Arvind Sunderrajan (left), head of Unilever supply chain foods for Greater Asia, and Carlo Vega, First Gen chief customer engagement officer, shake hands after renewing the agreement
THE Philippine unit of Unilever PLC has renewed an agreement with First Gen Corporation for supply of electricity from geothermal resources as part of its continuing program to reduce its carbon emissions.
The renewed agreement, which First Gen and Unilever Philippines officials signed on Sept. 10, calls for First Gen to supply with around 10 megawatts of geothermal energy seven production and distribution sites that Unilever and its suppliers own and operate in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.
First Gen commits in the same agreement to get the power supply from the geothermal power facilities of its subsidiary Energy Development Corporation in the Bicol region, Tongonan in Leyte and Palinpinon in Negros Oriental. The use of geothermal, one of only a few renewable energy (RE) resources that can generate electricity on a baseload or 24/7 basis, supports Unilever’s long-term climate change transition program.
“Since 2017, First Gen has been our partner in helping us reduce the carbon footprint of our manufacturing operations with a steady supply of RE. We are committed to continually use RE for our factories and facilities to achieve our operational and sustainability ambitions,” said Rondell Torres, Unilever sustainability lead.
“We recognize that no single organization can tackle the climate crisis alone. That’s why partnerships are at the heart of our approach. Whether it’s working with local suppliers, government agencies or civil society, we’re building coalitions that accelerate decarbonization and unlock inclusive growth. Together, we can scale renewable energy solutions, foster innovation and create a resilient supply network that benefits both people and planet,” added Arvind Sunderrajan, head of Unilever supply chain foods-Greater Asia.
First Gen chief customer engagement officer Carlo Vega, for his part, said: “We are proud to partner with Unilever Philippines in its sustainability journey. First Gen and Unilever share similar concerns over climate change and doing our part to help mitigate the risks by choosing to decarbonize. We are committed to supporting Unilever in achieving its business efficiency and sustainability goals.”
