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Business Ethics & Philanthropy CSR Report: Hindustan Unilever Creates Sustainable Communities in India
CSR Report: Hindustan Unilever Creates Sustainable Communities in India
More than nine out of ten households in India use HUL products and the company does take this reach very seriously to achieve its sustainable goals. The company which was founded more than a century ago strives to make sustainable living commonplace.
HUL spent Rs. 234 Cr. on its CSR activities in FY 2023-24. Of this amount, more than Rs. 30 Cr. was spent for various developmental projects in the aspirational districts of India. Through its CSR initiatives, the company has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million people in the country.
The below video highlights the various CSR activities of Hindustan Unilever Limited
HUL’s CSR is not limited to philanthropy, but encompasses holistic community development, institution-building and sustainability-related initiatives. It aims to provide a dedicated approach to community development in the areas of water conservation, health and hygiene, waste management, regenerative agriculture, skill development, education, social advancement, gender equality, women empowerment and rural development.
1. CSR Committee of HUL
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee comprises:
1. Mr. O. P. Bhatt (Chairman)
2. Dr. Sanjiv Misra
3. Ms. Kalpana Morparia
5. Mr. Ranjay Gulati
6. Mr. Tarun Bajaj
The role of CSR Committee includes formulating and recommending to the Board the CSR Policy and activities to be undertaken by the Company, recommending the amount of expenditure to be incurred on CSR activities of the Company, reviewing the performance of the Company in the areas of CSR.
2. Water Conservation
Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) is a not-for-profit organisation that was set up in 2010 with an aim to support and amplify scalable solutions that can help address India’s water challenges. Since 80% of the water in India is used for agricultural purposes, HUF’s CSR initiatives focuses on helping rural communities, especially those that depend on agriculture for their core livelihood. HUF has established its ‘Water for Public Good’ programme with a belief that water is a common asset and must be governed by citizen communities.
The initiative has delivered a cumulative and collective water potential of over 3.2 trillion litres through improved supply and demand water management, over 2 million tonnes of additional agricultural and biomass production, and over 114 million person-days of employment due to project interventions1. To underscore the importance of the water potential created by HUF, 3.2 trillion litres of water can meet the drinking water needs of the total population of India for nearly 2 years. Till now, HUF’s programmes have reached more than 15,000 villages in 13 States and 2 Union Territories.
3. Suvidha – Community Hygiene Centres
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has established Suvidha urban water, hygiene, and sanitation community centres. The organisation set up its first centre in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, in 2016. The largest Suvidha centre is located in Dharavi, Mumbai, making it one of the most extensive community toilet blocks in India. This year, HUL expanded the initiative by building four new Suvidha centres.
HUL has now established a total of 16 Suvidha centres in Mumbai, in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 15 of which are in partnership with HSBC India. These centres are self-sustaining and provide essential access to clean water, sanitation, and laundry facilities to the community.
In addition to this, HUL has announced a strategic partnership with JSW to build 10 more Suvidha centres. So far, the Suvidha centres have provided safe and dignified hygiene and sanitation services to over 400,000 people. These centres collectively save over 130 million litres of water through water-saving technologies. Among the users, there has been an approximate 50% reduction in illnesses such as gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Previously, the children’s meal portions had to be often limited due to a lack of access to toilets at night; now, 100% of children consume full evening meals. Suvidha’s facilities are also fully accessible, with 100% of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) users attesting to the centres’ inclusivity. Moreover, the centres provide a substantial return on investment, with an estimated Rs. 15 saved in time for every rupee invested.
The locations of Suvidha centres previously experienced significant water shortages due to climate change impacts. Now, 100% of Suvidha users have access to purified, clean drinking water and comprehensive WASH (water, hygiene, and sanitation) services, enhancing community resilience against climate change.
The Suvidha model has gained recognition from the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a successful ‘Public-Private’ collaboration for improving urban health. A playbook documenting the model’s best practices has been developed for broader application.
HUL is also running an extensive behaviour-change program at Suvidha centres to promote four essential habits: washing hands with soap, consuming nutrition-rich meals, drinking safe water, and using clean toilets. These practices aim to reduce illness and improve health outcomes for families. Through door-to-door outreach, this program has reached over 700,000 people across Mumbai.
4. Project Shakti
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) launched Project Shakti with the aim of financially empowering women in rural India by providing them with livelihood opportunities. The initiative stems from the belief that for the country to progress, villages must be empowered with skills and opportunities, and women in these communities must be supported for advancement of households.
To this end, HUL initiated the Shakti program, where “Shakti Entrepreneurs” receive training to become familiar with the company’s products and the basics of distribution management. Additionally, HUL employs a team of Rural Sales Promoters (RSPs) to coach and assist Shakti Entrepreneurs in managing their businesses. Today, Project Shakti spans 22 states and includes over 200,000 Shakti Entrepreneurs, known as “Shakti Ammas.” Through this program, participants gain self-confidence, self-esteem, and communication skills, and, most importantly, the program fosters an entrepreneurial mindset among these women.
RSPs train Shakti Entrepreneurs in essential sales and administrative skills, including order-taking, bookkeeping, and digital ordering and payment. Using this training, Shakti Entrepreneurs now place orders regularly through the company’s eB2B app, Shikhar. This training promotes education and employment, enhances livelihoods, and empowers women with vital vocational skills. These activities align with Schedule VII of the Act and are counted as part of the company’s CSR efforts.
HUL also works toward empowering Shakti Entrepreneurs with health and nutrition knowledge. RSPs conduct nutrition awareness sessions to enable Shakti Entrepreneurs to pass on this knowledge to beneficiaries in their villages. To date, the initiative has reached over 800,000 households. These sessions empower Shakti Entrepreneurs to drive social change at a grassroots level, positively impacting the health and nutrition of their communities.
5. Prabhat
Hindustan Unilever Limited’s (HUL) Prabhat initiative is a community development program aimed at creating sustainable and inclusive communities. Over the past decade, Prabhat has positively impacted nearly 10 million lives across 21 states and 2 Union Territories.
Prabhat initiative focuses on three main pillars to achieve its goals:
5.1 Livelihoods
Project Prabhat operates a total of 18 livelihood centres, wherein women and youth receive vocational training and entrepreneurship development. These programs prepare participants for future opportunities in areas such as IT, electrical work, plumbing, tailoring, beauty services, and mechanics, fostering inclusivity by involving Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), transgenders, and other vulnerable groups. Through these centres, Prabhat has provided skill development training to approximately 130,000 people, and over 75,000 have secured employment.
In addition, Prabhat’s farm-based value chain initiatives support rural women and small-scale farmers, organizing them into Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs), or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to improve income and market linkage. Farmers are also trained in sustainable agricultural practices, benefiting over 24,000 farmers through this support.
5.2 Health and Nutrition
Aligned with the National Nutrition Mission, Prabhat’s nutrition program focuses on the health and nutrition of women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five. Through a life-cycle approach, trained outreach workers assist rural women in their nutrition journey, working to reduce anemia and malnutrition. Topics covered include diet diversity, maternal supplements, feeding practices, hygiene, and nutri-garden cultivation. This program operates across 13 locations, benefiting nearly 2.6 million women and children.
The Healthcare Service of the program also provides a mobile medical unit in rural areas, delivering routine health check-ups, on-site consultations, specialized video consultations, free medicines, and bi-monthly health camps. Currently active in three locations, the program has provided medical assistance to over 140,000 people.
5.3 Environmental Sustainability
Through Project Prabhat, HUL is making a positive environmental impact while building community resilience. The program runs a door-to-door waste collection service that encourages households to separate wet and dry waste, which is then processed, recycled, or upcycled into products like handwashing stations and benches. Wet waste is converted into biogas, offering a renewable energy source for communities. So far, over 700,000 kilograms of waste have been collected across seven sites.
6. Asha Daan
Asha Daan is a care facility for the sick and destitute in Mumbai, operated by the Missionaries of Charity (MoC), an organization founded by Mother Teresa. Since Asha Daan’s establishment in 1976, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has supported the maintenance and upkeep of the premises, which provides shelter to approximately 350 residents at any given time.
The facility is currently undergoing significant redevelopment, with the superstructure completed and internal civil work in progress. The redevelopment is projected to finish by the end of 2024. HUL’s plans for the improved facility include installing proper drainage and ventilation systems, a water treatment plant, and a solar-powered lighting system. Additional amenities will feature a courtyard for residents to walk and a play area designed for children.
7. Health and Nutrition
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is implementing a hands-on program that is focused on promoting diet diversity, specifically targeting awareness about iron and protein deficiencies among mothers. A strategic approach includes involving mother-in-laws and spouses to create a supportive home environment that encourages proper nutrition practices. This program has been launched in two districts in West Bengal and Bihar and is expected to enhance nutrition awareness for over 300,000 mothers.
In partnership with ‘Power of Nutrition,’ an independent charitable foundation, HUL is scaling up the ‘Swasthya Ki Baat’ program in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Combining community outreach with digital resources, the initiative works with pregnant and new mothers to promote essential practices, such as complementary feeding, breastfeeding, and understanding diet diversity, to address household-level macro and micronutrition needs. This partnership has reached nearly 700,000 mothers across these states.
In addition, HUL has also developed a ‘Swasthya Curriculum’, designed to teach primary school children (grades 1-5) four essential habits over 24 days: eating nutrition-rich meals, washing hands with soap, drinking safe water, and using clean toilets. The curriculum has been implemented as textbooks in government schools across Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-school learning was disrupted, HUL had launched a digital version of the curriculum, piloted in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Delhi, making hygiene education engaging and accessible for young students. Since 2018, the Swasthya Curriculum has educated over 5 million children on these key health practices.
8. Waste Management
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is working to establish an integrated waste management ecosystem that accelerates circularity through three key initiatives:
