Mumbai: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has received global recognition for its advanced manufacturing capabilities, with the World Economic Forum (WEF) designating its Gandhidham (Gujarat) and Pondicherry factories as Advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Lighthouse sites. With this recognition, HUL now has five manufacturing units featured in the WEF’s prestigious Global Lighthouse Network. Earlier, the company’s Dapada plant was recognised in 2022, followed by Sonepat in 2023 and Doom Dooma in 2025.
The WEF Global Lighthouse Network identifies the world’s most digitally advanced factories that are leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to drive operational excellence, sustainability, workforce upskilling and scalable growth. Both the Gandhidham and Pondicherry sites have deployed 4IR technologies across nearly every stage of the supply chain, with more than 50 digital initiatives implemented end-to-end.
Located in the water-scarce Kutch region, the LLPL Gandhidham factory was recognised as a WEF Sustainability Lighthouse following a large-scale transformation focused on nature and climate. The site adopted AI, digital twins and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions to enhance water stewardship, enable traceable palm oil sourcing, support sustainable formulations and refrigerants, and implement digitally enabled aquifer recharge initiatives. As a result, the unit reduced water consumption by 17%, saved 6.12 billion litres of community water, cut waste generation by 48% and lowered Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% through a transition to renewable energy. The site also contributed to a 12% reduction in Scope 3 emissions while supporting double-digit growth over the past three years.
The Pondicherry factory was awarded the WEF Distinction in Productivity after overcoming challenges related to product complexity, throughput, quality and operational flexibility. By adopting machine learning-driven process control, AI-powered autonomous troubleshooting, changeover optimisation and manpower forecasting, the site achieved 25% volume growth, reduced defects by 23% and tripled the number of product variants within existing capacity.
Commenting on the achievement, Priya Nair, CEO and Managing Director, HUL, said the recognition reflects the company’s strategic focus on leveraging advanced technologies to optimise operations, enhance product quality and set new benchmarks in innovation, while creating long-term value for stakeholders and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Yogesh Mishra, Executive Director – Supply Chain, HUL, said the honour reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability-led growth powered by AI and digitisation, demonstrating that innovation, environmental responsibility and workforce development can progress together.
Highlighting the broader significance, Kiva Allgood, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, said competitiveness today is defined not just by efficiency but by the ability to sense, adapt and respond at speed, adding that this year’s Lighthouse sites exemplify how intelligence-led operations are embedding resilience and sustainability at the core of industrial transformation.