Sustainability Leadership in Unilever

Running head: SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN UNILEVER
Sustainability Leadership in Unilever
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SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN UNILEVER
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Part 1: Illustration of the case of sustainability in Unilever:...........................................................2
Part 2: Literature review:.................................................................................................................4
Part 2.1: Transformational leadership:........................................................................................4
Part 2.2: Servant leadership:........................................................................................................4
Part 2.3: Transformative servant leadership in business organisations:......................................5
Part 3: Transformational servant leadership, values and ethics in Unilever:..................................6
Part 4: Leadership competency and other areas (marketing, innovation and financing):................9
Part 5: Implication on personal action:..........................................................................................11
Part 6: Personal action plan:..........................................................................................................11
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................12
References:....................................................................................................................................13

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SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN UNILEVER
Introduction:
Leadership plays a very significant role in ensuring that organisations perform highly in
the market. The style of leadership followed in the business organisations, especially
multinational organisations has gone drastic changes. The management of these organisations
today emphasis on putting the interests of the stakeholders like the employees, customers and
suppliers before their own profit interests. In fact, this style of leadership has helped
multinational organisations to earn immense profit due incessant stakeholders’ support. This
leadership style they use is transformational servant leadership style. The paper would delve into
how this leadership style is helping business organisations to grow. It would also show that
transformational servant leadership style have positive perceptions on the employees and finally
on the company. The company chosen to conduct the research is Unilever, one of largest
multinational FMCG multinational companies based in London and Rotterdam,
Part 1: Illustration of the case of sustainability in Unilever:
Unilever is a British-Dutch company that is the largest consumer goods company in
the world. In addition to this, it is the oldest multinational company and delivers its products to
190 countries. The main business of the company can be divided into four categories such as
foods, beverages, home care and personal care. However, the company has taken various steps to
retain sustainability in their products. There are many products manufactured by the company;
however, special cares are taken to control the environmental impacts and the company has
engaged in certain steps so that the human being could improve their health and lead their life in
systematic way (Jansen, 2018). According to product sustainable report of 2013, it can be
observed that the company has launched certain sustainable products and the company has
contributed certain sustainability towards the environment. Many products of this company have

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SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN UNILEVER
been criticised for its harsh impacts on the environment. In 2008, Greenpeace, UK has filed an
allegation of deforestation against the company for its palm oil product. Further, the company
has charged for its Asia Pulp & Paper. After all such allegation, the company has developed its
production process and concentrated on the environment-friendly solution. In the year 2012, the
company has launched Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, the company has made a huge profit of
€51 billion, and the company has achieved a significant milestone. There are certain reasons
mentioned by the Chief Procurement officer of the company such as climate change,
unsustainable farming practice, water scarcity and improper food security for adopting
sustainable environmental plan (Galpin, Whitttington & Bell, 2015). There are certain
illustrations where the company has applied the environment sustainable plan. In 2012, the
company has cultivated tomatoes to maintain the sustainability after launching knorr products.
Foods & Refreshment Division has promoted the program relating to the sustainable
development and an attempt has been taken to make change with Unilever Sustainable
Agriculture Code. A competitive differentiation has been observed through this environmental
sustainability and the company has invested in the rainforest alliance certification. Further, the
company has launched certain certified courses for the small farmers so that they could get right
knowledge regarding the vegetation and agricultural matters. Additionally, the local farmers are
become enriched with skills and knowledge regarding sustainable cultivation practice (Grassi,
2017). The company is maintaining certain criteria of environment so that the balance could not
be hampered. The company is trying to get 100% sustainable plan for the palm oil production
and certain attempts have been taken regarding green plantation. Further, the sugar bought by the
company is from bonsucro category, which is imported from Brazil. The company highlights the
environmental and societal impacts regarding the sugar cane production. The food and beverages