Retail
News
the World Environment Day, sees
Unilever and Choithrams continue collaborating towards environmental sustainability through reduced water, waste energy use.
The partnership between the two companies is now in its third year. Knowledge transfer from Unilever has seen
Choithrams recycle 47,341 kg of waste
in 2015 alone. Unilever has also advised on energy saving initiatives, with
Choithrams facilities now equipped
with occupancy and motion sensors
to reduce energy use. Sky dome lights
and solar panels are also reducing
the chain’s environmental footprint.
The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan
calls for growing Unilever’s business, while reducing its environmental footprint and increasing its
positive social impact. The plan delivers growth for Unilever’s brands
while creating savings through cost
avoidance by reducing the environmental impact of its operations.
“Partnerships with key retailers such
as Choithrams are essential to advancing our goal of business growth
coupled with a reduction in environmental impact. We are embodying
our environmental footprint across our
value chain - all the way from sourcing to consumption. Success can
only be triggered by working closely
with retail partners to change consumer behaviour. It is also part of our
agenda to get our retailers to adopt
the same principle as us - to be environment friendly - in order to achieve
their environmental targets. Unilever’s
18
June 2016
partnerships play a very large role in helping us create value
and benefit the environment on a global scale,” said Gaurav Rustagi, Unilever’s Country Director in UAE and Oman.
The partnership will also see Unilever audit Choithrams’ facilities
to advise on sustainability projects that reduce environmental
footprint while generating long term savings. The Unilever team
will assist Choithrams in replicating successful environmentally
friendly projects in Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain, and Oman while
also helping design a green store in Dubai’s Green Community.
“Unilever, is entirely cognizant that sustainability is good for
business. We are committed to tackling the twin challenges of
climate change and the depletion of natural resources, while
also empowering communities. Not only are these strategic
goals beneficial for our extended audiences but also make
good business sense. Prosperous communities and economies are crucial to long-term brand growth,” Rustagi added.