Skip to content

Our Upstream Impact

Read the latest report

From Farm to Forklift

UNFI serves as a conduit in the value chain, connecting our vast network of suppliers and customers. We are in a unique position to create shared value and sustained growth with our partners across the supply chain and industry landscape.

Our Impact Begins Before Distribution Centers

Our procurement-related sustainability strategy prioritizes partnerships with suppliers who understand our business objectives, share our impact goals, and want to contribute to our vision of a Better Future. With their input and support, we hope to contribute to our stakeholders’ ability to innovate, scale, and adapt.

Our Work in Action

In FY2024, we advanced our deforestation efforts by converting almost all of our applicable owned brands to sourcing Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified ingredients. We also issued grants through the UNFI Foundation to amplify our efforts around inclusive procurement, climate-smart agriculture, and more.

Accordion image
  1. Fostering a Resilient Supplier Network

    Tailored support can help our suppliers more successfully respond to consumer demands, especially for the emerging brands, small businesses, or ones owned by veterans, individuals with disabilities, or other historically marginalized groups within our supply chain. By providing resources and assistance to address the needs of these suppliers, we can support retailers in achieving their impact objectives, while also helping innovative brands compete.

    Learn more about our inclusive procurement program
  2. Leaning into Responsible Sourcing

    We seek out opportunities to collaborate with suppliers who both share our vision for a better food system and can deliver products with the attributes, price, and quality our customers value. We partner with stakeholders in our value chain to advance responsible business practices, support animal welfare, and work toward a deforestation-free supply chain.

    • Deforestation Policy
    • Animal Welfare Standards
    Read our Supplier and Vendor Code of Conduct
  3. Advancing Climate Action Through Supplier Partnerships

    We have an important role to play in reducing shared value chain emissions. We nurture supplier relationships as a crucial piece of our climate action strategy, which also supports our customers' climate commitments, and develop resources to help suppliers decarbonize. We seek to serve as a hub for sharing best practices with suppliers and customers and make it easier for retailers to choose products that are taking action on climate.

Our Goals & Fiscal 2024 Highlights

Promote soil health through regenerative and organic practices on 1 million acres by 2030.

Reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services by 25% by the end of FY2030.

Reach 100% RSPO-certified palm oil across all UNFI-owned brands by the end of 2025.

73%

of eggs sold were from cage-free, free range, and pasture-raised environments

12.19%

decrease in Scope 3 GHG emissions from prior year

69

UNFI suppliers participated in the Climate Action Partnership

92%

of UNFI-owned brand SKUs that use palm oil have transitioned to RSPO-certified palm oil

Read More About Our Impact

Our stakeholder-focused sustainability strategy has long been a part of UNFI's success, unlocking efficiencies through collaboration across the business, and is key to our company purpose: Better Food. Better Future. We remain focused on providing more people, customers, and communities with Better Food. At the same time, UNFI has evolved into a company that delivers so much more than Better Food. We also strive to create a Better Future for associates, customers, suppliers, communities, and shareholders.

Explore our report archive