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PZ Cussons is a FTSE250 listed consumer goods business headquartered in Manchester, UK. They employ approximately 2,500 people across our operations in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and Africa.
Across their core categories of Hygiene, Baby and Beauty, their brands include Carex, Childs Farm, Cussons Baby, Imperial Leather, Morning Fresh, Original Source, Premier, Sanctuary Spa and St. Tropez.
Working with PZ Cussons as a strategic partner since 2014, Earthworm supported the development and implementation of their Palm Oil Action Plan as they work to ensure 100% of the palm oil sourced comes from producers whose operations have been independently verified as compliant with No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) standards. PZC follows the Earthworm approach for Values-Transparency-Transformation-Verification (VTTV) within their NDPE approach. The report focuses on five strategic areas: governance, traceability, verification, transformation, conservation and regeneration, and transparency. It is published annually on PZ Cussons and Earthworm’s websites.
PZ Cussons took a pioneering leadership role in adopting NDPE commitments for palm oil derivatives, ensuring all palm-derived ingredients were included within their sustainability commitments. Earthworm supported them with joint supplier engagement to increase traceability to mill and plantation, grievance monitoring and resolution facilitation, satellite monitoring, and transformation on the ground through Earthworm’s landscapes programme.
PZ Cussons and Earthworm continue to work together on their NDPE commitment and to increase their traceability to mill and plantation for all suppliers Through Starling satellite monitoring, direct supplier engagement and their participation in the Earthworm Derivate Member Collection Action Group, an approach to engaging with shared suppliers to evolve faster through collaborative relationships and increased transparency.
PZ Cussons celebrates their 10th Anniversary as an Earthworm Member. PZ Cussons and Earthworm continue to work together on supplier engagement, traceability, and deforestations free pathways. PZ Cussons remarkably achieves 50% of their palm oil being independently verified as deforestation-free as a result of enhanced TTP data and proactive measures taken engaging with suppliers, monitoring deforestation alerts and addressing non-compliance
PZ Cussons’ 2023 Palm Oil Action Plan was developed to ensure it fulfils and expands its 2020 commitment. Working together with Earthworm and focusing on supplier engagement, transformation and independent verification through Starling, allowed PZ to achieve 99% traceability to mill for its palm oil and 94% for its palm oil derivatives.
PZ Cussons moves closer to 100% deforestation-free palm oil despite challenges of COVID-19. The company’s six-month progress update shows 11 out of 16 targets achieved in 2020 Action Plan, including 100% NDPE alignment with CPO & PKO suppliers. The company has also broadened the scope of the derivatives it traces to include all fractions (ingredients with very small amounts).
PZ Cussons moves closer to 100% deforestation-free palm oil despite challenges of COVID-19. The company’s six-month progress update shows 12 out of 16 targets achieved in 2020 Action Plan, including 100% NDPE alignment with Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) suppliers and 99% of its palm oil derivative suppliers. Additionally, 99% of its palm oil and 94% of its palm oil derivatives are fully traceable to mill.
PZ CStarling and Kumacaya to independently verify non-compliance across its global supply chain. PZ Cussons has also begun transformation work by implementing Earthworm Foundation’s High Impact Supplier Programme. This will address identified non-compliance and drive change in local communities
With the majority of volumes from indirect third party suppliers, PZ Cussons are rolling-out a consistent non-compliant supplier protocol which applies to all suppliers and third party producers. This includes a conversion cut-off date and acceptable timescales for mitigation before ultimately excluding non-compliant producers.
Working towards a goal of full supply from producers with aligned NDPE commitments, PZ Cussons have currently achieved 68% of crude palm oil and palm kernel oil and 30% of palm oil derivatives.
Palm oil is a highly versatile and inexpensive vegetable oil used in many consumer goods products. It is also an extremely efficient crop, producing as much as 10 times per hectare as other vegetable oils. But its role as a major driver of economic growth is also associated with the loss of tropical forest habitats.
PZ Cussons is committed to working towards sourcing 100% of its palm oil from producers whose operations comply with No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) standards. They focus on governance, traceability, transformation, regeneration and conservation, and verification and transparency. While they use less than 0.001% of the world’s palm oil supply, they hold themselves accountable for responsible and sustainable sourcing. PZ Cussons collaborates with Earthworm Foundation, suppliers and industry partners to achieve this goal.
