CorpComms Magazine

Domestic goods manufacturer Unilever has developed a tool to calculate greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chain in a bid to lessen its carbon footprint.

In partnership with the University of Aberdeen, Unilever has created The Cool Farm Tool to calculate total greenhouse gas emissions from the company's agricultural systems - including inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, energy and labour, land use, change in land use, processing raw materials and livestock. 

The Cool Farm Tool will also be employed by 15 companies participating in the Sustainable Food Lab, including PepsiCo, Heinz and Marks & Spencer, to identify the carbon cost of their farming practices and the areas where they can make cuts.

Christof Walter, research leader of Unilever's Sustainable Agriculture Programme, said: 'The Cool Farm Tool helps us understand what practices make the biggest difference in any particular farm situation, including the considerations that farmers are balancing in choosing between management decisions. 

'This project will analyse the costs, trade-offs and possible barriers to implementing greenhouse gas reduction practices at farm and field level, and what options there are to overcome them. We'll end up with practical advice in each circumstance.'

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