Unilever’s new chief executive claimed it is not watering down its sustainability goals but ‘doubling down’ on them.
Hein Schumacher recently scrapped a whole string of targets for the household products and food giant but insisted today that it was just focusing on the more achievable ones.
Unilever has been slammed by some investors for “virtue signalling” in the past with its ESG missives but today insisted it was not changing tack but making its pledges “realistic”.
Schumacher also defended the pronouncements by ice cream subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s, which has had a fractious relationship with its owner due to a series of outspoken political statements.
Criticisms of Israel, Joe Biden and the plight of Native Americans are just some of the instances when Unilever has had to distance itself from the ice cream firm, which is run independently.
“We believe building on the social mission will build the brand and it will clearly be part of the ice cream company going forward.”
Schumacher confirmed that its ice cream division, including B&Js, is up for sale but said this would be a complex deal given the terms of the arrangement when it bought the business.
“Unilever’s announcement of its intention to create a standalone ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry’s, does not change the terms of the merger agreement, which exists in perpetuity regardless of ownership structure,” he said.
Shares in Unilever rose by 5% today as investors welcomed a trading update that saw sales beat forecasts.