In order to achieve a sustainable palm oil industry and tackle the deforestation issue worldwide, actions must be taken quickly and the consumer demand will follow, says Dr Alan Knight OBE.
The first one million hectares of certified land for sustainable palm production marks ‘a turning point’ for industry, according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
All palm oil used in The Netherlands will be certified by the RSPO by 2015, as all the suppliers and buyers in the Dutch market have signed a manifesto and pledged to work towards this goal.
A new initiative is underway to develop to supply chain for oil from the African Allanblackia tree oil in food and personal care products by devising a verification scheme for sustainable and ethical trade.
Many manufacturers and retailers are not using sustainable palm oil as much as they should to stimulate supply and lead to long-term environmental benefits, says a damning report from the WWF.
Loders Croklaan is building a new refinery and storage capacity in Rotterdam that will enable it to expand its product range with lauric products and mixtures and use greener production processes.
Danisco is now offering sustainable options on its palm-based emulsifiers, as palm oil produced at certified sustainable plantations enters the marketplace.
The first shipment of sustainable palm oil is set to arrive in Europe next week; but even if manufacturers do not use the oil directly they can still buy into the movement with certificates that allow them to state their support, explained the RSPO president.
The palm oil industry is claiming a major triumph in terms of sustainability ahead of an incoming shipment of the product to Europe next week, which is seen by some as a milestone for ethical sourcing.