No deforestation policy
Deforestation and forest degradation are occurring at an alarming rate, aggravating climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The main driver of deforestation and forest degradation is the expansion of agricultural land to produce commodities such as cattle, wood, palm oil, soy, cocoa or coffee. A growing world population and increasing demand for agricultural products, especially those of animal origin, are expected to increase demand for agricultural land and put additional pressure on forests, while changing climate patterns will affect food production, necessitating a shift to a sustainable production that is not leading to further deforestation and forest degradation. (source: EU proposal for regulation regarding deforestation 2021/0366).
Kesko commits to purchasing the above-mentioned raw materials that pose a particular concern in terms of deforestation only when they are sustainably produced. We are guided by the following purchasing policies and timelines specified within them:
• Timber and paper policy
• Palm oil policy
• Soy policy
• Cocoa policy
• Coffee and tea policy
The objectives of these policies cover the supply chains as a whole all the way to the primary production.
In our own construction operations, we use FSC or PEFC certified timber only.
Over 95% (kg) of the fresh and frozen beef we purchase is of Finnish origin. Beef production in Finland does not use feed made from soy.
All beef we deliver to K Group grocery stores is Finnish. Only the foodservice wholesaler Kespro offers non-Finnish beef. Kespro’s selections do not include beef produced in the Amazon region.
The no deforestation policy was approved by Kesko's Group Management Board on 13 June 2022.
We follow our progress with the policies related to the no deforestation policy (timber and paper policy, palm oil policy, soy policy, cocoa policy, coffee and tea policy.
