Greenpeace underline the very good initiative of the Indian food company Orkla to promote a “zero deforestation policies”. This initiative is part of the sustainable oil palm policies of the company which also take into account a social aspect.

Jungle burned for agriculture

Orkla, a Nordic conglomerate that owns MTR Foods, one of India’s major food companies, has established a zero deforestation policy for the palm oil it sources, reports Greenpeace.

Orkla’s policy commits it to full traceability and bars palm oil produced via forest and peatlands conversion by 2017. There are also provisions for workers rights and local communities.

“We are committing ourselves to breaking the link between our products and deforestation. We have an ambition to help protect the rainforest. Wherever possible, therefore, we will replace palm oil with alternatives that are better from a health and environmental perspective,” said Orkla Executive VP Håkon Mageli in a statement. “Where it is impossible to replace the palm oil, we aim to buy only palm oil that is sustainably produced. All palm oil used in Orkla products shall be fully traceable to plantation level and produced according to sustainable principles by 2017 at the latest. To achieve this objective, we will set stringent requirements for our suppliers and use relevant certification schemes.”

Orkla’s announcement is the latest in a wave of “zero deforestation” palm oil commitments from major consumer products companies. Last week Mars, Inc., the maker of M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, and a variety of other food products, made a similar pledge, following in the footsteps of Unilever, Nestle, Neste Oil, and Kellogg Company, among others.

Read more at Mongabay.com