Unilever's U.S. Business Reaches Agreement with U.S. Attorney for Connecticut and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Unilever's U.S. business (“Unilever”) today announced it has entered into an agreement with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut (USAO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to a single incident on December 5, 2008 at its former Clinton, CT, manufacturing facility. The incident involved two non-managerial wastewater operators who bypassed portions of the facility's wastewater treatment system. While Unilever voluntarily reported the bypass, Unilever did not notify the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection within two hours of becoming aware of the bypass, as required by the facility's discharge permit. Under the terms of the agreement, Unilever has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of violating the U.S. Clean Water Act and will pay a $1 million fine. Unilever closed its Clinton, CT, manufacturing facility in 2012 when it shifted production of personal care products to other, more efficient company facilities in the U.S.

The EPA's investigation into the incident established that any bypass of partially treated wastewater that may have occurred at the facility prior to the incident on December 5, 2008 was concealed from and unknown to Unilever's management. Unilever is aware of no evidence that any release resulted in harm to fish, other wildlife or drinking water.

In connection with this agreement and consistent with Unilever's ongoing commitment to being a responsible community partner, Unilever will make a $3.5 million charitable donation to the Connecticut Statewide Supplemental Environmental Program. The donation will be used to:

• Establish the Connecticut Resiliency and Climate Adaptation Center, which will conduct research, outreach and education projects to guide the development of technologies and regulatory provisions that increase the protection of ecosystems and coastal properties that are subject to the effects of rising sea; and
• Fund various environmentally beneficial projects proposed by the Town of Clinton, CT, and approved by the Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to restore and maintain local waters or otherwise promote sustainable development.

“Unilever is recognized for its commitment to sustainability, including sound environmental, health and safety practices. We have worked closely and collaboratively with the state and federal regulators throughout this process to fully address their concerns,” said Reginaldo Ecclissato, Vice President, Supply Chain, Unilever North America. “We are pleased to contribute to important local projects that will benefit the environment.”

As part of its agreement with the USAO and EPA, Unilever has also agreed to third-party environmental inspections of its manufacturing facilities in the U.S. at least once during a three-year period and will provide a report describing the inspection results to the government. It will also provide basic environmental compliance training to facility employees as well as those outside of the facility who advise on mandatory environmental notifications. Both the third-party environmental inspections and environmental compliance training programs have been elements of Unilever's existing environmental compliance program for the past several years.

Separately, Unilever reached an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in connection with a civil enforcement proceeding stemming from the incident. As part of its agreement with the State, Unilever will implement certain facility closure activities at its former Clinton facility. The State's $100,000 civil penalty will be satisfied by Unilever's payment to the Connecticut Supplemental Environmental Program.

About Unilever United States, Inc.

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries. Our products are present in 7 out of 10 homes globally and are used by over 2 billion people on a daily basis. In the United States the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Consort For Men, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Fruttare, Good Humor, Hellmann's, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!, Just for Me!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Motions, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond's, Popsicle, Promise, Q-tips, Ragú, Simple, Slim-Fast, St. Ives, Suave, TIGI, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Our ambition is to double the size of our business, whilst reducing our overall environmental footprint (including sourcing, consumer use and disposal) and increasing our positive social impact. We are committed to helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, sourcing all our agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020, and decoupling our growth from our environmental impact. Supporting our three big goals are more than 50 time-based targets. See more on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan at http://www.unileverusa.com/sustainable-living/.

Unilever employs more than 10,000 people in the United States – generating over $9 billion in sales in 2012. For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com.