Cargill to Supply Only RSPO Certified Palm Oil in the US
Cargill will exclusively offer palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to its U.S. customers by January 2024. This move eliminates conventional palm oil from its U.S. portfolio.
Cargill announced it will exclusively supply palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to its customers in the United States by January 2024. The agricultural giant is phasing out conventional palm oil from its U.S. operations, making all palm oil sourced from its U.S. refineries RSPO certified.
The certification ensures that the palm oil is produced with environmental and social safeguards, aiming to prevent deforestation and protect biodiversity. This transition positions Cargill as one of the first large-scale North American suppliers to fully commit to RSPO-certified palm oil.
This commitment aligns with the sustainability goals of its customers, including major retailers like Walmart. Reid Kinde, commercial leader for Cargill's edible oils business in North America, stated the move brings the company closer to its objective of a fully transparent and traceable palm oil supply chain.
To support this shift, Cargill has invested in its supply chain, including a $200 million palm oil refinery in Lampung, Indonesia. The company has been a supplier of RSPO-certified palm oil since 2005, converting its Charlotte, North Carolina refinery to 100% segregated certified palm oil in 2020.