Why Unilever is prioritising trade association engagement to reach climate goals

Unilever demands climate action from trade bodies

Unilever has published its second annual review of trade association lobbying. The consumer goods company wants the industry groups that represent it to match its climate commitments. This matters because trade associations often resist the very policies their member companies publicly support.

The 2025 Climate Policy Engagement Review covers 26 trade bodies across Europe, North America, and Asia. Results show progress. Eighteen associations now align with Unilever’s climate positions, up from thirteen last year. However, roughly half remain what Unilever calls passively aligned. They agree in principle but do little active lobbying.

Rebecca Marmot, Unilever’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, explains the reasoning. Government policy can accelerate corporate climate action. Trade associations wield considerable influence over that policy. Therefore, they need to use it.

What Unilever’s climate review actually measures

The review assesses whether trade associations support five policy priorities. These include national emissions plans aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C, meaningful carbon pricing, renewable energy expansion with fossil fuel phase-out, forest protection, and updated greenhouse gas accounting standards.

Independent analysis comes from InfluenceMap, a nonprofit that tracks corporate climate lobbying. This adds credibility. The review scores each association on public statements and direct lobbying activity.

Unilever has already acted on misalignment. In 2024, it asked the German Chemical Industry Association to stop using its branding. The dispute centered on renewable energy policy and carbon pricing positions. The company is also reviewing its relationship with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce following the sale of its ice cream business in late 2025.

Associations that remain misaligned after 12 months receive notice. If they don’t shift position, Unilever exits. This approach is rare. Few companies publicly audit their trade associations, and fewer still walk away.

Why Unilever needs policy support for its targets

Unilever aims for net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039. Its interim target cuts operational emissions by 100% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. The company has already achieved 74% reduction, two years early. Renewable energy procurement and efficiency improvements drove most of that progress.

The harder work lies in Scope 3 emissions from suppliers and customers. These account for the vast majority of Unilever’s carbon footprint. Reducing them requires systemic change in agriculture, chemicals, packaging, and energy. Individual companies cannot achieve that alone.

Consequently, Unilever needs governments to regulate high-emission sectors. Carbon pricing makes clean alternatives competitive. Renewable energy mandates shift grid power. Forest protection laws stop commodity-driven deforestation. Updated accounting standards help companies measure and report supply chain emissions accurately.

Trade associations should lobby for these policies. Instead, many oppose them. This creates a gap between corporate climate commitments and industry advocacy. Unilever’s review attempts to close that gap.

Investor pressure drove transparency

Unilever did not volunteer this transparency. Investor coalition Climate Action 100+ pushed for it. CCLA, a UK investment manager, engaged Unilever on trade association lobbying from 2021. Other institutional investors joined.

Shareholders wanted evidence that Unilever’s climate commitments were genuine. Trade association lobbying provided a test. If industry groups funded by Unilever opposed climate policy, the company’s public statements lacked credibility. Therefore, investors demanded disclosure.

Unilever published its first review in 2024. The second edition shows momentum. More associations have aligned, and Unilever has increased direct advocacy on climate issues. Other companies are now asking how to replicate the approach.

Rianne Buter, Global Head of Sustainability at Unilever, notes growing interest from peers. Companies recognize that isolated corporate action has limits. Collective industry lobbying can shift policy faster. However, most trade associations still lag member company ambition.

Eight associations scored as fully aligned

• Eighteen trade associations now fully align with Unilever’s climate policy positions, compared to thirteen in the previous year’s review.
• Approximately half of aligned associations remain passively supportive, meaning they agree with climate policy in principle but conduct limited direct lobbying.
• Unilever requested the German Chemical Industry Association cease using its branding due to disagreements over renewable energy and carbon pricing advocacy.
• The company gives misaligned associations 12 months to adjust positions before considering exit from membership.
• Independent analysis from InfluenceMap assesses each trade body’s public statements and lobbying activities against Unilever’s five climate policy priorities.
• Unilever has cut operational emissions by 74% since 2015, exceeding its 2030 interim target two years ahead of schedule through renewable energy and efficiency measures.
• The company invests €218 million since 2021 in supply chain programs including deforestation-free palm oil, which covered 97% of key commodity volumes in 2024.
• Climate Action 100+ investor engagement, led by CCLA from 2021, drove Unilever to publish its first trade association review in 2024.

What this means for UK manufacturers and suppliers

Unilever’s approach signals a shift in how large buyers view supplier relationships. Companies that supply major brands should expect similar scrutiny. Trade association membership may become a procurement consideration, particularly for public sector contracts that assess climate commitments.

Many UK small and medium businesses join trade bodies for practical support. These associations provide regulatory guidance, networking, and collective bargaining power. However, members rarely monitor lobbying positions. Few even know what their trade association tells government.

This matters more now. Procurement tenders increasingly require carbon reporting and reduction plans. Public sector buyers check alignment with net zero commitments. If your trade association actively opposes climate policy, that creates reputational risk. It may also conflict with your own stated commitments.

Businesses should review their trade association memberships. Check whether industry groups lobby against carbon pricing, renewable energy mandates, or emissions regulations. If positions misalign with your business strategy, raise concerns. Trade bodies respond to member pressure, especially from larger contributors.

Moreover, companies pursuing carbon reporting and net zero compliance need supportive policy. Weak regulation disadvantages early movers. Strong policy levels the field and creates market incentives for low-carbon products and services.

European policy context shapes urgency

Unilever’s timing reflects European Union policy developments. The EU is revising carbon market rules, renewable energy targets, and corporate sustainability reporting requirements throughout 2025 and 2026. These policies will reshape competitive dynamics across sectors.

Trade associations are lobbying intensely on these files. Industry groups argue for slower timelines, more exemptions, and weaker enforcement. Some positions are reasonable. Others simply delay necessary action. Unilever wants its trade bodies advocating for ambitious policy, not watering it down.

UK businesses face similar dynamics. Although outside the EU, the UK maintains equivalent climate regulations. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism affects UK exporters. Forthcoming mandatory climate disclosures mirror EU requirements. Trade association lobbying in Brussels therefore matters for UK companies too.

Additionally, UK policy is evolving. The previous government introduced Procurement Policy Note 06/21, requiring suppliers to publish carbon reduction plans. The current government is developing a Green Industries Plan and updating building regulations. Trade associations are influencing all of these.

Businesses that want supportive regulation should engage their trade bodies. Attend policy committees. Submit positions through member consultations. Make clear you expect lobbying that aligns with your commitments. Silence implies consent.

Practical steps for trade association alignment

Start by identifying which trade associations represent your business. List national and sector-specific groups. Check whether you know their lobbying positions on climate and energy policy. If not, ask.

Review public statements and consultation responses. Most trade associations publish policy positions on their websites. Compare these to your own climate commitments. Look for conflicts on carbon pricing, fossil fuel phase-out, renewable energy mandates, or emissions reporting requirements.

Contact the association directly if positions misalign. Request meetings with policy staff or board members. Explain your concerns. Ask how lobbying decisions are made and whether members can influence them. Many associations welcome this engagement.

Consider joining climate or sustainability committees within trade bodies. These subgroups often shape policy positions. Active participation gives you a voice. It also signals to other members that climate matters.

If engagement fails, escalate. Write to the chief executive or board chair. Copy in other members you know share concerns. Collective pressure works better than individual complaints. Trade associations depend on member fees and participation.

Finally, be prepared to exit if necessary. Unilever’s example shows this is credible. Leaving a trade association sends a clear signal. It also removes your implicit endorsement of their lobbying. Announce the decision publicly to maximize impact.

How SBS supports net zero and procurement compliance

Many UK businesses need help aligning climate commitments with operational reality. ESG compliance and carbon reporting services ensure you meet regulatory requirements and tender criteria. This includes Procurement Policy Note 06/21, which public sector suppliers must address.

We also provide training through SBS Academy on carbon measurement, reduction planning, and supply chain engagement. Understanding your emissions profile helps you engage suppliers and trade associations more effectively.

Trade association alignment is part of broader climate governance. Businesses serious about net zero need coherent positions across operations, procurement, and advocacy. Inconsistent messaging undermines credibility with customers, investors, and regulators.

Where to find trade association lobbying data

Several resources help you assess trade association climate positions. InfluenceMap publishes detailed scorecards on major trade bodies and their lobbying activities. These cover European, UK, and international associations across sectors.

The Unilever Climate Policy Engagement Review is available on the company website. It provides methodology and specific assessment criteria you can adapt for your own analysis.

UK trade associations must disclose board members and governance structures under company law. Many publish annual reports with policy highlights. Request these documents. Ask for consultation responses submitted to government departments.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes consultation responses, including submissions from trade associations. These show exactly what industry groups tell government. Compare public statements to private lobbying.

Finally, check whether your trade association is a member of umbrella groups. National associations often join European or international federations. These larger bodies lobby EU institutions and international forums. Their positions matter even if your direct membership is UK-focused.