Acme-Hardesty Achieves Historic Milestone As the First SuCCESS Certified Distributor in the United States

Blue Bell, PA – Acme-Hardesty, a leading distributor committed to sustainability, proudly announces its groundbreaking achievement as the first distributor and the first company in the United States to receive SuCCESS certification from the Sustainable Castor Association (SCA). This landmark certification underscores Acme-Hardesty’s dedication to promoting sustainable practices within the castor industry.

The SCA, a non-profit organization, is focused on enhancing the livelihoods of castor farmers and contracted workers by supporting efforts to optimize yield and reduce environmental impact. In addition to its broader sustainability code for the supply chain, the SCA has introduced SuCCESS, a standardized certification criteria for sustainable castor. This certification facilitates a more traceable and verified supply chain, promoting ethical practices, and supporting the well-being of castor farmers.

Dr. Emi Katoh, Lead Sustainability Manager at Acme-Hardesty, expresses pride in this milestone, stating, “We are indeed very proud to be both the first distributor and the first company in the US to be SuCCESS certified. However, the real work is just starting. A strong cooperation with our purchase team to ensure volume and with our sales team to promote and sell sustainable castor products is imperative. We are appealing to our suppliers and our customers to join us to create a more sustainable castor industry.”

Mr. Ravi Shaheed, VP of Global Sourcing at Acme-Hardesty, highlights the broader significance of this achievement, “We source certified sustainable Palm, and now are able to source certified sustainable castor. Considering that the castor demand will only increase, it is even more important to assure that castor is produced in a sustainable manner. We have been supporting sustainable efforts in the castor industry for many years now, and to be able to source sustainable castor products is a huge achievement. We are undoubtedly proud to be certified, yet a whole industry cannot become sustainable by the efforts of a few companies; it takes all of us to develop a more sustainable castor industry.”

Acme-Hardesty’s SuCCESS certification signifies a significant step forward in the company’s commitment to sustainable sourcing and ethical business practices. As a pioneering force in the industry, Acme-Hardesty invites its suppliers, customers, and stakeholders to join hands in fostering a more sustainable and responsible castor industry for a better future.

About Acme-Hardesty

Acme-Hardesty celebrates over 80 years in business! As a division of Jacob Stern & Sons, Inc., we are one of the largest distributors of specialty ingredients in North America. We serve various markets with products such as: actives, castor oil and derivatives, oleochemical derivatives, bio-based products, preservatives, and surfactants. We also offer a full range of renewable palm-based products, such as glycerine, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and specialty esters. As a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), we support sustainable and renewable practices and create bio-based solutions for the future.

Media Contact: Kirsten Landis, Marketing Manager; klandis@acme-hardesty.com