Unilever Sustainable Living PlanProgress Report 2013 BeneluxIn the Benelux we work with a lot of passion and commitment towards achieving the global objectives of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. Our focus on sustainability is driving brand growth, competitive advantage and differentiation. Here you will find an overview of our initiatives and successes in 2013 and early 2014.

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HEALTH AND HYGIENE IMPROVING SELF-ESTEEM

With our Dove brand, we are helping young people improve their self-esteem through educational programmes. By 2015 we aim to have reached 15 million young people around the world.

• In 2013, the second edition of the Dove Self-Esteem programme took place in the Netherlands: Dove reached 32,000 young people by organising Self-Esteem workshops and Train-the-Trainer sessions, collaborating with Scouting Netherlands and ambassador Vilna van Betten among others.

• In Belgium, Dove works together on the Self-Esteem project with Eetexpert.be, a knowledge centre for eating disorders. Eetexpert guides teachers in teaching workshops on self-esteem, which helped Dove reach 20,200 young girls in 2013.

NUTRITION REDUCING SALT LEVELS

We have already achieved considerable salt reductions in the Benelux. We are working hard to reduce salt levels even further to make sure that by 2020 75% of our Foods portfolio will meet salt levels that will enable a daily salt intake of no more than 5g, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

• 58% of our Foods portfolio in the Benelux by volume met the target of 5g salt per day in 2013.

• In the Netherlands, early in 2014, salt levels in five Calvé salad dressings were reduced by an average of 10%. Furthermore, salt levels in Knorr mealkits were reduced by an average of 5% and in Bertolli pasta sauces in a jar by an average of 9%.

• In January 2013, Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Benelux launched Knorr Soups in packs and 10kg buckets with a reduced salt level of 5% on average. Five Knorr Aardappelpuree (mashed potato) varieties in the UFS portfolio now contain on average 16% less salt. At the start of 2013, UFS Benelux launched seven dressings with improved recipes with an average of 13% less salt.

• Through the online ‘Zouttest’ (Salt test) (www.zouttest.nl and www.zouttest.be) we aim to increase consumers’ awareness of their salt intake.

MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO LOOK AFTER THEIR HEARTS

• As part of the cholesterol awareness campaign (2013), Becel pro-activ developed the Starter kit (BE) /Cholesterol Information Box (NL) for people who actively want to lower their cholesterol levels as part of a healthy diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables and a healthy lifestyle. Since 2013, over 80,000 people in Belgium and 50,000 people in the Netherlands have requested a pack and in the Netherlands 250,000 Cholesterol Information Boxes were handed out via supermarkets and professional channels (doctors, dieticians etc.) in 2013.

IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGBy 2020 we will help more than a billion people worldwide take action to improve their health and well-being. In the Benelux we focus on improving our products, providing information on a healthy diet, helping young people improve their self-esteem and encouraging people to exercise more.

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• In February 2014, the National Cholesterol Test was launched in the Netherlands at more than 250 branches of Service Apotheken (a Dutch chemists chain), supported by the Hartstichting (Dutch Heart Foundation), the Nederlandse Vereniging van Diëtisten (Dutch Association of Dieticians) and Becel pro-activ. During six weeks people in the Netherlands were encouraged to fill in an online risk test for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney damage, aimed at raising awareness of a high cholesterol level as one of the risk factors. Everyone who appeared to have a slightly increased risk could have their cholesterol levels measured free of charge at a Service Apotheek chemist, and received lifestyle advice based on the result. Almost 290,000 people visited the website www.nationalecholesteroltest.nl, over 190,000 people took the risk test and some 25,000 cholesterol tests were carried out in the first quarter of 2014. The National Cholesterol Test is part of the National Prevention Programme ‘Alles is gezondheid’ (It’s all about health), an initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

• In 2013, the Becel Hartloper (Heart runner) campaign was launched in Belgium, supported by the Belgische Cardiologische Liga (Belgian Cardiology League), in order to motivate Belgians to be active for at least 30 minutes a day. A smartphone app, an online platform with tips & tricks and cooperation with the TV show Let’s Get Fit were part of the campaign. During the activation period (May-Sept 2013), more than 4 million minutes of physical activity were recorded.

• Each year on 29 September, the Nederlandse Hartstichting (Dutch Heart Foundation) organises Dress Red Day. On this day, the Dutch are asked to wear red in order to draw attention to women’s heart health. In 2013 Becel supported the Hartstichting to raise awareness of Dress Red Day through an extra TV commercial, an advertorial and an e-mail to the Becel fan base of about 200,000 members.

IMPROVING FAT COMPOSITION

• In the Benelux, all our leading spreads in tubs (Becel, Blue Band and Planta) by volume contain less than 33% saturated fat as a proportion of total fat.

• In 2013, 97% of our Benelux portfolio of soft spreads based on vegetable oils* contained no more than 33% saturated fat and at least 67% good, unsaturated fat.

• In addition, our leading spreads in tubs (Becel, Blue Band and Planta) provide at least 15% of the essential fatty acids as recommended by international nutrition guidelines.

• 100% of the Benelux portfolio by volume contains no trans fats originating from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

* For all other products in the spreads portfolio, including our blended products, we aim for the lowest saturated fat content without jeopardizing product performance and consumer expectations.

REDUCING SUGAR AND CALORIES

• In 2013 it was found that since 2010 all our ready-to-drink tea products in the Benelux by volume contain 7% less sugar. Furthermore, early in 2014 Lipton Ice Tea Brisk achieved a sugar reduction of 30% in the Netherlands. We have various plans to further reduce sugar content in our Ice Tea portfolio in order to achieve our 2020 target.

• In the Benelux, 100% of our children’s ice creams contain 110 kilocalories or less per portion.

PROVIDING INFORMATION ON A HEALTHY DIET

Our aim is to provide clear, simple labelling on our products to help consumers make choices that lead to a nutritionally balanced diet. All our products in the Benelux provide full nutritional information. We include energy per portion on the front of pack, and we provide information on eight key nutrients and % reference intake on the back of pack (where applicable).

• In the Netherlands, we are a co-initiator of the ‘Ik Kies Bewust’/Choices Programme (2006), now known as ‘Vinkje’ (Tick). This symbol helps consumers make a conscious and healthier choice within each product category.

• We will continue with the ‘vegetable label’ on the packaging of Unox soups in cartons, pouches and cans with more than 50g of vegetables per portion in order to make consumers aware of the amount of vegetables in soup.

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• The vision of Unilever Food Solutions Benelux regarding ‘Eten is Feest’ (‘Eating is a treat’) – aimed at creating personal, high-quality and most of all tasty meals for the elderly – was supported in 2013 by the 7th edition of UniKIT with the theme ‘TGB in practice’ and by the Smaakboek (Book of Tastes). The UniKit edition discusses what it means in practice to cook healthy meals for the elderly according to the principles Time, Habit, Freshness, Volume, Variation and Method of Preparation. The Smaakboek is a compilation of 153 taste-driven vegetable preparations for the elderly.

IMPROVING EMPLOYEE HEALTH

In 2013, 312 employees in the Benelux took a health check as part of our global ‘Lamplighter’ health programme, which has already reached more than 60,000 employees. The health check consists of an online questionnaire with modules on diet, physical and psychological strain as well as a talk with a vitality coach. In Belgium it also included yoga introduction lessons.

PARTNERS

• Together with the Johan Cruyff Foundation (NL) we want to encourage children – either with or without handicaps – to be more active via sports and play. Eating breakfast gives children the energy they need at school and to play outside. This is why Blue Band and Calvé Pindakaas support the Koningsontbijt (King’s Breakfast) and why Blue Band supports Schoolplein14 (Schoolyard 14): an initiative by the Johan Cruyff Foundation to adapt school yards in order to encourage children to play outside together more often. Since 2011 we have also supported the Cruyff Institute for Sport Studies.

• For ten years now, the Nationaal

Schoolontbijt (NL - National School Breakfast) has motivated children and their parents to have breakfast every morning. Unilever supports this initiative and therefore supplies Blue Band. During the Nationaal Schoolontbijt in 2013, 400,000 children had breakfast together at school.

• Unilever Belgium is one of the partners of Viasano, a local public health programme which aims to prevent obesity in children.

• In the Netherlands, Unilever is one of the six national partners of JOGG (Jongeren Op Gezond Gewicht - Young People at a Healthy Weight). The local JOGG approach, now implemented in 58 municipalities, helps young people to eat more healthily and be more active. Also in 2013 many municipalities joined.

• Since 2013 Unilever has worked with Look Good…Feel Better in the Netherlands. Look Good…Feel Better helps people with cancer to care for their appearance. In addition to financial support, we provide free products for use during workshops and we help set up a marketing and communication plan.

• In the Rotterdam Feijenoord

submunicipality (NL), we support ‘Hart voor de Wijk’ (Heart for the Neighbourhood) with three community projects: networking sessions for young entrepreneurs, social participation of immigrant women and encouraging young people to do sports and be active via the Touzani Football School.

• In 2013, in cooperation with the ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club), we inspired 230,000 Dutch people to cycle more often.

• Since 2003, Becel pro-activ has worked together with the Nederlandse Hartstichting (Dutch Heart Foundation) and the Belgische Cardiologische Liga (Belgian Cardiology League).

• To encourage people to exercise (more) and engage in sports activities, we have partnerships with the Belgisch Paralympisch Comité (Belgian Paralympic Committee), the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (Royal Dutch Football Association) (Lipton) and the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Schaatsenrijders Bond (Royal Dutch Skaters Association) (Unox).

• Because Unilever Food Solutions wants to be actively involved in future care for the elderly, it supports the ‘Carehome of the Future’ initiative in Heusden-Zolder (Belgium), a unique open innovation centre for care, wellness, comfort and health.

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GREENHOUSE GASES

68% of our greenhouse gas (GHG) impact occurs when consumers use our products, in particular when they heat water for showering, washing and cooking with our products. Therefore, it is essential for us to develop innovative products – combined with campaigns aimed at changing consumer behaviour – that enable consumers to get the same results with less environmental impact.

SKIN CLEANSING AND HAIR WASHING

Our aim is to reach 200 million consumers globally by 2015 and 400 million by 2020 with products and campaigns that help them reduce their GHG emissions while showering, bathing and washing their hair. We have made limited progress; overall, this remains an exceptionally challenging target.

• In the Benelux, Andrélon Dry Shampoo (NL) and Dove leave-on conditioner spray (Benelux) help consumers reduce their hot water usage.

• The introduction of so-called ‘microsheets’ in conditioners – a new way to structure the product – has reduced the use of chemicals, whilst maintaining the same product performance. This has resulted in a lower chemical impact on the environment as well as in a reduction of energy use and, consequently, of GHG emissions.

WASHING CLOTHES

We are working on reducing the GHG impact of the laundry process by concentrating our liquids and compacting our powders. In addition, we are encouraging consumers to wash at lower temperatures and at the right dosage.

• In 2013, Unilever Belgium committed to participating in the I PREFER 30°C sector initiative of 2014 in order to encourage washing at a lower temperature.

WATER SAVERS

In May 2013 Unilever, together with the Dutch World Wildlife Fund and the Missing Chapter Foundation, launched a three-year hot water reduction campaign in the Netherlands ‘Water Savers: less hot water, better future’. The campaign is aimed at changing families’ behaviour as regards hot water use. In the meantime over 250 schools are taking part; in 2013, more than 7,000 children made a label for a bottle of shower gel or shampoo encouraging their parents to take shorter showers. Thus over 30,000 people were actively reached under the shower, the ‘crime scene’. Water company Vitens, energy supplier Eneco, sustainable community platform Nudge and educational publisher Zorn joined as partners in 2013 and early in 2014 StayOkay, Vewin and Enexis did the same. Discussions with other potential partners are under way.

REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION FROM MANUFACTURING

• In 2013 in our factories in the Benelux we reduced CO2 emissions per ton of production by 10% compared to 2012 and by 40% compared to our 2008 baseline. This was less than expected due to declining volume in combination with a relatively large basic energy use in the factories.

• Early in 2012, the factory in Oss (NL) optimised part of the heat recovery system in the drying tower of one of the smoked sausage lines. In the summer of 2013 the other smoked sausage lines were also converted. This yields a CO2 reduction of 10% per year. In 2013 a study was carried out into further reducing the use of steam in Oss. The proposals are currently being developed.

• In our margarine/peanut butter factory in Rotterdam (NL) we reduced CO2 and energy emissions of the steam boiler by 2% in 2013 by adjusting the burners and burner controls. The cooling-water supply was extended with a lower-capacity pump, thus avoiding the use of the large – at times too large – cooling-water pumps in winter, which led to an energy saving of about 1%.

By 2020, we will halve the environmental impact of our products across the value chain worldwide, from the sourcing of raw materials through to consumer use and disposal.

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

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TRANSPORT, WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION

• In 2013 we reduced our CO2 emissions by 15% compared to 2012, three times as much as our target of 5%. This was achieved by agreeing with our customers in Belgium on minimum order quantities and by centralizing deliveries to Makro in Belgium as of August 2013.

• Kuehne + Nagel and Unilever are working together to build a high-quality distribution centre in the vicinity of Tiel (NL) for Unilever’s Home & Personal Care division with the latest green technologies according to the BREEAM standard (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).

WATERREDUCING WATER IN OUR MANUFACTURING PROCESS

In 2013 a lower production volume affected our water-saving performance. Due to shorter production runs and thus more production changes, more cleaning water per ton of production was required.

WASTE

At all our sites we have continuous improvement programmes in place regarding waste reduction, recycling and reuse.

REDUCING PACKAGING

We are committed to reducing the weight of our packaging materials by a third by 2020 through light weighting materials, optimising structural and material design, developing concentrated versions of our products and eliminating unnecessary packaging.

• Since May 2013, Robijn has marketed its laundry capsules in bags rather than plastic boxes. This switch delivers a 32% saving on packaging per single wash.

• Since June 2013 our liquid margarine products for meat & gravy are packed in lightweight PET bottles rather than in HDPE bottles. This enables us to save 18,600 transport kilometres and 70 tons of packaging material each year in the Netherlands.

• Unilever is a participant in the Product Resource Efficiency Project for washing powders (PREP-p3), an initiative of the AISE (International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products) aimed at reducing washing powder dosages and packaging.

• We will furthermore continue to encourage the use of super-concentrated laundry detergents.

REDUCING WASTE FROM MANUFACTURING

• Since 2012, 100% of our manufacturing sites in Europe send zero non-hazardous waste to landfill. Since 2013, the same applies to 75% of our factories worldwide. Three years ago this was only 20%. By the end of 2015, none of our factories will send any non-hazardous waste to landfill.

• In our margarine/peanut butter factory in Rotterdam (NL), part of our ‘margarine waste’ is used to produce second-generation biodiesel and our ‘vegetable waste’ from the company restaurants is fermented into green energy and compost. Furthermore, sustainable residual waste flows from the peanut butter production have been processed into animal feed since 2011.

REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION FROM REFRIGERATION

• In 2013 we purchased 5,380 climate-friendly freezers in the Benelux.

• At the end of 2013 Unilever put together a global ‘Green Basket’, selecting only freezers with the right cooling agents and the lowest energy use of their type; countries can only choose from this selection. For 2014, Unilever Benelux has ordered all its freezers from this Green Basket.

REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN OUR OFFICES

In 2013 an energy audit of the Unilever offices in Brussels resulted in savings options. We are currently examining which improvements will be implemented.

FOOD WASTE

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) is committed to minimizing food waste. In order to help chefs to better manage their waste flows, UFS developed ‘Wise up on Waste’ in 2013. This is a tool to map and streamline waste management in the professional kitchen. In the meantime 9 restaurants have indicated that they will test these tools: 4 in the Netherlands, 4 in Belgium and 1 in France.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Globally we want to source 100% of our agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020. By end 2013 this applied to 48% of our agricultural raw materials.

SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL

Since the end of 2012, 100% of the palm oil we purchase worldwide has come from sustainable sources. We achieved this target three years ahead of schedule. In November 2013 we announced that by end 2014 all of the palm oil we buy globally will be traceable to known sources. Our ultimate goal: purchase all of our palm oil from certified, traceable sources by 2020.

SUSTAINABLE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

• Bertolli pasta sauces and a number of Knorr meal mixes now contain sustainably grown tomatoes. This also applies to tomatoes used in Bertolli, Knorr and Unox soups. By end 2014, the claim ‘Met duurzaam geteelde tomaten’ (Containing sustainably grown tomatoes) will be on the packs of the relevant products. For Unox soups the claim will only be mentioned on the packs of varieties with tomatoes as a main ingredient.

• Four out of six varieties of Knorr Aardappelpuree (mashed potato) in the portfolio of Unilever Food Solutions in the Benelux are made from sustainably grown potatoes. This means: • the use of certified seed-potatoes • the use of the most suitable

farmlands (sand/clay) • minimizing the use of herbicides • saving water by applying modern

irrigation technologies • supporting biodiversity projects on

behalf of a healthy ecosystem

SUSTAINABLE COCOA

As of 2015 we will source 100% of the cocoa we use worldwide for our Magnum ice creams from farms certified by Rainforest Alliance™. By end 2013 already 70% of the cocoa for Magnum was sustainably sourced. This means that 29,000 farmers can improve their incomes and their living conditions. It also means that we have ensured security of supply of the best quality cocoa from a sustainable and reliable source. In the Netherlands, all Magnum varieties already carry Rainforest Alliance™ certification since June 2012. In Belgium this will be the case by the end of 2014.

SUSTAINABLE PAPER & BOARD

Worldwide, 62% of our paper and cardboard came from certified, sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by end 2013.

SUSTAINABLE TEA

By the end of 2013, 83% (2012: 75%) of our Lipton tea bag blends worldwide contained a proportion of Rainforest Alliance™ certified tea. Overall, 53% of the tea purchased for all our brands was sourced from Rainforest Alliance™ certified farms.

BEN & JERRY’S

• Worldwide, all 54 ingredients in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream were Fairtrade certified in 2013. In November 2013 Ben & Jerry’s was voted Favorite Fairtrade Product 2013 in the Netherlands.

• Ben & Jerry’s is a co-organiser of Join Our Core, an international competition enabling young, social and sustainable entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas. Ben & Jerry’s thus aims to support young startups who – just like the brand – want to take responsibility for the community in which they operate. In June 2013 the winner for the Netherlands was Daan Weddepohl with Peerby.com, an online platform to borrow items by asking around in your own neighbourhood.

CAGE-FREE EGGS

In 2014, Hellmann’s will be launched on the Dutch market. All Hellmann’s products are produced with cage-free eggs.

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IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE

• In 2013 the following Unox products switched to ‘Beter Leven’ (Better Life quality mark) meat with 1 star: Gelderse Rookworst (Gelderland smoked sausage) 375g, Extra Magere Rookworst (extra lean smoked sausage) 375g, Runder Rookworst (beef smoked sausage) 275g, Kip Knaks (chicken frankfurters), Kip Party Knaks (small chicken frankfurters), Kip Ragout (chicken stew), Kalfs Ragout (veal stew) and Rundvlees Ragout (beef stew). As of the end of May 2014 all Unox canned soups with chicken will switch to Beter Leven 1 star chicken meat.

• In October 2013 Unox received the Good Calf Commendation from the animal welfare organisation Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) for its commitment to only use beef produced in a more animal-friendly way by 2018. In October 2012 Unox already received the Good Chicken Award from CiWF for its intention to switch to more animal-friendly produced chicken for Unox Kip Knaks (chicken frankfurters). That switch is now a fact.

PARTNERS

• Unilever has active partnerships with Rainforest Alliance™ (tea, cocoa), Fairtrade (Ben & Jerry’s), the Initiatief Duurzame Handel (Sustainable Trade Initiative) and in the Netherlands with the Dierenbescherming (Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals).

• In 2014 Unilever and supermarket chain PLUS launched the ‘Verantwoord kiezen’ (Responsible choice) campaign to help consumers make more responsible choices when buying their groceries. In this campaign, products with sustainably produced ingredients bearing a quality mark (such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and Beter Leven/Better Life) as well as such products not bearing a quality mark are being brought to the consumers’ attention.

• Unilever Nederland partners with Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam. Their joint long-term palm oil exhibition informs the zoo’s visitors of the importance of a sustainable palm oil chain. For young visitors we have furthermore developed the Ranger Bob Hunt which addresses key sustainability themes in a playful way.

PARTNERS

• In 2013 we signed a two-year business partnership with Voedselbanken Nederland (Food Banks Netherlands) in order to formalise our collaboration of many years. In addition to the annual Christmas boxes action with our employees filling 5,500 Christmas boxes for families in the province of South Holland, Unilever has supported Food Bank Netherlands for many years by donating products (about 1 million each year) that for some reason can no longer be sold through the regular supermarket channel. Unilever will be structuring this collaboration further by also providing facilities and man-hours in the next two years, in addition to the products, in order to support Food Banks Netherlands where appropriate with its knowledge.

• Heart for Kids, an independent foundation established by Unilever managers, collects money for the WFP school meals programme in Indonesia through internal and external actions. In 2013 funds for 112,500 school meals of € 0.20 each were collected.

• Unilever has been a global partner of the World Food Programme (WFP) since 2006. With numerous initiatives we fight together against hunger and malnutrition in children. On the occasion of World Food Day 2013 many of our food brands supported the ‘1 Like = 1 Meal’ campaign, helping to bring together 1 million school meals worldwide.

ENHANCING LIVELIHOODSBy 2020, we will enhance the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. Although this goal mainly applies to developing countries and emerging markets, we also take our responsibility in the Benelux.

This publication is part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan Progress Report 2013.

UNILEVER BENELUX

The Netherlands PO Box 160, 3000 AD Rotterdam, T +31 (0)10 439 49 11Belgium Humaniteitslaan 292, 1190 Brussels, T +32 (0)2 333 66 66

For more information, please visit:www.unilever.com/sustainable-living

April 2014