Palm oil
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil globally and is found in a range of food, household and beauty products. It is versatile and highly land-efficient, producing more oil from less land than many alternative oil crops. However, where palm oil is produced irresponsibly it can be associated with deforestation, conversion of natural ecosystems, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and risks to the rights of workers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Palm oil also supports millions of livelihoods, including smallholder farmers. For these reasons, our approach is not to boycott palm oil, but to source it responsibly and use our influence to help improve the wider sector.
Our approach
Our goal is to ensure that the palm oil used in M&S products is produced without deforestation or conversion of natural ecosystems and with respect for human rights. Our requirements are set out in the M&S Palm Oil Policy and supported by our wider Deforestation Commitment and Global Sourcing Principles.
We require palm oil and palm-derived ingredients used in M&S own-brand products to be certified to the standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). We have maintained 100% uptake of RSPO-certified palm oil since 2022. In our Food business, we prioritise physically segregated supply and use the Mass Balance model only where a segregated option is not available or viable, particularly for some derivatives and fractions. Certification is an important foundation, but our approach increasingly focuses on stronger traceability, due diligence, supplier engagement and positive impact in palm-producing landscapes.
Our performance
During the 2025 calendar year, 100% of the palm oil and palm-derived ingredients in our own-brand products was RSPO certified. Excluding processing aids and non-food products, 98.8% was sourced through the RSPO Segregated supply chain model. The remaining volume consists of palm oil derivatives and fractions where segregated supply remains a challenge, and these volumes were covered through RSPO Mass Balance or other RSPO mechanisms.
We are working directly with supplier partners and peers to increase the demand for RSPO segregated material. Through the UK Sustainable Commodities Initiative (UKSCI) Oleochemicals Working Group, we are collaborating with retailers, suppliers and industry experts to improve the responsible sourcing and traceability of palm-derived ingredients. The group is working to develop common approaches to deforestation-free sourcing and strengthen transparency across complex oleochemical supply chains.
| KPI | 2024 CY | 2025 CY |
| Palm oil used in M&S-branded products (Tonnes) | 6,000 | 6,233 |
| RSPO certified palm oil uptake | 100% | 100% |
| RSPO Segregated palm oil* | 98.72% | 98.8% |
*Own-brand Food products only, excludes processing aids
Our partners and action beyond certification
Listening, learning, responding and working in partnership is an important part of how we do business.
We are working with a number of industry and civil society organisations to tackle the causes of deforestation and promote the benefits of more sustainable palm oil.
We use a small fraction of the world’s palm oil. We can make a difference by buying sustainable palm oil but we can’t transform the industry on our own.
The palm oil sector has made important progress. RSPO reports that certified sustainable palm oil now represents around one fifth of global production, while uptake in Europe is above 90%. Standards, public reporting and supply chain transparency have strengthened, and oil-palm-driven deforestation has slowed in major producing countries. However, progress is not complete. The sector still needs stronger traceability to production, credible verification of deforestation- and conversion-free sourcing, effective human rights due diligence, greater inclusion of independent smallholders and investment at landscape level.
We have worked with businesses, governments and civil society since 2006 to improve palm oil production and strengthen transparency. We collaborate with the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), UK Sustainable Commodities Initiative and the Retailers’ Palm Oil Group and contribute to wider industry discussions on derivatives, traceability, regulation and smallholder inclusion.
In addition to sourcing RSPO certified palm oil we extend our commitment beyond our direct supply chains by partnering with Forever Sabah, where we have supported the audit and successful RSPO certification of smallholders in Malaysia. This collaborative effort not only safeguards forests but also empowers local smallholder farmers to cultivate palm sustainably, enabling more RSPO certified sustainable palm to come to market. We are continuing our investment and have also partnered with Pacos Trust, to deliver workshops to support smallholders in their understanding of human rights and gender issues in their community.
Industry progress and recognition
M&S continues to be recognised as a leader. In WWF’s 2024 Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard, M&S was rated ‘Leading the Way’, scoring above 21 out of 24. In the 2026 RSPO Shared Responsibility Scorecard, M&S achieved 10 / 10, with full marks across transparency and legality, social responsibility, environmental performance and resourcing. These benchmarks recognise both responsible sourcing within our supply chain and our contribution to wider market transformation.
