Hindustan Unilever Surpasses 100,000-Tonne Mark in Recycled Plastic Use
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), the Indian arm of global FMCG giant Unilever, has announced a significant sustainability milestone, collecting and repurposing more than 100,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste in India in 2023. This represents over twice the plastic footprint generated by the company’s product packaging in the country, positioning HUL as a leader among FMCG firms in India’s plastic circularity efforts.
Since launching its first plastic waste collection initiative in 2018, HUL has scaled its operations across all Indian states and Union Territories. The progress not only reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability but also supports its broader environmental goals, including achieving net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2039.
As part of its 2023 achievements, HUL reports that approximately 60% of its plastic packaging is now designed to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable. The company has also adopted recycled plastic in several of its leading brands, such as Surf Excel, Vim, and Dove, contributing to increased demand for recycled materials in the consumer goods sector.
HUL’s strategic integration of large-scale plastic recovery and reuse into its business model highlights an emerging trend within the FMCG industry: making sustainability measurable and market-relevant. The brand’s investment in advanced recycling processes and waste-collection frameworks serves a dual purpose—reducing environmental impact while addressing increasingly plastic-conscious consumer expectations.
Industry analysts point to the importance of closing the loop on plastic use as both a regulatory imperative and a competitive opportunity. With governments tightening Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance, especially in high-volume markets like India, brands that take a proactive position on sustainability are better placed to futureproof operations and strengthen consumer trust.
HUL’s achievement sets a benchmark in India’s FMCG landscape, where plastic usage remains under intense scrutiny from regulators, investors, and environmentally aware consumers. As sustainability becomes an operational and marketing necessity, the company’s leadership in plastic waste management could influence supply chain partners and peers to accelerate their own circular initiatives.
With continued pressure for environmental accountability, innovations in packaging design and recycling infrastructure are expected to become key strategic levers for FMCG brands aiming to align profitability with planet-positive outcomes.