Hershey Supply Chain: 100% Traceable, Sustainable Palm Oil by 2014

The Hershey Company has achieved its goal to source 100 percent mass balanced Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified palm oil more than a year ahead of its original 2015 commitment.

Additionally, the company says it will work with its suppliers to achieve 100 percent traceable and sustainably sourced palm oil by the end of 2014.

Hershey says the additional step of 100 percent traceability will assure that the palm oil in its supply chain is produced using the most rigorous sustainability practices. To achieve this commitment, the company will work with its suppliers and industry experts to ensure palm oil comes from sustainable sources. Suppliers will be required to independently verify that sources:

• Do not contribute to deforestation or the destruction of wildlife habitat.
• Do not clear high carbon stock forests.
• Do not contribute to peat land expansion.
• Operate in compliance with local laws and regulations.

Hershey says the goal of these requirements is to identify palm oil producers that are engaging in unsustainable practices, work with suppliers to remediate these actions and, if necessary, remove these producers from the supply chain.

Last month Unilever pledged that all of the palm oil the company buys globally will be traceable to known sources by the end of 2014.