Our Anti-bribery and Corruption (ABC) Policy reflects our commitment to uphold local and international law, and make sure our employees act with integrity.
If you have a suspicion or concern of serious wrongdoing, you are encouraged to Speak Out! This can be done by speaking directly to an ofi responsible officer or via “SpeakOut” – our independent reporting platform.
Your concerns will be investigated by a team of experienced business managers, in line with our Whistleblowing Policy. We will ensure that your concern is investigated independently, and necessary actions are taken.
We work hard to make sure all employees are treated with dignity and fairness, and that their rights are respected. Our Fair Employment Policy is in full compliance with the conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and United Nations Global Compact’s (UNGC) guiding principles .
At ofi, upholding high standards of behavior and conducting business in an ethical, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable manner is integral to our continued success. We also expect our suppliers to also embrace responsible workplace practices which are communicated in the ofi Supplier Principles.
As a large, global company we have a responsibility to make sure human rights are respected in all parts of our business.
The Living Landscapes Policy supports a ‘Net-Positive’ approach to sustainable development in agricultural supply chains and landscape management. The co-existence of prosperous farmers and food systems, with thriving communities and healthy ecosystems, with the aim of putting more back into food and farming systems than is taken out.
The Plantations, Concessions and Farms (PCF) Code defines the process and standards for managing the environmental and social requirements of acquisitions and new and existing upstream developments across the entire project lifecycle. It is applied in conjunction with the Living Landscapes Policy.
We fully support high animal welfare standards. These include not only good health, but mental wellbeing and the ability of animals to exhibit species-specific behaviour.
We aim to build long-term relationships with suppliers based on responsible business practices and trust. The Agri Supplier Code sets out our expectations to support our goal to purchase raw materials and products produced in a manner that is socially responsible, economically profitable and environmentally sustainable.
Our approach to marketing is in line with our high standards of business ethics.
Download the Responsible Marketing Policy
Olam supports a science-based approach to Genetically Modified Organisms.
Download the GMO position statement
ofi (olam food ingredients), a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients, says developments in data and technology – from granular deforestation mapping and child labor monitoring to AI-powered carbon measurement tools – are accelerating progress towards its Cocoa Compass sustainability ambition. It is also providing food and beverage companies with enhanced traceability and transparency ahead of new regulations in Europe and beyond.
The latest Cocoa Compass highlights based on 2022 data include:
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Indonesia Mission Director, Jeff Cohen, said: "We are proud to be working together with ofi and the Hershey Company to encourage cocoa farmers to adopt more sustainable agriculture practices—like diversifying their crops and allowing more trees to remain on their land—which will strengthen their resilience against climate shocks and improve their livelihoods[3].”
How do you differentiate between the environmental impacts of organizations across different geographies, local conditions, products, local regulations etc.?
For several years, ofi has been working towards assessing the true value (cost or benefits) of some of our operations on the ground. Our latest case study on Natural Capital Valuation: Assessing Natural Capital costs in coffee operations, delves into year-on-year monetary impact of our select coffee growing operations in five origins.
Globally, an estimated 12.5 million to 25 million smallholder farmers depend on the coffee industry for their livelihoods, according to figures from Fairtrade1 and the FAO2. However, the majority of these farmers face significant challenges including limited access to formal agronomy training, inadequate resources, small farm sizes and insecure land tenure. These factors often hinder the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, which are crucial for preserving Natural Capital over the medium and long term. As a result, coffee production often imposes a cost on nature in the form of GHG emissions, degradation of soil structure and fertility, depletion of ground and surface water, and loss of natural ecosystem services critical to agricultural production.
To address these challenges, we employ Natural Capital valuation techniques, which leverage environmental economics to assign a monetary value (US$) to our impacts and dependencies, encompassing carbon emissions, water usage and ecosystem services. Quantifying Natural Capital in this way enables us to assess and mitigate risks while fostering investments that promote a positive impact on landscapes and ecosystem.
We evaluated twenty AtSource+ coffee farmer groups sourced from five different origins3 to assess their GHG emissions and water use related Natural Capital Costs (NCC). Reporting on the NCC is based on each metric tonne of product which makes the cost intensities very sensitive/ dependent on farm level yields. Thus, understanding the underlying yield dynamics is also crucial for interpreting these NCC footprints effectively.
The combined expertise of our local sustainability teams with partners such as Funcafé, TechnoServe, Côte d’Ivoire's National Nutrition program, USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) delivers solutions to improve access to clean water, healthcare services and supplies, and nutritious food.
Initiatives range from using geo-location to identify and screen for infant malnutrition in farming communities in Côte d'Ivoire - where one in five children experience stunted growth and development - to fortifying key staples with vitamins and minerals in our processing facilities.