Unilever has teamed up with UAE-based retailer Choithrams on a 10-day campaign to promote recycling and water conservation, which coincides with World Environment Day on 5 June.
Across Choithrams’ 19 branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, shoppers can pick up environmental tips along with 30,000 ‘green’ bags.
The joint initiative – now in its third year – is part of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan, under which the FMCG company aims to double its business while halving its environmental footprint.
Arijit Ghose, managing director of Unilever Gulf, stressed that consumer behaviour is critical to meeting this goal.
“If you look at the value chain of any of our products, only 5% of the environmental footprint is under our direct impact and 68% of it comes from the consumer,” he said.
“Hence, through this initiative we aim to change behaviour and encourage good practices of waste management and water conservation.”
L T Pagarani, the chairman of Choithrams, said that “mindful partners” such as Unilever had helped prompt the chain to launch in March “an omnibus sustainability heartland”. Planet 7 is based on the seven pillars of health, nature, carbon, innovation, community, employment and dialogue, he said.
“It’s the right time, the right way and inescapable truth that we believe in,” said Pagarani.
Choithrams has introduced initiatives to reduce unnecessary packaging. Its sourcing team constantly pursues local and regional options to cut carbon footprint, said the firm.