Unilever and UNICEF partner to help bring sanitation to over 400,000 people

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06/18/12 : The Unilever Foundation and Domestos have joined forces with UNICEF to support UNICEF's Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS) program

London (June 18, 2012) - The Unilever Foundation and Domestos have joined forces with UNICEF to support UNICEF's Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS) program which aims to help hundreds of thousands of people in need gain improved access to basic sanitation.

The Unilever Foundation is partnering with UNICEF to support UNICEF's CATS program as part of the Foundation's mission to improve the quality of life through the provision of hygiene, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition and enhancing self-esteem. Additionally, the Foundation is partnering with UNICEF on advocacy and communications and continues to provide support of disaster and emergency relief efforts.
Unilever's leading toilet hygiene brand, Domestos, is also taking responsibility to improve sanitation around the world and use its global reach to educate consumers about the sanitation crisis through a cause-marketing campaign. Domestos will contribute 5% of its average proceeds* received from the sale of specially marked bottles of Domestos in select countries to support UNICEF's CATS programs in South Sudan and Vietnam.

Around the world, poor sanitation remains a major threat to development, impacting countries' progress in health, education, gender equity, and social and economic development. Today there are still an estimated 2.5 billion people without access to improved sanitation. These people are put at risk of sanitation borne diseases, resulting in millions of deaths each year.

Keith Weed, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Unilever says, "As one of the leading toilet hygiene brands, Domestos has a real commitment to improving sanitation. The brand's support of UNICEF is just one example of how we are delivering increased social value as part of our growth strategy."

With support from the Unilever Foundation and Domestos, UNICEF will be able to achieve greater scale and impact in promoting good hygiene practices, helping create demand for access to toilets and raising awareness of the sanitation crisis. Through the support of the Unilever Foundation and Domestos, the partnership with UNICEF will contribute to changing the behavior of hundreds of thousands of people through sanitation programs. In this first year, these programs will result in an estimated 400,000 people living in open defecation free communities across nine countries: Gambia, Ghana, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan and Vietnam.

Therese Dooley, UNICEF Senior Sanitation and Hygiene Program Advisor says, "The contributions of Domestos and the Unilever Foundation will support Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS) programs in nine countries. Through this partnership, UNICEF will be able to achieve greater scale and impact in changing social norms by explaining the link between open defecation and disease, giving communities the knowledge and motivation to construct and use toilets and creating open defecation free communities."

In addition to this partnership with UNICEF, Unilever is also proactively addressing the sanitation crisis as part of its commitment to Sustainable Living through partnerships with Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and the World Toilet Organization (WTO).

Domestos/UNICEF: www.domestosforunicef.com
Unilever Foundation: www.unilever.com/foundation

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Notes to Editors

About Unilever

Unilever Foundation

The Unilever Foundation is dedicated to improving quality of life through the provision of hygiene, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition and enhancing self-esteem. The Foundation is one action Unilever is taking to help meet its goal of helping more than 1 billion people improve their health and well-being, and in turn, create a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.unilever.com/foundation

Domestos

Domestos is sold in 35 countries around the world and as Unilever's leading toilet hygiene brand, it has helped protect families from germs for more than 80 years. As such, the brand is uniquely positioned to address the sanitation crisis. Domestos' commitment to deliver more social value will contribute to a key pillar of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, aiming to help more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, and in turn, create a sustainable future.
* For every Domestos bleach product purchased with a promotional neck hanger/sticker Unilever gives to UNICEF (exchange rate source: UN Treasury, Feb 2012):
- During the period July 1st to September 31st 2012:
  1. In the UK, 2 pence per bottle. UNICEF UK Registered Charity No: 1072612
  2. In the Republic of Ireland, €0.033 per bottle. UNICEF Ireland Registered Charity No: 5616.
  3. In Poland, 0,23 Zloty per bottle
- During the period June 1st to August 31st 2012
  1. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 0,15 Saudi Riyal per bottle
  2. In the United Arab Emirates 0,14 United Arab Emirates Dirham per bottle
  3. In Vietnam, 1.100 VND per bottle.

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and protecting children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org

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