Unilever announced that it is working to increase sales of its plant-based to €1 billion ($1.2 billion) within the next five to seven years. In addition to this commitment, the company is looking to improve the nutritional and sustainability profiles of its portfolio in order to have a positive impact on both public health and environmental wellbeing.

Unilever is putting its money wher consumers’ mouths are by saying that plant-based eating is the future. While the company’s acquisition of the Dutch company The Vegetarian Butcher is the obvious starting place to affect change in plant-based sales, the multinational corporation is also looking to some of its iconic brands to incorporate vegan versions into its existing product lineups.

Already the European food giant has launched a vegan Ben & Jerry’s line, Magnum Vegan, Vegan Cornetto and Hellman’s Vegan. The company’s Knorr brand is also helping push the company’s plant-based initiative by promoting plant-based recipes online. In tandem with giving its own brands a refresh to appeal to consumers looking for plant-based alternatives, in the last two years Unilever has rolled out The Vegetarian Butcher in 30 countries, supplying Burger King with its plant-based Whoppers in 26 countries and working to launch plant-based nuggets.

Admittedly, the company says that its sales goals for plant-based products are “bold targets” with Hanneke Faber, president of Unilever’s Foods & Refreshment Division saying in a statement "It’s not up to us to decide for people what they want to eat, but it is up to us to make healthier and plant-based options accessible to all."

But Unilever isn’t stopping there. In addition to its sales goals, the company pledged to cut the amount of food waste it produces in half by 2025, which is five years sooner than it originally outlined in its 1020x30 Champions initiative.

This sustainability push is complemented by the company’s undertaking to provide positive nutrition solutions worldwide. Vegan alternatives are not the only method that Unilever is employing to help improve public health. The company is also looking to provide options with ‘the highest nutritional standards’ with reduced quantities of salt, sugar, fat and calories in their formulations.

By 2022, Unilever plans to reduce salt in its offerings so that 85% of its products keep consumer intake at or below 5 grams on a daily basis. Additionally, the company plans to cap calorie and sugar content for 95% of its ice cream at 250 calories and 22 grams respectively by 2025. Calories in ice cream marketed at children will be limited to 110 calories.

Nutrient additions will also be made with Unilever planning to add ‘impactful’ amounts of micronutrients like zinc, iron, omega-3 and iodine to its products.

This multi-pronged initiative is a clear statement as to wher this corporation sees the future evolving. With plant-based and sustainably-minded products continuing to be in demand by shoppers, it is not surprising that this established company is looking to align with todays trends and cement itself as a leading business that delivers greener, more sustainable and healthier options to consumers worldwide.