HUL is taking a big step as it is switching to green fuel alternatives such as biomass and biodiesel and has eliminated the use of coal across its operations. The company has collaborated with biomass suppliers and local farmers to ensure a sustainable supply of green fuel and has made the necessary changes for the renewable transition in its coal-fired boilers.
Besides, the shift from coal to renewable energy sources has also resulted in savings for the company, HUL added.
This is a part of an initiative taken by its parent, Anglo-Dutch firm Unilever, which five years ago committed to eliminating coal across its manufacturing operations by 2020.
Whatever commitment HUL had made to the environment, it has achieved its goals as committed and has now successfully transitioned its three nutrition factories, acquired as part of the GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK CH) merger in April 2020, to zero coal. The newly acquired Nutrition manufacturing units had boilers running on coal, which were converted into biomass or biodiesel boilers.
HUL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Mehta said that this achievement is a milestone and, as a company, we have always strived to be people- and planet positive and firmly believe that responsible business is the only way forward, “he added.
HUL Executive Director Supply Chain Willem Uijen said that it was a big step in how they could move the new factories from our GSK acquisition into renewable energy usage quickly. The impact of this transition not only increases HUL’s green footprint but also improves the quality of air around its factories and enhances the income of farmers through the buying of biomass. “
HUL’s manufacturing units have already been operating with 100 percent renewable grid electricity since 2019 through onsite solar generation, offsite solar and wind generation, and hydro-based grid power purchase.
In addition to the onsite solar photovoltaic plant, its Nashik food and beverage manufacturing unit has three offsite wind turbine generators for captive consumption.
The transition from coal to green fuel will provide impetus to HUL’s efforts to ensure that all of the energy used in its operations is renewable, and that the company will directly support the generation of more renewable energy than it consumes.