The partnership between AAK and FairWild is transforming ethical sourcing in the shea sector and sets a new industry benchmark, assuring the impact of directly empowering the families of more than 230,000 women collectors across the region.
“This first-ever FairWild certification for shea sets a new ethical sourcing benchmark and shows the power of collaboration between industry and independent voluntary standard organizations.” - Deborah Vorhies, FairWild CEO
Already a global leader in impact-driven shea sourcing, AAK has partnered with FairWild to benchmark their Kolo Nafaso program against the FairWild Standard, the only standard to exclusively target wild plant collection. As part of a year-long project, AAK and FairWild worked together to elevate the Kolo Nafaso program to meet the rigorous requirements of the FairWild Standard, culminating in a tailored audit to provide assurance of the impact of AAK’s sourcing.
Kolo Nafaso is the first-ever shea sourcing program to receive FairWild certification. With product level accreditation expected in early 2026, the Standard will provide buyers with traceable, high- integrity ingredients, offering dependable proof that benefits flow directly to the source.
The adoption of the FairWild Standard assures AAK’s sourcing has multiple positive outcomes:
Kernel collection is done in a way that provides for regeneration of the shea parklands, aided by replanting trees in areas which have historically been depleted.
- Women collectors are empowered and assured a fair income, with tangible benefits flowing directly to communities across the “shea belt”.
- Working conditions are significantly improved by reducing health and safety risks for female collectors.
- Shea trees are safeguarded by removing the economic incentive to harvest them for fuelwood, helping to reduce desertification and lock-in carbon.
- Ethical practices are embedded across the entire supply chain.
Through this collaboration, AAK and FairWild are setting a new global benchmark for sustainable and ethically wild-harvested ingredients, ensuring transparency from the ground to the final formulation.
“The FairWild certification of Kolo Nafaso validates our long-standing commitment to ethical sourcing and motivates us to continue evolving to ensure lasting impact for the shea landscape and the women who depend on it — now and for generations to come.” - Jakob Nybroe, AAK Sustainability Manager, West Africa
This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter in ethical sourcing for wild ingredients - one that promises long-term benefits for ecosystems, communities, and conscious consumers.
