Business & Money | Monday 8 February, 2016 2:46 pm |

Binzagr Unilever Limited, the Saudi Arabian arm of one of the world’s leading FMCG companies, has won a brace of awards for its corporate social responsibility and commitment to sustainability towards the end of 2015.

The brand has scooped the King Khalid Award in the “Responsible Competitiveness” category for 2015. Moreover, the company has been named a leader in the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Industry Group, joining 23 other companies on the high achievers board.

On the global level, Unilever has topped the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Unilever led the board in 8 of the 23 criteria, including Innovation Management, Strategy for Emerging Markets, Climate Strategy, Packaging, and Talent Attraction & Retention, improving its net score to 92 compared to the 90 it scored in 2014. The DJSI is a globally recognized independent benchmark that measures proven company performance across material economic, environmental and social criteria.

In addition, Paul Polman, the global CEO of Unilever, has announced on COP 21 in Paris the company’s new ambition to be carbon positive by 2030. This ambitious target, along other equally important commitments that Unilever has made towards global sustainable development goals, resulted in recognizing Paul Polman as one of the 17 advocates for global goals as announced by Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General on Davos 2016. 

On the local front, Binzagr Unilever Limited’s King Khalid Award win came as a result of exceptional performances in scoring categories such as “Innovative Social Development and “Environmental Management.” Binzagr Unilever Limited also scored well in the Award’s “High Quality and Good Governance”, “Building a Competitive Workforce” and “Empowering Local Suppliers” criteria. 

Khaled Fayed, Managing Director, Binzagr Unilever Limited, said: “Binzagr Unilever Limited has been very active in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with initiatives that make a tangible impact on health, economic uplift and the reduction of our environment footprint. We are delighted to have our efforts recognized by the prestigious King Khalid Awards, yet there is no room for complacency. We will continue seeking inspirations from the goals we set out in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan in the lead up to 2020. Our Award win underscores our commitment to the country.” 

Binzagr Unilever has outperformed many companies in empowering local workforce. Through its ‘Future Leaders Program’, the company continuously recruits fresh graduates from universities, while its mid-career recruitment channel finds top talent for posts requiring experience. The company also remains committed to gender diversification.

Unilever ranked first out of all participating companies with regards to its commitment to innovation for development, and has set the benchmark in this regard. On this pillar, the company launched many initiatives such as the women empowerment program ‘Bedaya’, that helped 280 women enhance their skills and earning capabilities. Other programs included the launch of a training academy by the company’s brand ‘Fair & Lovely’. The academy job mentors and trains female students in Saudi universities. In addition, the Lifebuoy Handwashing program, which started in 2012, has reached more than 4 million consumers and helped combat the spread of the Corona Virus in the Kingdom. 

On the environmental front, the company’s factory in the Kingdom has reached its goal of zero waste to landfill through the implementation of a rigorous waste reduction strategy since 2008.