Unilever is developing new technology to tackle the global issue of plastic sachet waste, committing to 100% recyclable plastic packaging by 2025.
Unilever has committed to making all of its plastic packaging fully reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025, accelerating progress towards a circular economy. To achieve this, Unilever has developed a new technology, the CreaSolv® Process, which enables the recovery of plastic from sachets, channelling the plastic back into the supply chain. Sachets are sold in the billions, allowing low-income consumers to buy products in small amounts. Finding a solution to recycling sachets gives consumers access to the same products while ensuring less plastic ends up in landfill and the oceans.
This solution was featured in Reimagining Plastics market of the 2018 Global Opportunity Report, and was selected based on the criteria of that report.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Clean water and sanitation
Keeping plastic in a circular production model will reduce microplastic contamination of drinking water, which silently affects billions of people globally.
Responsible consumption and production
Treating plastic packaging as a valuable resource to be managed efficiently and effectively will bring global consumption models closer to becoming fully circular.
Life below water
Plastic pollution is impacting even the most remote, fragile marine ecosystems. Reducing plastic waste streams is crucial to mitigating against further aquatic demise.
Unilever
Unilever is a Dutch-British transnational consumer goods company co-headquartered in Rotterdam and London. Its products include food, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products. On any given day, 2.5 billion people use Unilever products, according to the company, who aim to to make sustainable living commonplace.
Global Goals addressed