How Bath & Body Works is Sustainably Sourcing Palm Oil
As Bath & Body Works looks to build more sustainable sourcing practices throughout its supply chain, palm oil has become an immediate focus.
The ingredient has been identified through Bath & Body Works' sustainable sourcing risk assessment, allowing the company to obtain greater knowledge of both the social and environmental implications of the materials used in the most critical areas of its business.
A major challenge associated with palm oil sustainability is the deforestation caused by plantations, which can have negative impacts on wildlife and biodiversity.
The RSPO
Bath & Body Works is making progress on its sustainable palm journey by officially joining the RSPO.
RSPO is the leading third-party membership organisation and certification body to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through global standards.
With its membership solidified, Bath & Body Works is showing its commitment to reaching 100% certified palm oil. It also wants to support more sustainable production models in the palm value chain.
These efforts contribute to Bath & Body Works' initial commitment to source 100% sustainable palm oil through the purchases of RSPO Mass Balance materials and Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) credits throughout its supply chain by 2030.
An 'unwavering dedication'
Gina Boswell, CEO of Bath & Body Works, outlined the company's sustainability commitments following publication of its latest ESG report.
"At the heart of our mission is an unwavering dedication to our customers, who know and love this brand," she said.
"The decisions we make and innovations we pursue are driven by their needs and aspirations. We're not just offering products and experiences; we're committed to shaping a future for them that's resilient, responsible and filled with possibilities.
“I'm immensely proud of the progress we've made, but even more so, I'm inspired by the spirit of collaboration, innovation and compassion that defines our company culture. Together, we're not just building a business; we're building a legacy of positive impact that will endure for generations to come."
The path to more sustainable palm oil
Becoming a member of the RSPO represents an important first step as Bath & Body Works pursues the sustainable sourcing of palm oil.
However, taking this path requires a huge amount of collaboration and research.
Embarking on its sustainable palm oil journey in 2023, Bath & Body Works first worked to better understand which products and ingredients within its portfolio contained palm oil.
It was found that a majority of its palm oil footprint consists of palm derivatives, which is palm oil that is processed further and used in materials found in some of its most iconic products—like candles.
Armed with the primary data on its palm oil footprint coupled with a new sustainability risk assessment tool, Bath & Body Works established its palm baseline for 2022, which it then used with the North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network's list of palm derivatives to inform its baseline and start calculating its own footprint.
In parallel, the ESG data acquisition process, which collects data from key packaging and formula suppliers, helped the company undertake a review of its primary source and feedstock information where appropriate.
All this information provided it with a more informed perspective on its palm oil usage. In the calendar year 2022, Bath & Body Works used approximately 26.5k metric tonnes of palm oil.
Now, Bath & Body Works will look to adapt its strategy in the future as it continues to learn, grow and align with evolving market trends and engage with its supply chain.
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