Again, in conformity with the requirements of Standard Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON)on environmental management system standard, Unilever Nigeria ’s factories have been recertified with NIS ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System standard by SON.

The journey for the feat began in 2006 when the company achieved the first ISO 14001 environmental management system certification by the SON. In line with the requirements, Unilever applied for recertification this year and after the SON audit of June 29th and July 3rd, 2009, it was found worthy of recertification.

At the presentation ceremony in Unilever Nigeria headquarters in Lagos on Monday, Mr. John Sule, Director, System and Metrology, SON representing the Director General, SON Mr. John Akanya said, “By this achievement, Unilever Nigeria Plc has joined the lofty class of environmental management system certified companies in Nigeria. this is a giant stride in your pursuit of ensuring that your products and activities are safe and environmentally friendly.”

He said “in today’s business environment, the challenge of globalization are the driving forces for doing business and maintaining relevance at both national and international markets,” adding that ‘while considering the ever_changing customer requirements, efforts to develop innovative products and processes which reduce environment impact should be considered. The world is threatened with global warming and therefore the consciousness to preserve and protect the environment,’ he warned.

Reading from a prepared speech meant for the DG, SON, Mr. Sule stressed that the system having been certified will be placed on 6 monthly surveillance audits to ensure continuing suitability and effectiveness of the implementation of the environmental management system.

“in the course of the audit exercises, where non_performances are observed and are effectively corrected within the specified time frame, the system will retain the certification. But the certification will be withdrawn, if the structures in place for the certification break down and necessary corrective actions are not taken on observed non_conformances.”

Responding to the achieved milestone, the managing director of Unilever Nigeria , Mr. Thomas Boedinger said, “as a business we are committed to being part of a sustainable future, in which economic growth combine with sound environmental management to meet the needs and aspirations of people throughout the world.

He added that as signatory to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Charter for sustainable development, we remain committed to meeting the needs of out customers and consumers in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner through continuous improvement in environmental performance in all our activities.”

Unilever Nigeria Plc has been operating in Nigeria for the past 86 years. Since then it has succeeded in building several trusted brands uniquely designed to give consumers value for money and improve their quality of life. Its brands include Omo Multiactive Detergent, CloseUp, Lux, Lipton Yellow Label and Blue Band. Others are Knorr, Royco, Vaseline and Pears.
In the last two years, the company has embarked on a series of programmes aimed at rejuvenating its Brand portfolio. This year has seen a lot of new campaigns, re_launches and new variants and, according to Mr. Boedinger, more improvements would be made to ensure that their Brands retain the trust of consumers.