Unilever, as a part of its Sustainable Living Plan, is challenging Indian families to live more sustainability in order to create a brighter future for children in a fun and engaging way. The Sunlight Living Challenge forms part of the brand’s Project Sunlight, which is a long-term initiative to motivate millions of people to live more sustainably.

Unilever is a brand that takes its social responsibility rather seriously. The Sunlight Living Challenge calls on people of all ages to help protect the health of the planet by taking small, positive steps towards building a ‘greener’, more sustainable lifestyle in their own homes.

Over the next three months, a group of 10 families from across Mumbai will be trying to do exactly that by reducing unnecessary water usage. The children from these participating families are being urged to become ‘water saviors’ and focus on saving water in their homes, through small everyday actions. Children will lead this challenge, by spreading awareness about ideas to save water and coming up with water-saving innovations.

As part of the initiative, the families will also be quizzed on their Water IQ and their daily progress and experiences will be monitored. At the end of the campaign, the most responsible family will win the ‘Water Champions Award’ and a prize.

Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited had this to say, ‘Our Sustainable Living Plan is what makes our business model different from others because sustainability is integral to how we do business and how we build growth.  We are happy with the progress we have made on our Plan in India in 2013.’

Commenting on the progress of this sustainability initiative, Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever said, ‘In the three years since we launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan we have learned that sustainability drives business growth and a much deeper connection with our employees and consumers. In 2013, we’ve seen good progress, particularly on targets within our direct control. Our Plan is helping us to save money, reduce risk and drive innovation, and brands that have done the most to embrace sustainable living, like Dove, Lifebuoy, Pureit and Domestos, are enjoying some of our fastest growth.’

The launch of the Sunlight Living Challenge is the second phase of Project Sunlight, an ongoing Unilever initiative that has seen millions of people go online and pledge an ‘act of sunlight’: a promise to change their lifestyle to help preserve the planet for generations to come.

The Sunlight Living Challenge is supported by the release of a new Unilever film, ‘The Way Kids See It’. The film brings to life the hopes, dreams and plans for a better world that is nurtured by our children. These children’s stories are aimed towards motivating families – especially adults – to live more sustainably.

The Sunlight Living Challenge is open to everyone and individuals can join a like-minded community of change makers. They can share their personal stories and tips to inspire others to participate using the hashtag #brightfuture.

The Mumbai challenges follow a similar initiative that took place in the UK last year. It saw 12 families from different parts of the country significantly reduce their household waste and cut their weekly shopping bills just by taking small, everyday steps to live more sustainably.

Unilever believes change begins with one family at a time.