Unilever
Risk Level:
Summary:
*Note:* Unilever is the parent company of over 400 brands. This rating refers to Unilever's policies, practices, and funding. When one of its brands drastically differs from the company in any of these areas, particularly if the brand has a distinct corporate governance policy, we give that brand a separate rating. Unilever is a defendant in two lawsuits for unlawful firings: one in Israel from the maker & distributor of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and another from a former U.S. employee fired for observing Rosh Hashanah. It does not contribute politically but does actively work to promote/denounce specific ideological policy. Unilever pledges to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies, advocates for the Equality Act, and denounced Florida's Parental Rights in Education law (as well as similar legislation). Unilever has donated to Planned Parenthood but has not corporately supported some of the ideological organizations that its brands have. For these reasons, Unilever receives a "High Risk" rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
Unilever received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) (1)(2). Among other requirements, this means Unilever pledges to vet its vendors for LGBTQ policies and advocate for LGBTQ communities and policies. A former Unilever employee is suing the company for a firing that took place after he took time off for Rosh Hashanah (3). Although Ben & Jerry’s (separately rated Unilever brand) consistently acts distinctly from its parent company, it is notable that Unilever is named alongside the brand as a co-defendant in a lawsuit from the manufacturer of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in Israel due to its regional distribution ban, which is illegal under Israeli law (4). Because of Ben & Jerry’s boycott of Israel, Unilever was found guilty of violating the anti-BDS laws of several U.S. states (5).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Unilever protects against religious and political affiliation discrimination in its employment policy (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Unilever supports the Equality Act (1). Unilever signed an open letter denouncing legislation deemed “Anti-LGBTQ” by the HRC, such as laws that protect girls’ sports and ban discussions on gender identity in public elementary schools (2). The company has also taken public stances on legislation impacting voting methods, denouncing specific bills state-by-state and advocating for expanding mail-in voting (3)(4)(5). Unilever also publicly opposed Georgia’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (religious freedom) in 2016 (6). Unilever CEO Alan Jope committed to its agenda, saying “anti-woke backlash is incredibly dangerous for the world” and vowed that Unilever “will not back down on this agenda” (7).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Unilever has donated to Planned Parenthood (1). Some of its brands have made donations to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression, but these were discrete donations driven by the brands.
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 24, 2023
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