Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Political dispute over Ben & Jerry’s Israel-related activities
Florida designated Unilever as a scrutinized company after Ben & Jerry’s announced restrictions on sales in Israeli-controlled territories. The dispute concerned the relationship between the subsidiary’s social-policy decisions and the parent company’s responsibilities.
2021
Unilever tells Jewish organizations it does not support the boycott movement
Company response
Unilever chief executive Alan Jope wrote to major Jewish organizations that week, saying the company did not support the boycott movement and repudiated discrimination and intolerance.
Company response
Clarification — Unilever
Fearing a backlash in the US, Unilever's biggest market, Jope wrote to major Jewish organisations this week making it clear that his company 'does not support' the boycott movement.
Source excerpt
Fearing a backlash in the US, Unilever's biggest market, Jope wrote to major Jewish organisations this week making it clear that his company 'does not support' the boycott movement.
He added the company 'repudiates unequivocally any forms of discrimination or intolerance'.
2020
Unilever and other brands pause Facebook advertising amid boycott
Public backlash
Unilever announced that it would pause advertising for the rest of the year, and Ben & Jerry's, Patagonia and The North Face said they would pause Facebook advertising amid calls for a social-media ad boycott. The campaign pressed Facebook to address hate speech and other harmful content.
Stated objective. Press social-media platforms to address hate speech and other harmful content.
Source excerpt
联合利华考虑到11月举行美国总统大选，甚至宣布在今年之内暂停投放广告。
联合利华旗下品牌、冰激淋制造商Ben & Jerry's和服装公司Patagonia、North Face都成为最初一批的响应者，表示将暂停在Facebook上发布广告。
越来越多的商业巨头对社交平台Facebook（脸书）和Twitter（推特）施加压力，要求其停止仇恨评论、宣传、垃圾邮件和假新闻。
2020
Kenyan workers file UN complaint against Unilever
Issue disclosure
A group of 218 Kenyan tea plantation workers filed a complaint with the United Nations, alleging that Unilever violated international human-rights standards and failed to provide appropriate assistance to employees attacked during the 2007 ethnic violence. Unilever stated that it strongly opposed the allegations and had provided significant support to affected employees.
A group of 218 Kenyan tea plantation workers complained to the United Nations, alleging that Unilever violated international human-rights standards and failed to provide appropriate assistance to employees attacked during the 2007 ethnic violence. Unilever said it strongly opposed the allegations and had provided significant support to affected employees.
Company response
Denial — 联合利华
公司“强烈反对任何关于它在茶叶工人事件中违反原则的指控”
Clarification — 联合利华
并“已为那些受影响的员工提供了重要支持”
Source excerpt
218名肯尼亚茶叶种植园工人向联合国投诉联合利华，指控该跨国公司违反国际人权标准，没有为员工提供适当援助。
联合利华发言人称，公司“强烈反对任何关于它在茶叶工人事件中违反原则的指控”，并“已为那些受影响的员工提供了重要支持”。
2020
Unilever backs the Halo Code on workplace hair discrimination
Company response
Unilever signed the Halo Code and pledged to protect workers with afros and dreadlocks. The code is intended to address bias against hairstyles associated with racial, ethnic and cultural identities. Unilever said it would support and communicate the code to its employees.
Stated objective. The code is intended to end bias against students and employees with hairstyles associated with their racial, ethnic, and cultural identities.
Company response
Remediation — Unilever
We believe the individuality of hair should be celebrated, which is why we are supporting and communicating the Halo Code to our people, and believe it is a vital step in the fight to ensure racial justice and racial equity for the next generation.
Source excerpt
We believe the individuality of hair should be celebrated, which is why we are supporting and communicating the Halo Code to our people, and believe it is a vital step in the fight to ensure racial justice and racial equity for the next generation.
The manufacturer, which makes Dove soap and Magnum ice-cream, has signed a new code intended to end bias against students and employees with hairstyles associated with their racial, ethnic, and cultural identities.
An anti-discrimination campaign focused on black people’s hair has won the backing of one of the UK’s biggest employers, Unilever, which has pledged to protect workers with afros and dreadlocks.