The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
This report focuses on the actions and responsibilities of four of the world’s biggest plastic polluters: CocaCola, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever. These companies continue to sell billions of products in single-use bottles, sachets and packets in developing countries. And they do this despite knowing that: 1) waste isn’t properly managed …
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Navroz Mody Vs Union of India & Others dated 01/11/2018 regarding remediation of mercury contamination on account of manufacture of thermometers by M/s Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. The applicant, a local resident, moved this Tribunal on …
Asks Central Pollution Control Board to get expert opinion The National Green Tribunal has granted an interim injunction restraining Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) from upscaling the mercury remediation process at Kodaikanal till the next hearing in the case on October 4. The tribunal has also directed the Central Pollution Control …
Fake products are sold in the grey market and attract customers with big brand names but low pricing, more and more customers are falling into this trap. Rising demand for deeply discounted cosmetic products is leading to a spurt in fake items, many with import tags, which not only violate …
Consumer preference for natural products, slowing growth and intensifying competition are providing serious food for thought to multinationals in the health food drinks market In a span of three months, owners of two big health food drinks — Horlicks and Complan — have said they are looking to exit the …
To help millions more people fight rising urban air pollution Blueair, a world leader in air purifying solutions with acclaimed leading — edge filtration technologies and design, announced on Tuesday it has been acquired by Unilever. Blueair founder Bengt Rittri said: "The acquisition will enable even more people to protect …
CHENNAI: Activists are concerned over the high mercury levels in the ecologically sensitive Pambar Shola reserve forest due to the Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) thermometer factory at Kodaikanal. Sediment samples collected from two stream beds within the forest range has clocked mercury levels that are much higher than previous samples. …
When the annals of corporate accountability, culpability and negligence in India are compiled, the erstwhile Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) is sure to top the list. But not far behind will be Hindustan Unilever (HUL). On4 March, HUL reached an out-of-court settlement with 591 of its former employees from the now …
Consumer goods giant Unilever has becomes one of the first global corporations to tap into the potential of crowdfunding for sustainability projects after it established a new partnership to accelerate green innovation and create 'consumer-championed products'. The company’s ideas platform, Unilever Foundry, has formed a partnership with crowdfunding site Indiegogo …
CHENNAI: With Hindustan Unilever and the workers of its erstwhile thermometer factory in Kodaikanal finally reaching an agreement, the focus has now shifted to the other major concern – cleaning up mercury from the factory site. Going by the draft guidance document for assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in …
As we finish using an aesthetically designed tube of toothpaste, face wash or face wash, thousands of microbeads and microplastics would have mixed with the water systems, thereby causing serious environmental damage. More than 455 billion plastic microbe ads and 749 billion microplastics have been released into the Indian ocean …
‘Mercury in the Mist,’ a documentary on plight of people affected by alleged mercury contamination by Hindustan Uniliver Clinical Thermometer factory in Kodaikanal, was screened by Sevvakam, a youth forum, which organises monthly documentary screenings, in the city on Sunday. The documentary was directed by R.P. Amudhan. The screening was …
CHENNAI: Could the move by Hindustan Unilever to bring down mercury level in the factory site to 20mg/kg pose no threat to to the ecologically sensitive watershed in Kodaikanal? The Local Area environment Committee says ‘No’ by rejecting the proposal mooted by Hindustan Unilever during a closed door meeting called …
A cross-sectional epidemiological survey of 255 individuals (130 current permanent employees, 64 contract workers, 55 ex-employees and 6 scrap dealers) coupled with a retrospective cohort study of the occupational health of 290 employees (all permanent employees who ever worked in the factory over a span of 15 years) was conducted …
Kodaikkanal, India, suffered mercury contamination due to emissions and waste from a thermometer factory. Kodai Lake is situated to the north of the factory. The present study determined mercury in waters, sediment and fish samples and compared the values with those from two other lakes, Berijam and Kukkal. Total mercury …
