Palm

Committed to sustainable palm oil

Better sourcing of palm

Palm oil is one of AAK’s most important raw materials, and responsible sourcing of palm is crucial for us. The scale of the crop globally, as well as the environmental and social challenges in each region, require a consistent approach as well as collaboration in the supply chain.

The principal challenge for our industry is to only use palm oil that is grown without deforestation or conversion and with full respect for human rights.

Our pledge? Only together, we can make the global palm oil industry transparent and sustainable.

What is sustainable palm oil for us?

  • AAK’s own criteria — The AAK Group Policy for Responsible Sourcing of Plant-based oils (can be found here)
  • RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification — The RSPO certification remains one of the most reliable ways to ensure that palm oil production meets high environmental and social standards
  • NDPE verification — No-deforestation, No-development on peat and No-exploitation

The benefits of palm oil

For many reasons, palm oil is a fantastic crop. It is a stable raw material and has been instrumental in lowering trans fat levels in different applications. It is the most effective plant-based oil in terms of yield per hectare. Alternative crops require at least five times the area of land to produce the same volume of oil. It is more affordable compared to other crops – half of the world’s population relies on palm oil as a staple part of their diet. Palm oil also brings economic benefits to poorer communities around the world including jobs, better schools and other infrastructure. Palm oil is providing a way out of poverty for many family farmers, for people that have few other options to make a livelihood. 

Engaging to transform

Palm oil can be produced in a sustainable way, without negative environmental and social impacts. Ending non-sustainable production and verifying more sustainable production require a continuing market transformation across all stakeholders of the palm oil value chain. AAK has for a long time been at the forefront of this change. We co-founded the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) back in 2003, which today is the industry standard for certified sustainable palm oil. Check our progress on www.rspo.org.  

AAK's license number: RSPO 2-0001-04-100-06 

Palm progress reports

In our palm progress reports, you can read about our sustainable palm journey and our achievements. Explore our latest report and our archive here. 

Contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

 

Commitments and ambitions

For better sourcing of palm, our 2025 ambitions are:  

  • 100 percent verified deforestation-free
  • 100 percent traceability to plantation
  • Ensuring science-based targets and that human rights due diligence is fully embedded

Key achievements

 

More about responsible sourcing of palm

As palm oil is an important crop to meet the growing demand for plant-based oils, responsible sourcing is crucial. Learn more about how we support the move towards full sustainability in the industry, our milestones, timeline, KPIs and more.

AAK continues to support smallholders in Mexico through strengthened partnership with Solidaridad

As part of AAK's commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil, we prioritize supporting smallholder suppliers in producing responsibly and profitably. This involves considering socioeconomic aspects, adhering to zero deforestation commitments, and reducing contaminants in crude palm oil.

Monitoring and benchmarking suppliers

AAK's supplier scorecards are a valuable tool for tracking the progress of palm oil suppliers in adhering to policies. We are dedicated to sourcing palm oil responsibly, ensuring it is obtained without contributing to deforestation, peat clearance, or the exploitation of workers or communities.

Sustainability reports

AAK’s sustainability reports demonstrate how sustainability is firmly anchored within our organization and how we progress on our commitments and ambitions – from plant to brand. The aim is to provide insight and understanding of our efforts, impacts, and contribution to sustainable development.

Questions about our sustainability work?

More about our responsible sourcing

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