Know those trees in your backyard or local park? They provide much more than shade in the summer. Trees produce oxygen, trap carbon dioxide and serve as a habitat for thousands of creatures.
Beyond the trees that may line your street or support your child’s tire-swing, trees around the world also provide materials that we use every day, which is why Unilever aims to source and use tree products responsibly, like the paper used in Q-tips®. We source this paper 100% sustainably, and we will do the same with all of our paper and board by 2020.
We can add products like these to the long list of reasons we are committed to fighting deforestation:
Loofahs
It may be hard to imagine something so soft coming from something as solid as a tree, but many loofahs and sponges come from wood fibers. You may even be lathering up with your Suave® or Caress® body wash with a loofah that came from a tree!
Facial cleansers
Surprisingly, you have trees to thank for a clear complexion, Noxzema® Original Cleansing Cream is made with oils from the eucalyptus tree to help better clean skin. Other tree products, like walnut shells and apricots, provide natural exfoliates in St. Ives® Blemish Control Apricot Scrub.
Chocolate
Sure, we see chocolate at all of your neighborhood grocery stores since the average American eats 9.5 pounds of chocolate per year! But the finished treat looks very different than the pods growing on cacao trees. Unilever aims to source all cocoa used across our entire family of brands sustainably by 2020. Cocoa farming also employs 40 - 50 million people globally, so harvesting cocoa sustainably provides much more than sweet treats.
Shampoo
Oil from the tea tree is often added to shampoos, like TRESemmé® Renewal Hair & Scalp Shampoo, since it can help remove bacteria or even dandruff for a healthier scalp.
Rubber gloves
Natural latex rubber comes from a fluid tapped from the bark of the rubber tree. From medical procedures to everyday home cleaning, rubber gloves have helped prevent disease by limiting the spread of germs.
Since improving health and hygiene is a core part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, we are thankful for this essential product made from trees and how it’s helped limit disease.
