Raw materials derived from palm oil and palm kernel oil, including those used by Stepan, offer many performance and high-productivity, performance and economic opportunities for small farmers. The rapid increase in palm oil production, however, has led to numerous environmental and social concerns. As one step in working to mitigate these issues, Stepan expects our palm material suppliers to abide by a set of criteria, outlined in our Responsible Sourcing Policy, aimed at ending deforestation and ensuring human and labor rights are granted. Stepan works collaboratively with our supply chain partners to advance the use of sustainable palm oil products. The supply chain for palm kernel oil derivatives is complex and industry-wide adoption of best practices requires a continued commitment and ongoing effort.
Stepan has been a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) since 2011. Through RSPO, we are part of a larger, far-reaching transformation in the palm industry to expand production and uptake of RSPO-certified material.
