AAK’s Kolo Nafaso direct sourcing program in West Africa has achieved FairWild certification – the first ever for a shea sourcing initiative. The certification provides assurance that the program meets global standards for sustainable, ethical, and transparent wild harvesting.
FairWild is an international organization dedicated exclusively to sustainable, ethical, and traceable harvesting of wild plants. Its framework is built on seven core principles that include sustainable resource management, legal and ethical compliance, and responsible business practices across the supply chain.
“The certification 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,” says Jakob Nybroe, Sustainability Manager, West Africa.
Kolo Nafaso is the first shea program globally to meet these requirements, reflecting AAK’s long-standing commitment to responsible sourcing, resilient landscapes, and improved livelihoods in the shea supply chain.
About our FairWild partnership
As part of a year-long collaboration, AAK and FairWild worked together to ensure the Kolo Nafaso program met the rigorous requirements of the FairWild Standard. The process culminated in a tailored audit designed to verify compliance and assure the impact of AAK’s sourcing model.
“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 organisations,” says Deborah Vorhies, CEO of FairWild.
The certification confirms the principles embedded in Kolo Nafaso since its launch in 2009, including:
▪️empowering women shea collectors through direct trade and economic development,
▪️training communities in sustainable management of shea parklands,
▪️safeguarding landscapes through regeneration and conservation.
Today, Kolo Nafaso engages approximately 230,000 women collectors across Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, covering a wild collection area of around 400,000 hectares.
About the FairWild Standard
The FairWild Standard provides a comprehensive framework for the sustainable harvesting and management of wild plant resources. It ensures that biodiversity and collector livelihoods are protected through strict ecological, social, and business criteria.
This includes:
▪️harvesting methods that maintain healthy wild plant populations,
▪️resource assessments and management plans grounded in scientific data,
▪️fair and safe working conditions for collectors,
▪️transparent and traceable supply chains.
What the certification covers
The FairWild certification applies to the Kolo Nafaso shea kernel collection operation, including wild harvesting and on-site, non-transformational processing such as shelling, drying, boiling, and packing.
The certification provides customers and partners with independent assurance of responsible sourcing practices across one of the world’s most important shea supply chains.