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Edible oils and fats supplier KTC Edibles has secured its position as the top-ranked sustainable palm oil distributor in the United Kingdom, according to the latest findings from the WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard.
The annual evaluation by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) scrutinises major palm oil buyers, processors, and traders on their concrete actions and commitments toward sustainable practices. This assessment is designed to foster a global culture of transparency regarding the environmental impact of palm oil consumption.
In its debut testing year, KTC Edibles achieved a score of 18.84 out of 25. This performance placed the firm as the fourth-highest food manufacturer in the UK and within the top 16.2% of all assessed companies worldwide, securing a global rank within the top 32. With an overall percentage of 75.4%, KTC significantly exceeded the global scorecard average of 64%, earning an official upper-tier rating of 'Well on the path'.
The independent review awarded KTC maximum points in several essential categories, including sustainable palm oil uptake and rigorous deforestation commitments. Currently sitting just 0.66 points away from the scorecard's elite tier, the business has already developed a strategic roadmap aiming for a score of 20.5 in the forthcoming evaluation cycle.
Gary Lewis, head of business development and sustainability at KTC Group, commented: 'Debuting as the UK’s top-ranked edible oil distributor and among the top four food manufacturers nationwide is a proud milestone for the business and validation of the sustainability standards we’ve embedded across our supply networks. Our results demonstrate that high volume and rigorous sustainability standards can go hand in hand.'
Lewis further emphasized that the current ranking serves as a baseline for future growth. 'Closing the 0.66-point gap to the elite tier requires moving beyond baseline certification,' he stated. 'By directing targeted investment into producing landscapes and smallholder programmes, we intend to drive measurable progress at the source while ensuring our manufacturing customers have access to fully compliant, deforestation-free material.'
To facilitate this upward movement in the rankings, KTC Edibles is exploring new initiatives and collaborations focused on funding projects that bolster smallholder livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and implement verifiable social and environmental enhancements at the plantation level.
Source: FRY Magazine