Certified palm oil

Conventional palm oil cultivation with major challenges

Conventional oil palm cultivation causes significant social and environmental problems in the countries where it is practised.

Valuable tropical forests are cleared to make way for new palm oil plantations. This results in the loss of habitat for numerous animal and plant species.

Slash-and-burn practices and the drainage of peat forests release large amounts of greenhouse gases. In addition, conflicts over land rights often arise where plantations are being expanded.

To counteract these challenges, there are initiatives for sustainable palm oil. However, only around one-fifth of global palm oil production currently carries a corresponding seal of approval.

Our measures

Completely replacing palm oil is not a sustainable solution. Given population growth and the lower efficiency of alternative raw materials, it would actually exacerbate global problems.

That is why we consistently rely on sustainably produced palm oil – wherever its technological advantages are decisive, such as in product fillings.

At the same time, we are helping to limit global demand for tropical fats: wherever technologically and economically feasible, we are replacing palm oil with other oils – preferably from local sources.

Our products without palm oil:

If palm oil, then only from sustainable cultivation

The HUG family was one of the first companies in the Swiss food industry to recognise the need to implement concrete and sustainable solutions in palm oil cultivation. As early as 2005, we made a financial commitment to the development of the RSPO certification system out of conviction. In 2013, the HUG family became RSPO-certified for the first time. In 2014, we went one step further and have since been using only 100 per cent certified segregated palm oil. This means that certified palm oil is kept separate from conventional palm oil at every stage of the supply chain. Our products therefore contain only certified palm oil, which may come from different mills.

The RSPO is an international voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative. It defines criteria for sustainable palm oil production, such as the prohibition of slash-and-burn practices and deforestation of primary forests, the prohibition of new peatland development and compliance with national labour laws. In the 2018 revision, the RSPO's requirements were significantly tightened in order to specifically address existing criticisms such as lax standards and inadequate control mechanisms.

The RSPO ensures the following points:

We are a member of the Palm Oil Network Switzerland

Founded in 2020, Palm Oil Network Switzerland is a centre of expertise and exchange platform for the entire value chain. Together, its members are committed to sustainable palm oil production.

New targets from 2025: With a revised strategy, member companies are committing to using only certified palm oil in processed foods and non-food products in future. The network is also promoting the further development of standards such as the RSPO, strengthening dialogue with suppliers and engaging directly in the countries of origin.

Palm oil has technological advantages for us

The raw material is in hot demand worldwide because it is one of the few vegetable fats that has a firm consistency at room temperature, is neutral in taste, goes rancid less quickly than butter and is also suitable for vegans.

We value palm oil above all for its technological qualities. In fillings, palm oil cannot be replaced 1:1 with other fats today due to the production process.

The technological advantages of palm oil at a glance:

Palm oil has great efficiency in cultivation

The oil palm is very productive. It needs less land than any other oil plant, is less susceptible to disease than other crops and can provide consistent yields for up to thirty years. This also makes palm oil cheaper than competing oils.

Compared to all other oil crops, the oil palm is by far the most efficient and economical fat-producing plant in terms of land consumption.