LOCKDOWN LEADER: Unilever
Unilever has unveiled a raft of measures to help tackle Covid-19 – including €100m (£92m) in donations. The British-Dutch consumer goods giant is also considering making early payments and extending credit to financially struggling agencies and other SMEs, as part of measures designed to help fight the global pandemic.
Soaps and sanitisers worth at least €50m have been donated to the Covid Action Platform of the World Economic Forum, along with “a range of financial-support mechanisms. We will deploy those that best support the particular needs of our most vulnerable suppliers on a case-by-case basis," said a spokesperson for the company, which is working with the government, NHS and UK industry partners in the UK to deliver food and essentials to vulnerable people.
The company has also taken the unprecedented step of namechecking its rivals in its advertising to encourage use of other appropriate brands of soap: "Please use the soap nearest to you. Not just Lifebuoy but any soap like Dettol, Lux or Hamam."
Meanwhile, PG Tips, another Unilever-owned brand is supporting Re-engage, a charity for older people who live on their own, with cash donations for 2,000 volunteers to make telephone and virtual visits. It is also paying for the charity’s social media presence on Twitter and Facebook.
Said Unilever chief executive Alan Jope, "The world is facing its greatest trial in decades. We have seen the most incredible response from the Unilever team so far, especially those on the front line of our operations in factories, distribution centres and stores.
"We hope that our donation will make a significant contribution towards protecting people’s lives, and that by helping to safeguard our workers’ incomes and jobs, we are giving some peace of mind during these uncertain times. Our strong cash flow and balance sheet mean that we can, and should, give this additional support."
Added Sebastian Munden, Unilever’s general manager, UK and Ireland, "As the situation has escalated in the UK and Ireland, we will be doing what we can to work with our industry partners, government, the NHS and our existing charities to support the most vulnerable people, both by making product donations and by using our brands to reach key audiences".
In 2010, Unilever launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, a ten-year strategy to improve its social impact and environmental footprint. The company has committed itself to a net zero emission economy ever since