Sustainable operations

for our people, the environment and our neighbors

Better operations

In AAK, we are committed to enabling the well-being of our people, minimizing our environmental impact, and being a better neighbor. We have a wealth of talented colleagues who focus on making a positive difference every day.

Better Operations embodies the responsibility that comes with being a processing company and helps us to create a safe and inclusive working environment that is more resource- and climate-efficient and that supports the community.

Our Better Behaviors guide us on our journey towards Better Operations. This journey encompasses risk mitigation, the safety and health of our employees, employee engagement, high ethical standards, and an accountability for the environment. Combined with our passion and dedication, these are key drivers for our sustainability progress.

We strive to minimize our environmental impact and to be a catalyst for positive change. 

Commitments and ambitions

Enabling the well-being of our people 

  • 10 percent improvement in employee engagement score in 2025 from a 2017 base year 
  • No lost time injuries
  • Human rights due diligence embedded across all sites by 2025

Minimizing our environmental impact

  • Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030 from a 2019 base year (pending SBTi submission)
  • Increase annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 12 percent in 2019 to 100 percent by 2025
  • Reduce annual energy consumption per processed unit by 2.5 percent 
  • Reduce annual freshwater consumption by 5 percent
  • 100 percent of our waste recycled by 2030

Being a better neighbor 

  • Relevant community engagement programs on our sites

Key achievements 2022

Enabling the well-being of our people 

  • 2 percentage points increase of women on managerial level to 32 percent 
  • 100 percent of sites risk-assessed, salient issues identified, and plans initiated
  • Four entities rewarded with the "Great Place to Work" certificate during 2022 

Minimizing our environmental impact 

  • 0.1 percent reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions compared to 2021 (4.4 percent reduction from a 2019 base year)
  • 9 percent increase in annual sourcing of renewable electricity during 2022
  • 6.3 percent reduction in water use compared to 2021
  • In 2022, 93 percent of all waste from our production facilities were recycled

Being a better neighbor 

  • 26,874 shea trees planted in 2022

Our better operations approach

With the aim to fully embed sustainability in our operations we have a structural approach to ensure progress across our sites, supported by our purpose, Better Behaviors, Better Leadership principles and our People ambition.

Sustainability reports

AAK’s sustainability reports demonstrate how sustainability is firmly anchored within our organization and how we progress on our commitments and ambitions – from plant to brand. The aim is to provide insight and understanding of our efforts, impacts, and contribution to sustainable development.

Questions about our sustainability work?

More about our Better Operations

The well-being of our people

At AAK, we are committed to creating a workplace that ensures health and safety and that sets a high ethical standard for our behavior, where diversity is a priority and where there are ample opportunities to grow.

Minimizing our environmental impact

AAK has operations all over the world. Our production is resource intensive and our continued responsible growth is depending on our ability to balance a rapidly changing business environment with continuous reduced environmental impact.

Being a better neighbor

At AAK, we recognize that community participation is an important aspect for the long-term success of our business and for the well-being of those around us. We have always played an active role in caring for our surroundings and those that live there by engaging in a variety of local activities.