For over 50 years, Bunge has played a leading role in the sourcing and processing of shea as an important raw material. The opening of our first local shea processing plant in Tema, Ghana was an important step in this journey. With this also comes the responsibility to work in a sustainable, transparent, and traceable way.
This is what brought our shea sustainability initiatives to life in 2017. The Where Life Grows program was set up with the objective to empower shea collecting women, create socio-economic value in their communities, and conserve and regenerate the shea landscape in the region.
‘Support 400,000 shea women and their families and plant at least 100,000 trees’
Did you know that the Shea tree, that grows in the West African Savannah park lands, is known as the "Tree of Life"? The shea nut from this tree is used to make shea butter, which is known for its nourishing properties and used as an ingredient in food and personal care products.
Shea is more than just a product, it turns life into purposeful living, helping the communities of its place of origin thrive. West-African communities rely on the shea industry for their livelihoods. Women do most of the shea nut collection and represent an integral part of the shea supply chain. This strengthens the position of these women, empowering them to transform their own lives, the lives of their children, families and their entire communities.
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