Leading Indian consumer goods company Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has replaced coal use in its operations with biomass and biodiesel, the company announced on 2 December.
As part of the move, HUL said it had been working with biomass suppliers and local farmers to maintain a sustainable supply of alternative fuel and had made the necessary changes for the renewable transition in its coal-fired boilers.
“This is a milestone achievement in… our commitment towards achieving zero emissions in our operations by 2030,” HUL chairman and managing director Sanjiv Mehta said.
HUL said the shift from coal to renewable energy had also led to financial savings for the company.
A subsidiary of Unilever, HUL has a range of 44 brands in 14 sectors including fabric solutions, home and hygiene, life essentials, skin cleansing, skincare, hair care, colour cosmetics, oral care, deodorants, tea, coffee, ice cream & frozen desserts, foods and health food drinks, according to its website.
Its portfolio includes leading household brands such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Pond’s, Vaseline, Dove, Sunsilk, Knorr and Horlicks.
HUL’s zero coal commitment followed an announcement by Unilever five years’ earlier to eliminate coal across its manufacturing operations by 2020 – a goal it had achieved.
