Unilever Philippines announced Monday a major sustainability milestone with the installation of solar photovoltaic panels at its 7.5-hectare factory in General Trias, Cavite, delivering on its commitment to decarbonize operations and drive long-term climate action.
Inaugurated in June 2025, the 1,211-kilowatt solar system is expected to generate 1,847 megawatt-hours annually, powering the factory’s savory and dressings production lines as well as its utilities building.
“This initiative builds on our long-standing use of renewable energy for our factories, offices, and facilities,” said Arvind Sunderrajan, Unilever Foods head of supply chain for the Philippines and Greater Asia.
“We are building from strength to strength in our operations and sustainability commitments.”
The solar installation complements the facility’s existing geothermal energy supply, helping move Unilever closer to its 2030 goal of achieving 100 percent operational emissions reduction based on a 2015 baseline.
The company said solar generation offers a strong commercial case, reducing energy costs, eliminating transmission losses and offering long-term price stability. Projected savings will be reinvested into further operational efficiencies.
One of Unilever’s largest food manufacturing hubs globally, the Cavite facility produces popular brands such as Lady’s Choice mayonnaise and sandwich spreads, and Knorr sinigang and bouillon cubes. It also packs salad dressings, meal-maker powders and institutional formats.
More than 90 percent of Unilever’s products sold in the Philippines are locally manufactured, with many produced at this site.
The factory serves both the domestic and export markets. Lady’s Choice and Best Foods products are shipped to Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, while Hellmann’s reaches Australia, Indonesia, the U.S. and Canada.
The site employs more than 700 people, with about 75 percent of the workforce coming from Cavite.
Over the past three years, production capacity has increased by 25 percent and total output by 20 percent, driven by major automation investments.
Today, more than 80 percent of production lines are fully automated, from mixing to packing and palletizing, achieving zero human touch and improving safety, quality and scalability.
