SAP program helps Unilever improve supply chain

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SAP SE’s GreenToken solution has been helping Unilever improve its global palm oil supply chain.

The solution helps Unilever track, verify, and report the origin and route palm oil takes during supply chain in near real-time, which increases traceability and transparency.

Unilever applied GreenToken in Indonesia to source more than 188,000 tons of oil palm fruit. The company’s suppliers were able to create tokens that mirror the material flow of the palm oil throughout the supply chain.

Raw materials are often mixed with physically identical raw materials from verified sustainable and nonverified sources after the “first mile” of the supply chain. This means information on the material’s origin is hidden or lost.

“With GreenToken, we want to bring the same traceability and supply chain transparency to bulk raw materials that you get from scanning a bar or QR code on any consumer product,” Nitin Jain, GreenToken by SAP solution co-founder and general manager, said. “Our solution allows companies to tell what percentage of palm oil products they purchased from a sustainable origin and track it to the end consumer product.”

Unilever has made it its goal to enhance ongoing and industry-leading efforts regarding visibility in the supply chain.

SAP’s U.S. headquarters is located in Newtown Square.