Gold level food manufacturer
Unilever has been judged the most responsible food manufacturer in each of the five years the index has been produced. Unilever's score of 94% in the Corporate Responsibility Index 2006 puts it joint top with Cadbury Schweppes.
The BITC Corporate Responsibility Index is a voluntary business-led benchmark of responsible business practice. Companies are assessed on how effectively they address social and environmental issues – focusing on how they manage, measure and report their impact on society.
Results from the 2006 analysis placed companies in Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze bands according to their overall performance. Unilever achieved Gold banding, narrowly missing Platinum by one percent. Previous annual results had ranked companies' performance in a different format.
One hundred and twenty eight companies participated with an average score of 86%. Participants represent Britain's largest companies (from the FTSE 350), some smaller BITC members, and sector leaders from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.
Unilever scored top marks for placing corporate responsibility values at the core of its business strategy, assurance process and public reporting. High marks were awarded for integrating CR throughout the business, CR management and tackling social impacts including product health and safety, employee health and safety and diversity.
Unilever also achieved Gold banding in the eleventh Business in the Environment (BiE) Environment Index 2006. This associated index compares companies on their environmental management and performance in key impact areas. Unilever's score of 92% was well above the average of 82%.
The Sunday Times in the UK presented the results of the Corporate Responsibility Index as a 'Top 100 Companies that Count' ranking in May 2007.
BITC Australia
In 2006 Unilever participated for the second time in BITC's Corporate Responsibility Index in Australia and New Zealand. Unilever achieved 94% with Gold ratings across sections, against an average score of 83.3%.
