygiene, and personal care. This involves offering a wide variety of options that cater to different preferences and requirements. In 2024, Unilever reported that its product categories, including nutrition and hygiene, experienced consistent demand, contributing to an underlying sales growth of 4.7%. This growth underscores the company's ability to meet the daily needs of consumers effectively.

Examples of how Unilever meets everyday needs:

• Nutrition: Providing food products that offer essential nutrients and cater to various dietary preferences.
• Hygiene: Offering cleaning and sanitation products that help maintain health and hygiene standards.
• Personal Care: Delivering personal care items that enhance grooming and well-being.

Enhancing Well-being

Unilever is committed to improving consumers' well-being by offering products that promote health, hygiene, and overall quality of life. This commitment extends beyond just providing products; it includes initiatives that support healthy lifestyles and sustainable living. In 2024, Unilever invested significantly in research and development to enhance the nutritional value and health benefits of its products. For instance, the company allocated over €900 million to R&D, focusing on innovations that improve product formulations and reduce environmental impact.

Examples of how Unilever enhances well-being:

• Health: Developing products that support physical health and well-being.
• Hygiene: Promoting hygiene practices through educational campaigns and product offerings.
• Quality of Life: Offering products that contribute to overall satisfaction and well-being.

Brand Engagement

Unilever aims to create brands that resonate with consumers on a personal level, helping them feel good, look good, and get more out of life. This involves building strong brand identities and engaging with consumers through marketing and social initiatives. In 2024, Unilever's marketing expenditure totaled approximately €7.7 billion, which was used to connect with consumers and promote brand values. The company's focus on brand engagement is evident in its various campaigns that highlight the positive impact of its products on people's lives.

Examples of how Unilever fosters brand engagement:

• Feel Good: Creating products that enhance emotional well-being and satisfaction.
• Look Good: Offering personal care items that improve appearance and confidence.
• Get More Out of Life: Providing products that enable consumers to enjoy life to the fullest.

For more insights into Unilever's investor profile, check out: Exploring Unilever PLC (UL) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

Unilever PLC (UL) Vision Statement

Unilever's vision is centered on sustainable growth and creating a positive impact on the world. This involves a multi-faceted approach encompassing environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic performance. The company aims to grow its business while simultaneously reducing its environmental footprint and increasing its positive social impact.

Aspiration for Sustainable Growth

Unilever aims to achieve sustainable growth that benefits all stakeholders, not just shareholders. This involves a commitment to responsible sourcing, reducing waste, and innovating products that are both good for consumers and the planet. Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan, which ended in 2020, set ambitious targets for reducing environmental impact and improving health and well-being. While the plan has evolved, the core principles remain integral to Unilever's business strategy. In 2024, Unilever reported that 65% of their portfolio is more nutritious than the benchmark. Also, 67% of their plastic packaging footprint is designed for recycling or reuse.

Focus on Environmental Stewardship

Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of Unilever's vision. The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact across its value chain, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, distribution, and consumer use. Key initiatives include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water, and eliminating waste. For instance, Unilever has set a target to achieve net-zero emissions from its operations by 2030. By the end of 2024, Unilever had decreased manufacturing waste by 74% per tonne of production since 2008.

Commitment to Social Responsibility

Unilever's vision extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass social responsibility. The company is committed to improving the livelihoods of its employees, suppliers, and the communities in which it operates. This includes promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair labor practices, and supporting community development initiatives. Unilever aims to empower women, promote human rights, and contribute to a more equitable society. In 2024, Unilever’s gender balance across management stood at 50%.

Driving Economic Performance

While sustainability and social responsibility are central to Unilever's vision, the company also recognizes the importance of driving economic performance. Unilever aims to deliver consistent, competitive growth that creates value for shareholders. This involves investing in innovation, building strong brands, and optimizing its operations. Unilever's financial results in 2024 reflect this commitment, with underlying sales growth of 4.7%. The company's focus on premiumization and expansion into high-growth markets are key drivers of its economic performance.

For more insights into Unilever's financial performance, you can explore this analysis: Breaking Down Unilever PLC (UL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Core Values

Unilever's core values underpin its vision and guide its actions. These values include:

• Integrity: Conducting business with honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior.
• Respect: Valuing diversity, inclusion, and the rights of all individuals.
• Responsibility: Taking ownership of its actions and their impact on society and the environment.
• Pioneering: Embracing innovation, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Unilever PLC (UL) Core Values of

While publicly available information explicitly detailing Unilever's core values is limited, we can infer key principles from their stated commitments and actions. These inferred values reflect a dedication to sustainable business practices, consumer satisfaction, and ethical operations.

Commitment to Sustainability

Unilever emphasizes sustainability as a core business principle. This commitment goes beyond mere environmental stewardship, embedding itself in their business model to drive long-term value and reduce environmental impact.

• Sustainable Living Plan: Although the Sustainable Living Plan concluded in 2020, its principles continue to influence Unilever's strategy. The plan focused on improving health and well-being, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing livelihoods.
• Targets and Progress: Unilever has set ambitious targets for reducing its environmental footprint. For example, they aim to achieve net-zero emissions from their operations by 2039.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Unilever is committed to sourcing raw materials sustainably. They work with suppliers to ensure responsible agricultural practices, forest management, and water usage.

Focus on Consumer Needs

Unilever places a strong emphasis on meeting the evolving needs and preferences of its diverse consumer base. This focus drives innovation and product development, ensuring relevance and satisfaction across different markets.

• Innovation: Unilever invests heavily in research and development to create new products and improve existing ones. This includes developing healthier food options, eco-friendly packaging, and personalized beauty solutions.
• Consumer Insights: Unilever uses data analytics and consumer research to understand market trends and consumer preferences. This information informs product development, marketing strategies, and supply chain management.
• Brand Portfolio: With a vast portfolio of brands, Unilever caters to a wide range of consumer needs and preferences. From personal care to food and beverages, their brands are designed to enhance everyday life.

Ethical and Responsible Operations

Unilever is dedicated to conducting business with integrity and transparency. This includes upholding high ethical standards, respecting human rights, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

• Code of Conduct: Unilever has a comprehensive code of conduct that outlines ethical standards for employees and business partners. This code covers areas such as anti-corruption, fair competition, and responsible sourcing.
• Human Rights: Unilever is committed to respecting human rights throughout its value chain. They have policies and procedures in place to prevent human trafficking, forced labor, and child labor.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Unilever values diversity and inclusion and strives to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. They have programs in place to promote gender equality, racial equity, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

These inferred core values demonstrate Unilever's commitment to creating a positive impact on society and the environment while delivering value to its shareholders. Their ongoing efforts in sustainability, consumer focus, and ethical operations position them as a leader in the consumer goods industry. For more insights into Unilever, explore Exploring Unilever PLC (UL) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?