Zero deforestation
Targets
100% deforestation and conversion-free soy and palm oil supply chains by 2025, with a cut-off date of 2020 at the latest.
Our approach
Ocado Retail recognises commodity agriculture as a major contributor to deforestation.
We work with our suppliers and global partners to promote sustainable livelihoods, agricultural productivity and good land management, and to ensure key commodities from our own supply chain are 100% verified as deforestation and conversion-free.
We will continue to work with our partners to improve transparency in our supply chains so we can improve our understanding of the root causes and support change.
Soy
In 2022, we assessed our soy supply chain for our Own Range suppliers. This assessment highlighted our overall soy footprint, the volume of product and embedded soy supplied within each category, where it is produced in the supply chain, and how much is verified. We had a 100% response rate from suppliers and our 2022 base year footprint is 9,579 tonnes, of which 2% was verified Deforestation & Conversion Free.
In 2024, our total was 10,034 tonnes, of which 10% is verified deforestation and conversion-free (70% in transition i.e. actively working towards meeting the commitment).
We will work with our suppliers to ensure our commitments are implemented throughout the value chain. Beyond improving our soy supply chain, we are also exploring alternatives to soy-based animal feed and the reduction of our overall soy use.
Soy
Palm oil
We require all our Own Range suppliers to buy palm oil certified by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and to disclose their palm oil supply chains.
In 2023 we calculated the volume of Palm Oil sourced data. We used 36 tonnes, 97% of which were mass balance certified.
Our 2024 footprint is 30 tonnes, of which 96% are Mass Balance, 2% RSPO credits, and 2% segregated. All our palm suppliers responded to our survey and results indicate that there is a high level of transparency on traders within the supply chain.
Palm oil
Beef
All our beef is sourced from the UK and Ireland as part of our supplier sourcing requirements.
Beef
Timber
We are proud to have 100% Own Range paper and paper-based products that come from well managed forests and controlled sources, demonstrating our commitment to responsible forest management. All our packaging suppliers must provide paper/card-based packaging from certified or well-managed forests.
Timber
UK Soy Manifesto
Ocado is a founding member of the UK Soy Manifesto, a critically important industry collective to improve the soy supply chain. The Manifesto’s headline commitment is for 100% of the physical shipments of soy to the UK to be certified as deforestation and conversion-free by 2025, with a cut-off date of 2020 at the latest.
96% of Ocado Own Brand palm oil is mass balanced certified.
