The pilot is based in the North West of England, where our Port Sunlight factory has been selected as one of three industrial sites – along with glass manufacturer Pilkington and the Essar Oil refinery – to prove the ‘fuel switch’ concept.

It forms part of a wider regional project called HyNet, which aims to help the UK’s transition to a decarbonised economy. With over two-thirds of local authorities in the UK declaring climate emergencies, hydrogen is increasingly being seen as part of the solution to meet local climate targets.

“Unilever has a clear target of being a carbon neutral company by 2030, and we’re committed to playing our part and doing what we can to help the wider industry move further, faster,” says Sebastian Munden, EVP & General Manager, Unilever UK & Ireland.

“We already have five carbon neutral sites in the UK, and have been able to reduce our manufacturing carbon footprint by two-thirds since 2008. The success of this Port Sunlight trial would mean Unilever is able to deliver home and personal care products to our consumers with an even smaller carbon footprint, which we know is of great importance to them.”