Unilever Advances Sustainable Living Plan with Plant in Mexico

The new factory will accelerate the growth agenda in North and Central America - it will double the national production of deodorants, and will supply markets in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia. Equally important, the plant has its own solar energy production, water collection and recycling systems, and will be a model of sustainable practices for future plants built elsewhere.

President Felipe Calderon opened the new facility together with Unilever CEO Paul Polman, who reiterated Unilever's commitment to the development and economic growth of Mexico. With an initial investment of •‚¬100 million over a three year period, the plant has the potential to produce over half a billion units of aerosol-based products per year.

Paul Polman, CEO Unilever, said: “The Americas is a very important region for Unilever, and Mexico is a key part. We have a long history in Mexico and we have a strong commitment to its future, its growth and economic development. This new factory is another example of Unilever's vision in action - to double the size of our business whilst reducing the environmental impact. Not only will it enable us to grow our presence in the region, but it also highlights our determination to live out our commitment: sustainability has been built into the design and the latest technology has been used to ensure a low energy, environmentally efficient factory.”

At the opening ceremony, Fabio Prado, President of Unilever Mexico, spoke of how Mexican talent participated in the engineering project from the very beginning, starting with the operation design and until the new factory was opened. “This project could not have been possible without the effort of our operative and administrative staff which was highly trained in different countries all over the world. In Unilever we have placed our trust in Mexico, and its economic and social development. Through this new plant Unilever will create 1,700 direct and indirect jobs. With over 40 years of operations in this country, we are very happy to reassure our commitment for long-term investment,” concluded Prado.