Our shared values
We have a set of shared values. Our values guide the way in which we do business and influence the way we think and act. It is by putting these shared values into everyday working practice that we can operate successfully as a company.
Our values are expressed in our Corporate Purpose and Vitality Mission. Our Code of Business Principles guides how we live them out on a day-to-day basis. Our Business Partner Code sets out what we expect of our suppliers.
Corporate Purpose & Vitality Mission
We first articulated our Corporate Purpose in 1996. Articulating our Corporate Purpose did not invent something new but made clear what we believe is the essence of our company. It describes what Unilever aspires to be as well as expressing our values and beliefs. We updated our Corporate Purpose in 2005 to express our new Vitality Mission: "to meet the everyday needs of consumers for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life". Our Corporate Purpose and Vitality Mission together describe the factors that we believe will contribute to our long-term success. They also underpin our commitment to meet these needs in a sustainable way.
Code of Business Principles
Our Corporate Purpose says that for us to succeed requires: "the highest standards of corporate behaviour towards everyone we work with, the communities we touch and the environment on which we have an impact".
Supporting this, our Code of Business Principles sets the framework of standards within which we work. The Code is supported by additional worldwide operational standards on issues such as employee and product safety.
We regularly review the Code to ensure it meets the needs of today's business environment. Our latest revision was in 2001 and the updated Code was rolled out across our business in 2002. The Code is a short document, written in clear simple language, stating overall principles. It is designed to be easy to read and understand for all our employees. This is because we believe the Code must have practical value in our day-to-day business. We expect every Unilever employee to follow its principles in spirit as well as to the letter.
Our values in action
A code is no practical use unless it is part of an active process of compliance, monitoring and reporting. The Board of Unilever is responsible for this process, with day-to-day responsibility lying with our senior management around the world.
The Code is translated into nearly 50 languages and is communicated to all employees.
As part of our worldwide positive assurance process, each year our company chairmen give a written assurance that their business is in compliance with the Code. The Board of Unilever reviews these responses. Internal audit is used to provide reassurance that the process is working satisfactorily.
Any breaches of the Code must be reported in accordance with procedures set by the Group Secretary of Unilever. Our Board will not criticise management for any loss of business resulting from adherence to our Code.
We expect and encourage employees to bring to our attention any breach of the Code and no employee will suffer as a consequence of reporting a breach. Since 2004 all employees worldwide have had access to a toll-free 24-hour ethics telephone hotline. The hotline enables employees to raise any concerns in complete confidence, and anonymously if they wish.
Our values & our business partners
We rely on a huge network of business partners around the world. We seek to establish mutually beneficial relationships with them and expect our suppliers to work in a way that is consistent with our own values and principles. Our Business Partner Code draws on our Code of Business Principles to set out ten clear standards we expect our suppliers to meet. Like our Code of Business Principles, our Business Partner Code is accompanied by a positive assurance process.
