AAK has aanounced the extension of its sustainability partnership with Beiersdorf, a global skin care company and home of iconic brands such as NIVEA and Eucerin. This renewed collaboration builds on the significant success of the initial five-year project, which aimed to support 10,000 women shea collectors in AAK’s Kolo Nafaso direct sourcing program through economic, environmental, and quality training. The renewed collaboration will further broaden the scope, introducing parkland management to additionally safeguard the landscape, launching a borehole regeneration project to bring clean water to communities, and supplying shelling machines to generate additional income.
Launched in January 2020, the first phase of the AAK-Beiersdorf partnership provided economic opportunities through the establishment of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and environmental stewardship through tree planting, and the adoption of energy efficient closed cookstoves, which also delivered health and safety benefits.
The results exceeded all targets, with more than 10,500 women benefiting from the partnership, underscoring the effectiveness of the program.
- 7,320 women gained financial education through VSLA training, strengthening their economic capabilities and resilience.
- 7,961 women planted 20,425 shea trees, helping to fight desertification, sustain the shea belt ecosystem, capture greenhouse gases, and secure income for local communities.
- In addition, more than 12,000 improved cookstoves now make shea processing safer, more sustainable, and contribute to the reduction of Scope 3 emissions within the supply chain by reducing fuel consumption and decreasing the amount of fuelwood collected, which in turn contributes to the protection of the carbon-sequestering trees.
Sharing her positive experience with the VSLA, Nima Alhassan from the Dijo community, explains: “We didn’t save much money before, but now we meet every week. For loans, we can borrow money from the box and then we pay it back; we don’t have to go anywhere else. When we hold our annual share out, some use their savings to farm, some use it for business. Through these things, we generate a profit and can save more. All are benefits we didn’t have before the project started.”
Commenting on the partnership, Lisette Townsend, Global Business Development & Marketing Director of AAK Personal Care, says: “It’s incredibly valuable to join forces with strong partners like Beiersdorf to truly live up to our motto: Making Better Happen. We believe sustainable impact and long-term development result from strong commitments and robust partnerships. We’re excited to build on the success of our collaboration with Beiersdorf with this next-level second phase.”
Dorle Bahr, Beiersdorf’s Head of Sustainability Strategy & Reporting adds: “Seeing the success of this holistic project makes me incredibly proud. It supports several focus areas of our CARE BEYOND SKIN Sustainability Agenda and shows what’s possible when strong collaboration meets a clear purpose – creating sustainable change not only in our industry, but also in the lives of thousands of women across the shea regions. Hearing the voices and stories from shea collecting women within our project show how small, focused initiatives can create a big change.”
The second phase of the partnership will now include parkland management training for 3,750 women, each entrusted with at least two seedlings to nurture and protect. The provision of 75 time-saving shelling machines will help create income opportunities for young people, and the renovation of 20 boreholes will guarantee clean water for communities.
AAK and Beiersdorf are steadfast in their commitment to sustainable development, empowering women, protecting ecosystems, and supporting climate action. By expanding their partnership and introducing new initiatives, both companies are setting a powerful example of what collaborative action can achieve. Phase two promises to bring lasting impact not only for the Kolo Nafaso women and their communities, but also for the shea value chain, shaping a better future for generations to come.
