Unilever Enlists Supplier Linfox For Sustainability Initiative

Unilever signed a Joint Business Development Plan deal with partner Linfox Logistics. Under Unilever’s Partner to Win program, JBDP deals highlight the consumer goods company’s emphasis on working closely with its strategic suppliers to achieve sustainable business growth for all parties involved. Unilever’s deal with Linfox focuses on improving supply chain capacity, flexibility, and responsiveness, as well as improving costs and deploying safe and sustainable practices.

"Unilever signs joint Business Development Plan with Linfox", Voxy, December 06, 2013

Unilever Pleads Guilty Of Environmental Violations, Agrees To Pay $4.5 Million In Penalty

Unilever admitted guilt in two felony environmental laws violations and agreed to pay $4.5 million in penalty for its failure to promptly report illegal discharges of industrial wastewater at its manufacturing plant in Clinton. U.S. environmental officials, investigators, and prosecutors claimed the company intentionally bypassed its wastewater treatment system and released partially treated wastewater directly into the city’s storm water drainage system for as long as two years. A contract employee of Unilever informed state environmental officers about the treatment system bypass on December 5, 2008.

"Unilever To Pay $4.5 Million for Environmental Crimes", Hartford Courant (Connecticut), December 06, 2013

Companies Adopt Rail Freight To Reduce Environmental Impact And Shipping Costs

An increasing number of companies are integrating railroad transport into their freight operations as part of their efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. Freight transport accounts for 15 percent of business-related carbon emissions in the U.S. Ocean Spray reduced its U.S. Southeast distribution operations’ carbon emissions by 20 percent and its transportation costs by 40 percent by opening a distribution center in the region and using empty rail cars returning from a rival’s deliveries to Florida. Other companies are also using rail as a major component of their shipping logistics, with the “Inbound Logistics” magazine reporting that intermodal traffic hit a new high in the U.S. in August 2013. Jelly Belly Candy Co. saves more than $500,000 each year after adopting intermodal transport for all its shipments. In Europe, competitors Colgate Palmolive, Mondelez International, and Nestle are pooling their shipments to take advantage of the advantages offered by rail freight.

"More Companies Find Success With Greener Freight", Environmental Defense Fund, November 26, 2013