An assortment of vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, seaweed, tempeh, grains and nuts on a counter

Supporting plant-forward diets

Average read time: 5 minutes

Our brands provide a range of plant-based products offering more choice to help consumers adopt healthier and more sustainable diets.

A semi-open burger with iceberg lettuce and red chilli slices next to a pack of The Vegetarian Butcher Patty on the Back

Multiple studies show that eating more protein from plant sources and less from animal sources is key to building sustainable diets that are good for people and the planet. We know that changing eating habits can be challenging. Our aim is to help people adopt more plant-forward diets by providing consumers with plant-based options that align with their tastes and eating habits. We also support the transition to healthier and more sustainable eating patterns by investing in research to increase our understanding of behaviour change as well as consumers’ needs and motivations.

Read more about our nutrition philosophy and approach.

Our sales goal

€1.5 billion of sales per annum from plant-based products in categories whose products are traditionally using animal-derived ingredients by 2025.

€1.3 billionOur progress in 2024

We’ve been recognised for our efforts by the FAIRR Initiative, a collaborative investor network that raises awareness of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities in the global food sector. It named Unilever as the leader in its 2022 benchmark of companies that are using protein diversification to drive growth and build climate-aligned portfolios. We continue to maintain a close collaboration with the FAIRR Initiative.

Innovating to increase consumer choice

We’re working towards our goal across all categories in scope, by extending existing product ranges to include options that do not use animal-derived ingredients and by innovating new plant-based foods.

Ice cream without the dairy

We continue to expand our Ice Cream portfolio with dairy-free choices across brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Wall’s and Cornetto.

Plant-based meat alternatives

The Vegetarian Butcher is our leading plant-based meat brand, with products used by both consumers and chefs. The brand has established many global partnerships with quick service restaurants such as Starbucks, Subway, Domino’s and Burger King. For example, one in five Burger King Whoppers sold in Germany is now plant-based.

To ensure The Vegetarian Butcher contributes to our vision of delivering more sustainable diets, we’ve developed tailored nutrition standards for plant-based meat alternatives, aligned with our general fortification guidelines for micronutrients like iron and vitamin B12. We also invest in research to explore topics like the nutritional quality and satiety of plant-based products, providing valuable insights into consumer acceptance, emotional connection and nutrient intake compared to diets that include animal meat.

[11:21 AM] van-der-Heijden, Muriel Cropped person slicing a slab of The Vegetarian Butcher Nobacon using a meat slicer

Plant-based dressings

We’re developing plant-based alternatives to popular dressings and condiments.

Encouraging plant-forward diets

To support people in their transition to plant-forward diets, we go beyond providing products by sharing inspiration and recipes for plant-based meals. We’re also making it easier for people to find vegetarian foods in the shops. In the Netherlands, we collaborate with the Nationale Postcode Loterij and Albert Heijn on the 'Geniet van 't Goede' campaign, which inspires consumers with recipes for well-loved dishes featuring easy and delicious vegetarian swaps. In its 11th edition, over €23.6 million was spent on vegetarian products using gift cards sent to more than 3 million members in 2024.

Investing in future foods

We believe plant-forward diets will become even more common, so we’re innovating for novel plant-based ingredients. We’re investing in growing and diversifying the range of plant-based protein sources in our products and recipes to respect the planet and meet consumers’ expectations.

We also work with others to advance our shared understanding and development of plant-based ingredients and foods.

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Partnerships for diversified protein sources

Unilever, The Vegetarian Butcher and The EVERY Company have joined forces to to launch new products using nature-equivalent egg products made with precision fermentation.

Illustration – women placing items on a shelf and a man cycling through a park

Joint research on the protein transition

Unilever is participating in the EXPLAIN project, led by Wageningen University & Research, and in the EU-funded GIANT LEAPS project, which aims to accelerate the shift from animal-based proteins to those from alternative sources.

Illustration - People floating in the air using laptops against a yellow background

Communities for plant-based transition

Unilever is a member of communities like BeanDeal and Bridge2Food EcoSystem to accelerate the protein transition.