Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced that its factories in Gandhidham, Gujarat, and Pondicherry have been designated as Advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Lighthouse sites by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

This recognition brings HUL's total number of factories with the Advanced 4IR Lighthouse status to five, joining the Dapada site (2022), Sonepat site (2023), and Doom Dooma unit (2025). The WEF Global Lighthouse Network identifies factories that are leaders in digital transformation, enhancing efficiency, driving sustainable growth, and upskilling their workforce.

The Gandhidham factory, located in the water-scarce Kutch region, was specifically recognized as a Sustainability Lighthouse site. It implemented AI, digital twins, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) across its supply chain, resulting in a 17% reduction in water use, saving 6.12 billion litres of community water, a 48% reduction in waste, and a 90% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions through a transition to renewable energy. Additionally, it contributed to a 12% reduction in Scope 3 emissions and supported double-digit growth over three years.

The Pondicherry factory received the WEF distinction in Productivity. By adopting Machine Learning-driven process control and AI-powered autonomous troubleshooting, the unit achieved a 25% volume growth, a 23% defect reduction, and a threefold increase in product variants within its existing production capacity.

Priya Nair, CEO and MD of HUL, stated that this achievement reflects the company's strategic focus on leveraging advanced technologies to optimize operations and deliver superior product quality, while Yogesh Mishra, Executive Director of Supply Chain at HUL, highlighted the commitment to building a sustainable future powered by AI and digitization. Kiva Allgood from the World Economic Forum noted that intelligence-led operations are crucial for resilience and sustainability in modern industry.

The Global Lighthouse Network is a WEF initiative recognizing best-in-class operational sites. The next round of applications to join the network closes on February 2, 2026.