FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Unilever?

  Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care, Home Care, and Nutrition and Ice Cream products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day.

  In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Magnum, Nexxus, Popsicle, Seventh Generation, Simple, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TIGI, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. For more information on what our brands are doing in the U.S. today, see here.

  Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today.

  The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:

  • improving the health of the planet;
  • improving people's health, confidence and wellbeing; and
  • contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

  While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized as the number one corporate sustainability leader by sustainability experts in the 2021 GlobeScan/ SustainAbility Leaders Survey, for the eleventh year running.

• What is Unilever’s Climate Action Transition Plan?

  Our Climate Transition Action Plan sets out the steps we’ll take to reduce emissions from our own operations to zero by 2030 and to become net zero across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2039.¹ In May 2021, we put Unilever’s Climate Transition Action Plan  (PDF 7.98 MB) before shareholders for a non-binding advisory vote on our emissions reduction targets and plans at our Annual General Meeting. More than 99% voted in favor of the plan.

  _{1 Our net zero goal covers Scope 1, 2 and mandatory downstream Scope 3 emissions such as aerosol propellants and the biodegradation of chemicals in the disposal phase. It does not include emissions from consumer use of our products e.g. emissions associated with hot water used with our products. Our goal to halve the greenhouse gas impact of our products across the lifecycle by 2030 covers consumer use.}

• How can I obtain information about Unilever stock?

  Unilever is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbols UN (Unilever N.V.-Netherlands) and UL (Unilever PLC-London). To purchase stock, please visit www.ADR.com.

• How can I apply for a job at Unilever?

  For information on employment opportunities, please go to Our Company -> Find out more in Careers

  If you have a condition that hinders your ability to apply online or have questions regarding the application process, please choose one of the alternate options:

  • Contact us at 1.888.775.0389
  • Email your question to: NARecruitment@unilever.com
• What is Unilever’s corporate address?

  Unilever
  700 Sylvan Avenue
  Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632

• I am a member of the media & would like contact information.

  You can find corporate and brand media contacts at https://www.unileverusa.com/news/media-contacts/.

• What are your political activities and trade association memberships in the U.S.?

  Unilever public affairs activities are governed by our global Code of Business Principles, (PDF 8.51 MB) which establishes that Unilever neither supports political parties nor contributes to the funds of groups whose activities are calculated to promote party interests. As such, Unilever does not have a political action committee (PAC) and does not make contributions directly or indirectly to political party organizations, political candidates, or Super PACs.

  Unilever companies, including our U.S. business, are encouraged to promote and defend their legitimate business interests. Unilever cooperates with governments and other organizations, both directly and through bodies such as trade associations, in the development of proposed legislation and other regulations which may affect legitimate business interests. We comply with lobbying disclosure requirements, including the U.S. Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA). The LDA website provides a searchable database of lobbying disclosure filings.

  Unilever is a member of several U.S. trade associations that engage in lobbying activities on behalf of our industries. The following list identifies our major U.S. industry trade associations (membership dues of $10,000 or more) that declare lobbying expenses:

  • American Cleaning Institute
  • American Logistics Association
  • Association of National Advertisers
  • Food Marketing Institute
  • Global Business Alliance
  • Personal Care Product Council
  • Sustainable Food Policy Alliance
  • Council for Responsible Nutrition
  • American Herbal Products Association
• Can you give me the history of Unilever?

  For information on the History of Unilever, please go to About Us -> Our History.

• Can you send me some coupons for your products?

  We appreciate your interest in our many fine products; however, we do not have a promotional program where we distribute free coupons or coupon booklets for our well-established products. We suggest that you check your local newspapers and magazines as we frequently issue coupons for many of our products.

• I understand that you recently discontinued manufacturing a product I’ve enjoyed using. Can you give me any further information about this?

  Unilever’s goal is to provide our consumers with variety of products to meet their needs and preferences. As you know marketing is a complex function, and many business factors are taken into consideration before discontinuing a product. Consumer demand is a major factor. When the level of demand is insufficient to ensure that consumers receive a high-quality product at an affordable price, a product may be discontinued. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused and suggest that you visit the Brand’s web site where you’ll find many similar products that you may find equally enjoyable

• What is Unilever’s policy on recycling?

  We are accelerating our efforts towards a circular economy for plastic globally, and in North America. Learn more about our global approach to waste and packaging.

  Recognizing the widespread confusion about the complex recycling system, Unilever North America also committed to adding clear recycling instructions to packaging for its entire mass-market portfolio by the end of 2021. Unilever has worked with How2Recycle to add clear recycling labels for standardized use on all packaging in North America.

  Ultimately, the goal is to close the loop and move to a space where everything you create, you can recycle, and everything you make includes recycled material. It’s quite simple but it requires a whole systems change.

  Our company actively participates in industry-wide coalitions and trade associations which are working toward solutions to solid waste problems. Globally, we’re long-term collaborators with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and their New Plastics Economy initiative. In North America, Unilever is a founding member of the Closed Loop Fund, a social impact fund investing $100 million in recycling infrastructure projects to help transform the recycling system in the U.S. Unilever is also a founding activator of the U.S. Plastics Pact, a collaboration led by The Recycling Partnership, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to create a path forward toward a circular economy for plastics in the U.S. by 2025. Further, Unilever is a founding member of the Circular Economy Accelerator, an organization that is working on attainable policy and legislative solutions to rapidly advance the circular economy.

• Do you use GMOs in the United States?

  U.S. approved genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used in some of our products and we follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard by disclosing “Contains a bioengineered food ingredient” on our food labels, when applicable.

  We recognize some consumers prefer foods made without ingredients produced from genetically modified crops. Visit learnaboutmyfood.com for information about our non-GMO alternatives as well as information on the safety and benefits of GMO crops and ingredients produced from these crops

• What is Unilever’s policy on animal testing?

  We do not test on animals and believe that animal testing is not needed to make sure that our products are safe for people to use and safe for our planet. We use leading edge human-relevant safety science, not animals, to evaluate the safety of our products and ingredients for consumers, our workers and the environment. We pro-actively share our non-animal safety approaches with others, collaborating with partners across the world to help bring about an end to animal testing for consumer products, now and in the future. That’s why we also develop and advance the use of ‘next generation’ safety assessment approaches, based on modern science, that do not rely on new animal data.

  As part of our commitment to end animal testing globally, a growing number of our brands ensure that their products and ingredients are not subject to animal testing by Unilever, by our suppliers, or by regulatory authorities anywhere in the world. These brands’ commitment to no animal testing is certified by global animal protection groups. Unilever and its brands support calls for a worldwide animal testing ban on cosmetics by 2023, which includes advocacy for no animal testing legislation in the U.S. Our brands certified by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) include Dove, Love Beauty and Planet, Simple, and TRESemmé.

  Occasionally, across Unilever’s broader portfolio of brands, ingredients that we use still have to be tested by suppliers by law, to comply with regulatory requirements in some markets; and some government authorities test certain products on animals as part of their regulations. However, we do not agree that animal testing is necessary to assure the safety of our products. For more than 40 years, we have worked to secure the adoption of innovative non-animal approaches based on advances in science and technology. As a result, we are recognized by PETA as a ‘company working for regulatory change’.

  Our leading-edge safety science approach has one clear purpose: to continue to develop and use non-animal approaches, and let others know about the research we do to guarantee that our products are safe without the need for animal testing. Our team of internationally recognized leaders in non-animal safety science partner with other scientists to continually update the approaches we use to assure the safety of our products. We work with NGOs, regulatory authorities and our suppliers across the world to share our approaches, and to promote their broader acceptance. We were honored to receive the 2019 Corporate Consciousness Award from the Humane Society of the United States, recognizing the impact of our non-animal safety science in replacing animal testing. Read more about our approach to alternatives to animal testing here.

• What is your animal-welfare policy for egg products?

  Eggs are an ingredient used in many of our best-known food products, ranging from mayonnaises to dressings, sauces and ice cream. We take animal welfare seriously as a social and ethical concern and as part of our commitment to sustainable agriculture. Read more about our longstanding position on Farm Animal Welfare.

  Unilever does not have egg production operations, but as a user of egg ingredients, we require that the egg producers that supply us meet all regulatory requirements and industry best practices for animal welfare as a minimum. In addition, we work with our suppliers to participate in initiatives to define good animal welfare practices and improvement programs.

  We use 100% liquid cage-free eggs for all of our products in North America (U.S. and Canada). Our Hellmann’s mayonnaise and mayonnaise dressings use cage-free eggs which are certified by the American Humane Association, or the Association for Controlled Alternative Animal Husbandry. All of Ben & Jerry’s eggs in the United States come from hens on Certified Humane cage-free farms. We’ve received external recognition for our progress, including from the Humane Society of the United States.

  We are also working toward improvements in the current standard practices of poultry-breeding companies that supply egg-laying hens to the egg farming industry. We are aware of the concerns raised about the global egg-industry standards by which breeders of egg-laying hens eliminate male chicks, following methods that are included in American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines and European Union directives. While these are standard practices of suppliers to the broad egg-farming industry and all types of egg products, and although Unilever uses only a relatively small percentage of eggs produced in the market, we take these concerns seriously.

  In our corporate position statement on Farm Animal Welfare we have included our commitment to engage with the egg production industry, the animal welfare community and R&D companies to develop alternative options for the current practices. We are ready to provide support to the market for introduction of these technologies, such as in-ovo gender identification of eggs, when they are available for our suppliers. We are also continuing to explore ways to use egg-replacement ingredients in some product categories to meet consumer needs and preferences for plant-based protein sources.

• What is Unilever’s policy on allergen labeling?

  Unilever United States has strict control practices in place across our operations to ensure compliance with the U.S. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), which requires that labels identify the food source of all major food allergens used to make the food. See here to read about our decision in the U.S. to adopt “Contains” statements for all Nutrition and Ice Cream products that require disclosure of major food allergens.

• Does Unilever include nutrition information on front-of-package?

  Unilever has developed a clear and global approach to nutrition labeling, to help people make healthy food choices. In the U.S., Unilever participates in Facts up Front®, a voluntary labeling initiative that summarizes important nutrition information from the Nutrition Facts Panel in a simple and easy-to-use format on the front of food and beverage packages.

• Do you comply with the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act?

  Yes. Please find more information here: Advancing Human Rights in Our Extended Supply Chain , Advancing Human Rights In Our Own Operations.

• I have a great idea that I would like to share with your company. How do I go about doing this?

  We are always on the lookout of purpose-led innovators to partner with us and make a difference together. See here for more information and to submit your idea.

• I no longer see a statement on the label about the product containing “ingredients derived from a bioengineered source.” Did you change your formula?

  This change is not a result of product reformulation. We have discontinued that voluntary statement and, for applicable products, we continue to provide the USDA National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard’s required disclosure, “Contains a bioengineered food ingredient,” on package labels. This mandatory label identifies products that contain an ingredient made from a bioengineered (i.e. GMO) crop and the ingredient has detectable bioengineered material. Visit learnaboutmyfood.com for our non-GMO alternatives as well as more information on the safety and benefits of GM crops and ingredients produced from these crops.

• Since I don’t see this statement anymore does this mean the product is now non-GMO?

  The absence of a disclosure under the USDA National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard does not mean the product is non-GMO. The USDA regulation states that a food cannot be considered as ‘not bioengineered,’ ‘non-GMO,’ or any other similar claim solely because the food is not required to have a disclosure on the label. Therefore, just because a food does not require a bioengineered food disclosure, does not mean a food company can make a “non-GMO” claim. For more information you can visit the FAQs on the USDA Agricultural Marketing website.

  Our products that are USDA-certified organic, or state “Non-GMO Sourced” on packaging, all meet the Unilever Non-GMO Standard (PDF 34.17 KB) and qualify as non-GMO offerings. Visit learnaboutmyfood.com for more information on our non-GMO standard, a list of non-GMO alternatives, and other information about the safety and benefits of BE/GMO crops and ingredients produced from those crops.