Achieving Sustainable Operations: Challenges, Countermeasures, and the Case of Unilever

Abstract

This paper explores the challenges and countermeasures companies face in achieving sustainable operations. There are many challenges to achieving sustainable operations, which include financial constraints, strategic transformation, institutional and cultural influences, and financial pressures. This paper proposes that companies can overcome these challenges by formulating a clear sustainability strategy, improving resource efficiency, enhancing supply chain management, promoting environmental innovation, and strengthening social responsibility as countermeasures. Meanwhile, the paper takes Unilever as an example to analyze its remarkable progress in achieving sustainable operations. Unilever has achieved many results by implementing nine health, hygiene, nutrition, greenhouse gases, water resources and waste commitments and setting more than 50 targets. Unilever has also responded positively to the challenge of achieving sustainable operations by working with suppliers, driving waste reduction and implementing carbon-neutral targets. The research in this paper will provide useful lessons and insights for companies to achieve sustainable operations.