Unilever Sustainable Living Plan Advances With Recyclebank Partnership

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ – MAY 3, 2011 – To help deliver against the ambitious goals laid out in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, the roadmap for doubling the size of its business while reducing its environmental impact, Unilever (NYSE: UN) announced today a partnership with Recyclebank® to educate consumers on how they can take small actions to make a big difference in reducing waste and water use.

Unilever has set three goals to achieve by 2020 – halve the environmental footprint of its products; source 100 percent of its agricultural raw materials sustainably; and help more than one billion people take action to improve their health and well-being. In addition to joining the Recyclebank rewards program, Unilever and its leading personal care brands Dove® and Suave® will leverage Recyclebank’s Learn & Earn digital education platform to teach consumers how to take small steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle—and reward them for doing so.   “As one of the world’s largest consumer packaged goods companies, we have a responsibility to grow our business while reducing our environmental impact, but we need to collaborate with others,” said Kathy O’Brien, vice president, Personal Care, Unilever. “Recyclebank is a natural partner to help us educate and engage consumers regarding what simple steps they can take to help protect the planet, and save them money in return.”   Unilever brands encompass an extensive range of products that are used two billion times a day throughout the world, and represent far-reaching opportunities for consumers to improve the quality of their lives without increasing their environmental impact.   By leveraging Recyclebank’s Learn & Earn platform, Unilever will help to educate consumers on the collective impact their small actions, such as recycling different types of packaging, can have. After learning how they can make simple changes in their own lives, consumers will earn Recyclebank points that they can redeem for unique rewards from more than 3,000 local and national business partners, including Unilever products.   “Unilever has made an enormous commitment to sustainability through its brands and business,” said Ian Yolles, chief sustainability officer, Recyclebank. “Our eco-rewards platform honors consumers for their actions while measuring lift in recycling rates, energy reduction and awareness as a step towards improving their environmental impact. We look forward to working with Unilever to help meet the ambitious goals set out in the Sustainable Living Plan and empowering their consumers to make big differences through small changes.”   For an overview of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan goals and achievements in the United States, please visit http://www.sustainable-living.unilever.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/USLP-Booklet-US-for-Printing-111.10.10.pdf.       ABOUT UNILEVER NORTH AMERICA Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong operations in more than 100 countries and sales in 180.  With products that are used over two billion times a day around the world, we work to create a better future every day and 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. In the United States, Canada and the Greater Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry’s, Bertolli, Blue Band, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Omo, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Ragu, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Suave, TIGI, Vaseline, and Wish-Bone. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever employs more than 13,000 people across North America – generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2010. For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com, www.unilever.ca, or www.unilevercaribbean.com.     ABOUT RECYCLEBANK Recyclebank® helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank is empowering individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and learning to live greener lives. Recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.