No need to destroy forests to produce more oil palm

Even if the global needs of oil palm are increasing, it’s possible to produce more without deforestation. Promoting forest protection policies in the industry of oil palm becomes a priority for many companies around the world and day after day many other join this sustainable initiative.

Two consumer products giants have joined the wave of companies committing to deforestation-free palm oil.

On Monday General Mills and Colgate-Palmolive both announced palm oil policies that go beyond standards set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the industry’s main certification body. The policies include provisions to protect wildlife-rich rainforests and carbon-dense peatlands, while respecting the rights of local communities.

The policies are similar to commitments made in recent weeks by Kellogg’s, Mars, and Orkla, although both have shortcomings according to environmental campaigners. Greenpeace says that Colgate-Palmolive’s 2020 target for implementing its policy should be moved up to 2015, while the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) says General Mills policy should use the “industry standard” definition of High Carbon Stock forests when determining whether palm oil is free from deforestation.

Nonetheless both groups welcomed the commitments and urged more companies to establish similar deforestation free policies for palm oil in order to show growers there is indeed a market for greener palm oil.

 “It’s really up to major brands to turn the tide on the palm oil industry,” said Sharon Smith of the Union of Concerned Scientists, which recently released a scorecard ranking American companies on their palm oil sourcing policies. “If companies start demanding palm oil that’s deforestation-free, peatlands-free and exploitation-free, palm oil producers will start providing a better product. This better oil will also reduce emissions. It’s a win-win for consumers and the environment.”

Read more at Mongabay.com