Sustainable Cosmetics & RSPO

Use of palm oil has deeply affected the biodiversity of Southeast Asia – contributing to deforestation and animal endangerment. To counter such damaging effects on the environment, a Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established in 2004. RSPO certification of palm oil is the promise that plantations involved offer a true guarantee of traceability along with improved working conditions.

Since 2010, Gattefossé has committed to the use of sustainable palm through our RSPO membership*. Below, follow us on our journey towards sustainability in palm.

*Gattefossé is RSPO Supply Chain certified: BVC-RSPO-1-1106949778

Our journey

2010 – Gattefossé becomes a member of RSPO, to support conscientious and responsible palm oil producers and cooperatives.
2011 – The company covers its use of palm and palm kernel oil derivatives by purchasing GreenPalm certificates. This year again, 100% of our standard personal care ingredients are RSPO book and claim compliant.
2013 – Gattefossé achieves RSPO supply chain certification* for the use of certified segregated palm and palm kernel oil. With this proactive approach, Gattefossé has pioneered the use of certified palm for its personal care ingredient Lipocire™ A SG.
Today – Gattefossé launches Mass Balance (MB) grade for three of our popular ingredients. This grade allows for a combination of RSPO certified and non-certified palm oils, provided that all quantities are controlled at the company’s main product site in France. Three of our cosmetic ingredients, Emulium® Mellifera MB, Emulium® Delta MB, and Acticire® MB are certified with this new Mass Balance grade, with plans to expand the program in the future.

Why do we need sustainable palm?

Palm oil dominates the worldwide oil market. It is used in food, energy, industrial uses, and of course, personal care. Yet its impact on deforestation and biodiversity have rightfully raised concerns – primary forest in Indonesia, the main producer of palm oil, is rapidly being eroded.

The rapid and unplanned culture of oil palm has deeply affected the biodiversity of Southeast Asia. As demand for palm oil has grown, deforestation and endangerment of local animal species has become a growing problem.

Understanding the levels of certification

To combat these environmental concerns, the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created in 2004 with a goal of making sustainable cultivation of palm oil, respectful of people and the environment, the norm instead of the exception. RSPO certified sustainable palm oil has been produced to stringent environmental and social criteria.

There are 4 levels of certification with the RSPO.

1 – Book & Claim – Certified palm producers register output with GreenPalm and are granted certificates for each ton of sustainable palm oil produced. Manufacturers bid for those certificates, thereby supporting the production of sustainable palm oil.

2 – Mass Balance (MB) – Allows for a mixture of sustainable and conventional palm oil. Overall volumes of each are carefully monitored

3 – Segregated SG – Allows for certified palm oil to come from a number of producers, but guarantees that the entire quantity of palm oil is sustainably produced.

4 – Identity Preserved – Requires that the supply be directly traceable. All steps in the supply chain are documented, creating a paper trail that can be followed back all the way from end-users to one specific palm grower.

Learn more about the pillars of RSPO and levels of certification here or at www.rspo.org.