XML 88 R81.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Employees - Summary of Movements in (Deficit)/Surplus (Detail) - EUR (€) € in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Current service cost | € 245 | € 226 | € 271
Special termination benefits | (4) | (6) | (9)
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments | 23 | 32 | 129
Settlements | (4) | 2 | (6)
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge) | 1,475 | 1,877 | (254)
Interest income | 540 |  |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions | 222 | (217) | (22)
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions | (210) | (2,963) | 1,167
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments | 133 | 82 | 233
Assets Net of Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning balance | (3,173) | (2,320) |
Current service cost | (245) | (226) |
Employee contributions | 18 | 17 |
Special termination benefits | (4) | (6) |
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments | 23 | 32 |
Settlements | 4 | (2) |
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge) | 1,475 | 1,877 |
Interest cost | (636) | (758) |
Interest income | 540 | 664 |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions | 222 | (217) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions | (210) | (2,963) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments | 133 | 82 |
Employer contributions | 1,105 | 512 |
Benefit payments | 0 | 0 |
Reclassification of benefits | 7 |  |
Currency retranslation | 180 | 135 |
Ending balance | (561) | (3,173) | (2,320)
Assets Net of Liabilities [Member] | United Kingdom [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning balance | (1,018) | (652) |
Current service cost | (114) | (89) |
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments | 5 | 5 |
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge) | 863 | 1,412 |
Interest cost | (286) | (347) |
Interest income | 270 | 329 |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions | 312 | 23 |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions | (189) | (1,919) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments | 144 | 29 |
Employer contributions | 778 | 202 |
Benefit payments | 0 | 0 |
Currency retranslation | 18 | (11) |
Ending balance | 783 | (1,018) | (652)
Assets Net of Liabilities [Member] | Netherlands [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning balance | 239 | 430 |
Current service cost | (6) | (3) |
Employee contributions | 1 |  |
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments | 12 | 4 |
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge) | 275 | 281 |
Interest cost | (86) | (109) |
Interest income | 91 | 120 |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions | (96) | (19) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions |  | (524) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments | (37) | 46 |
Employer contributions | 43 | 11 |
Benefit payments | 0 | 0 |
Reclassification of benefits | 8 | 2 |
Ending balance | 444 | 239 | 430
Assets Net of Liabilities [Member] | Rest of World [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning balance | (2,394) | (2,098) |
Current service cost | (125) | (134) |
Employee contributions | 17 | 17 |
Special termination benefits | (4) | (6) |
Past service costs including losses/(gains) on curtailments | 6 | 23 |
Settlements | 4 | (2) |
Actual return on plan assets (excluding amounts in net finance income/charge) | 337 | 184 |
Interest cost | (264) | (302) |
Interest income | 179 | 215 |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in demographic assumptions | 6 | (221) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from changes in financial assumptions | (21) | (520) |
Actuarial gain/(loss) arising from experience adjustments | 26 | 7 |
Employer contributions | 284 | 299 |
Benefit payments | 0 | 0 |
Reclassification of benefits | (1) | (2) |
Currency retranslation | 162 | 146 |
Ending balance | € (1,788) | € (2,394) | € (2,098)

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in a net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from actuarial gains (losses) arising from changes in demographic assumptions that result in remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability (asset). Demographic assumptions deal with matters such as: (a) mortality; (b) rates of employee turnover, disability and early retirement; (c) the proportion of plan members with dependants who will be eligible for benefits; (d) the proportion of plan members who will select each form of payment option available under the plan terms; and (e) claim rates under medical plans. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph c -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_c_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromChangesInDemographicAssumptionsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in a net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from actuarial gains (losses) arising from changes in financial assumptions that result in remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability (asset). Financial assumptions deal with items such as: (a) the discount rate; (b) benefit levels, excluding any cost of the benefits to be met by employees, and future salary; (c) in the case of medical benefits, future medical costs, including claim handling costs (ie the costs that will be incurred in processing and resolving claims, including legal and adjuster's fees); and (d) taxes payable by the plan on contributions relating to service before the reporting date or on benefits resulting from that service. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph c -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_c_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromChangesInFinancialAssumptionsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from contributions to a defined benefit plan by the employer. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset); Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph f -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_f&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ContributionsToPlanByEmployerNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from contributions to a defined benefit plan by plan participants. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset); Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph f -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_f&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ContributionsToPlanByPlanParticipantsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from employee service in the current period. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CurrentServiceCostNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesInForeignExchangeRatesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from past service cost and gains (losses) arising from settlements. [Refer: Gains (losses) arising from settlements, net defined benefit liability (asset); Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PastServiceCostAndGainsLossesArisingFromSettlementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from payments from the plan in respect of settlements. [Refer: Gains (losses) arising from settlements, net defined benefit liability (asset); Net defined benefit liability (asset); Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph g -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_g&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PaymentsInRespectOfSettlementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease (increase) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from the return on plan assets. The return on plans assets is interest, dividends and other revenue derived from the plan assets, together with realised and unrealised gains or losses on the plan assets, less any costs of managing plan assets and less any tax payable by the plan itself, other than tax included in the actuarial assumptions used to measure the present value of the defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Plan assets [member]; Net defined benefit liability (asset); Actuarial assumptions [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph c -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_141_c_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ReturnOnPlanAssetsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The present value of the defined benefit obligation, less the fair value of the plan assets (if any). [Refer: Plan assets [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SurplusDeficitInPlan
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of expense in relation to termination benefits. Termination benefits are employee benefits provided in exchange for the termination of an employee's employment as a result of either: (a) an entity's decision to terminate an employee's employment before the normal retirement date; or (b) an employee's decision to accept an offer of benefits in exchange for the termination of employment. [Refer: Employee benefits expense] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 171 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_171&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TerminationBenefitsExpense
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Actuarial gains (losses) arising from experience adjustments, net defined benefit liability (asset). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ul_ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromExperienceAdjustmentsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ul_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Benefit Payments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ul_BenefitPayments
Namespace Prefix: | ul_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Interest cost on Pensions liabilities, which is the increase during a period in the present value of a defined benefit obligation which arises because the benefits are one period closer to settlement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ul_InterestCostRelatedToEmployeeBenefitExpense
Namespace Prefix: | ul_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Interest income on plan assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ul_InterestIncomeOnPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix: | ul_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reclassification of benefits. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ul_ReclassificationOfBenefits
Namespace Prefix: | ul_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ComponentsOfEquityAxis=ul_AssetsNetOfLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=country_GB
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=country_NL
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=ul_AllOtherCountriesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |