Efeca facilitates the UK Sustainable Commodities Initiative (UKSCI), a pre-competitive, cross-supply chain group convened by the UK Government. The collective goal is to achieve sustainable, resilient forest-risk commodity supply chains for the UK market.
Initially established as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in 2012, and expanding to include the Roundtable on Sustainable Soya in 2018, the group has evolved into the UK Sustainable Commodities Initiative. It now covers multiple commodities and thematic areas in response to increasing industry commitments and actions, as well as an evolving regulatory environment.
The UKSCI’s diverse membership includes representation from over 130 industry members, including major food and non-food trade associations, importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of commodities including palm oil, soya, cocoa, coffee and cattle.
The activities of the UKSCI are industry led, focusing on commodity specific supply chains, and exploring wider themes and challenges such as companies’ progress towards the decarbonisation, and achieving a living income within commodity supply chains.
The UKSCI also provides industry with a crucial link to UK government, enabling public-private partnerships and dialogue as incoming Due Diligence Regulation on Forest Risk Commodities is expected in the UK and the EU.
As secretariat, Efeca convenes members to facilitate industry action, providing technical assistance, and establishing industry-led working groups to address sector specific challenges when appropriate. Current working groups include:
In addition to regular meetings and working groups, the UKSCI has established the Sustainable Commodities Resource Hub, with free tools and resources for companies at any stage in their sustainable sourcing journey wishing to progress their action and commitments.
The UK SCI also produces annual progress reports (APR). Historic APRs for soy and palm oil are available in the respective Soya and Palm Oil sections of this website.
The most recent APR, published January 2026, looks at the UK market for palm oil, soy, cocoa and coffee as they have all been identified as a priority by UK government and industry. It brings together recent market data from the four forest risk commodities and actions from industry, with UK specific examples, to provide an update on progress against the UKSCI participants shared goal. It also looks at efforts to address barriers to sustainability within UK commodity supply chains including supply chain visibility, achieving a prosperous livelihood and living income, smallholder inclusion, and simplifying procurement processes.
The most recent Quarterly Market Update, published March 2026, explores recent developments in regulation, such as the EUDR, CSRD and CSDDD, along with broader market updates. This includes the Middle East conflict and the EU RED III Directive. It also looks at commodity specific market updates on palm oil, soy, cocoa and coffee, four commodities that have all been identified as a priority by UK government and industry.