Hindustan Unilever launches ‘India Water Body’
16­05­2011
Initiative aims to drive water security for India by 2030 through public­private partnership.
Mr Nitin Paranjpe, CEO & Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever, said, “It is estimated that by 2030, the supply
of water in India would be half of the demand for it. This is a crisis that has the potential to derail the economic
and social development of the country and impact the health and livelihoods of millions of people across the
country. We at Hindustan Unilever believe that what concerns the nation must concern us too. Therefore we have
launched, India Water Body to drive water security for the country by 2030.”
The India Water Body will be conducting a nation­wide study to assess the demand­supply gap for water in India.
The study will build on the available body of knowledge and engage multiple stakeholders to evolve an India
water roadmap enumerating clear priorities and solutions for implementation.
Water management has been a key focus area for HUL in India across its entire value chain. HUL has
consistently reduced water consumption in its operations, helped small­holder farmers to use water judiciously in
agriculture, developed product innovations such as Surf Excel quickwash that helps consumers use less water
while washing clothes.
The Company has been working for more than a decade in the area of water conservation in partnership with
NGOs and local communities across the country, in locations which face acute water shortage. The success of
these projects has been driven by establishing public­private partnerships involving the local communities. This
has helped to not only sustain these projects but also to scale them. HUL has initiated projects in several states
in India that will enable us to create capacity towards conserving more than 50 billion litres of water in the next
four years (by 2015).
The India Water Body launch takes this commitment beyond standalone interventions towards a systematic long
term approach to drive water security for the nation through the public­private partnership model. This initiative
builds on the Sustainable Living Plan launched by Unilever on November 15, 2010. Hindustan Unilever Limited is
a subsidiary of Unilever. Water is one of the focus areas identified in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.
The Sustainable Living Plan aims to help everyone enjoy a good quality of life while respecting the planet. The
Plan decouples business growth from environmental impact. It sets out over 50 social, economic and
environmental targets. The Plan has set three big goals for Unilever to achieve by 2020:
Help more than one billion people improve their health and well­being Halve the environmental impact of our products Source 100% of our agricultural raw materials sustainably
About Hindustan Unilever Limited
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods company touching the lives of
two out of three Indians. HULworks to create a better future every day. We help people feel good, look good and
get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others.
Media Contacts:
Email: [email protected], Telephone: Prasad Pradhan ­ 022 39832429, R Ram ­ 022 39832413
Notes To The Editor
Impacts of Water Conservation Initiatives of Hindustan Unilever Limited
Rainwater harvesting and soil conservation projects have been undertaken in Khamgaon (Maharashtra),
Silvassa (Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and Puducherry. More recently, water conservation project was launched in
Gundar Basin (Tamil Nadu).
Project Khamgaon & Parkhed: As a result of Watershed management intervention, the total land under cultivation
during the second crop season is approximately 470 acres. The annual income of the farmers in the vicinity of
the project has increased from an average of INR 36,000 to INR 85,000, per farmer per annum.
Project Silvassa: More than 67 million litres of water have been harvested since 2004. Additional income of INR
160 lakhs was accrued to villagers during project period
Puducherry: In partnership with Dhan Foundation, eight village ponds were renovated. Rainwater harvesting
storage of 22300 cu. m has fulfilled the multiple domestic needs of 4519 households. 346 acres are now irrigated
due to the rejuvenation of ground water
Gundar Basin: Launched a water conservation project in Gundar Basin (Tamil Nadu) in partnership with DHAN
and NABARD in 2010. It will enhance the livelihood of over 20,000 farmers and aims to renovate 250 irrigation
tanks.
Driving Water Conservation through Business
HUL will ensure that its manufacturing processes reduce water usage, reuse water, recycle water and
recharge rain water. The R&D teams will focus on innovation that will help reduce consumers reduce water usage in
consumption of our products. Use product packaging as a medium to raise awareness on water conservation. Ensuring 100% sustainable sourcing of agriculture raw material by 2020, using water as one of the
indicators.
Reduce water use in our manufacturing process
In 2010, we reduced water usage in our manufacturing operations by 36% measured on per tonne basis over a
baseline of 2004. More than 75% of our manufacturing sites are zero discharge sites.
More than 50% of our manufacturing sites have rainwater harvesting facility (to scientifically recharge the
underground aquifers or store and reuse the rainwater from the catchments). As of now, five Hindustan Unilever
sites have the potential to return more water to the ground than is being consumed by them.
Reduce water use in the laundry process
Surf Excel quickwash has a special formulation that produces less lather and hence requires less water for
rinsing. It can save up to two buckets of water per wash load. Considering our large consumer base for this
product, it makes a big difference, especially in the southern states of India, where laundry accounts for up to a
quarter of the total water used
For more details, visit us at:
http://www.hul.co.in/sustainability/ and  http://www.sustainable­living.unilever.com/
(http://www.unilever.com/sustainable­living/)
India
Hindustan Unilever Limited Unilever House, B. D. Sawant Marg, Chakala, Andheri (E), Mumbai ­ 400 099. F: +91­22­22871970
T: +91­22­39830000 [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected])
Hindustan Unilever company website
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