The Sustainable Palm Oil in Nutella® (2024)

FAQs

Is Nutella palm oil actually sustainable? ›

Discover our palm oil in a nutshell

Where does it come from? The palm oil we use in Nutella^® is 100% sustainable palm oil, traceable back to the mills. It mainly originates from Malaysia (averaging around 80% of our volumes) followed by Indonesia.

The main ingredients of Nutella are sugar and palm oil (greater than 50%). It also contains 13% hazelnuts, cocoa solids, and skimmed milk. In the United States and the United Kingdom, Nutella contains soy products. Nutella is marketed as "hazelnut cream" in many countries.

The emphasis is on “sustainable.” Sustainable palm oil has been farmed, processed, distributed, and sold responsibly with strict rules that protect animals, the environment and people who live and work in oil palm producing countries. It has involved: Halting deforestation; Treating communities and workers fairly; and.

Royal blasted Italian company Ferrero, producer of Nutella, for its use of palm oil – a key ingredient in Nutella – saying it leads to deforestation. This devastation leads to the release of carbon into the atmosphere, a key contributor to global warming, Royal said.

The Vegan Society explains their stance on the issue by stating, “In itself, palm oil is a vegetable product which does not need to involve the (ab)use of animals, and therefore is suitable for vegans.”

Alternative 1: Shea Butter

Shea butter is derived from the nuts of the shea tree, which grows in the African savannah. Its production is more sustainable than palm oil as it does not require large-scale deforestation.

Andrew Ng, of Grassroots, added: “New and existing human rights and forest-linked conflicts associated with RSPO certificate holders shows that, despite the efforts of the ASC, the sustainable palm oil claim is still unreliable.”

There are different definitions of sustainable palm oil, but at its core this refers to palm oil that has been produced with the lowest environmental impact possible. This includes minimising impact to wildlife, and adhering to high standards of human rights.

What is sustainable palm oil? Palm oil is a very healthy product that is extremely versatile. This oil is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin E, which are both essential nutrients for the immune system, eyesight, and bone health.

For instance, in 2021, Ferrero was criticised by Turkish hazelnut producers for its exploitation of farmers supplying hazelnuts for Nutella products, including accusations that it the workers were being paid a lower wage than the legal minimum. You can read more about this issue here.

What did Nutella use before palm oil? ›

The company used hydrogenated oil until a few years ago but converted to palm oil in 2006 to reduce trans-fat. Palm oil is free of trans fat but high in saturated fat, making it unhealthy. It gets extracted from the palm fruit. The food label lists palm oil as Nutella's second ingredient in order of quantity.

Nutella is only one of many reminders that multinational supply chains are at the heart of global struggles like the fight against climate change and the drive to stamp out human-rights abuses.

For a healthier alternative to Nutella, Nutiva is your answer. Using only sustainably sourced, non-GMO and plant-based ingredients, including organic coconut oil, chia seeds and flaxseed, this nutty chocolate spread is perfect for answering your chocolate cravings.

(sustainable palm oil): Almond Joy, Reese's PB Cups, Reese's Pieces, Reese's Crispy Crunch, Reese's Whips, Take5, Whoppers, Mr. Goodbars, Hershey's Cookies n Creme, Rolos, Twizzlers. Mars, Inc. (sustainable palm oil): Snickers, Twix, M&M's (Chocolate, Peanuts, Raspberry), 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Dove.

Nutella · 1.52 kg CO₂e/kg | Verified by CarbonCloud.

Ferrero is considered to be leading the way in sustainable palm oil, ranking 2nd out of 285 companies, with a score of 22.9/24. Ferrero is especially recognised for commitments to supply chain traceability and transparency, and investment in local projects in palm oil producing landscapes.