Two More HUL Factories Win WEF’s Coveted ‘Lighthouse’ Status, Tally Now at Five
MUMBAI, January 16, 2026: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), India's largest FMCG company, has further cemented its leadership in smart manufacturing with two more of its factories earning the prestigious ‘Advanced 4IR Lighthouse’ recognition from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The company's manufacturing units in Pondicherry and Gandhidham (Gujarat) have been inducted into WEF's elite Global Lighthouse Network, bringing HUL's total tally of such recognised sites to five—the highest for any Indian FMCG company.
Highlights of the Recognition:
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Gandhidham (LLPL) Unit – Sustainability Lighthouse:
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Located in the water-scarce Kutch region, the factory leveraged AI, digital twins, and IoT for a sustainability overhaul.
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Achieved a 17% reduction in water use, saved 6.12 billion litres of community water, and cut waste by 48%.
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Transitioned to renewable energy, slashing Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 90% and contributed to a 12% cut in Scope 3 emissions, while sustaining double-digit growth.
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Pondicherry Unit – Productivity Lighthouse:
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Overcame product complexity and operational challenges using Machine Learning-driven process control and AI-powered troubleshooting.
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Enabled a 25% volume growth, reduced defects by 23%, and tripled product variants without expanding production capacity.
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Management Commentary:
Priya Nair, CEO & MD, HUL: "We are delighted to begin the new year with a double honour... This achievement reflects our strategic focus on leveraging advanced technologies to optimise operations, deliver superior product quality and set new benchmarks for innovation."
Yogesh Mishra, Executive Director, Supply Chain, HUL: "This recognition reinforces our commitment to building a sustainable future, powered by the transformative potential of AI and digitisation."
Broader Context:
The WEF's Global Lighthouse Network honours the world's most advanced manufacturing sites that successfully integrate Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies like AI and IoT to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and workforce development. HUL's Dapada, Sonepat, and Doom Dooma units were previously recognised in 2022, 2023, and 2025, respectively.
This milestone underscores HUL’s twin focus on digital-led operational excellence and sustainability, aligning with global benchmarks and strengthening its competitive edge in the consumer goods market.