Asda Joins Roundtable on Palm Oil

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Asda Joins Roundtable on Palm Oil

Dec 16

Friends of the Earth welcomed the announcement today

that Asda, the UK's second biggest supermarket, has

agreed to take action to source more sustainable palm

oil by joining the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

The Roundtable is an association of business and NGO

representatives seeking to promote sustainable palm

oil [1].

Palm oil is found in one in ten products on

supermarket shelves and its production is associated

with rainforest destruction and human rights abuses in

south-east Asia. Friends of the Earth and the world's

leading orang-utan conservation groups released a

report in September, " The Oil for Ape Scandal " that

revealed that oil palm plantations were wiping out the

habitat of the orang-utan in Indonesia and Malaysia,

threatening the species with extinction [2]. Palm oil

is found in a diverse range of products from bread,

crisps, margarine and cereals to lipstick and soap.

Friends of the Earth Corporate Accountability

Campaigner Ed Matthew said:

" It is good news that Asda has now acknowledged the

damaging impacts associated with most palm oil

production and agreed to join the Roundtable. It must

ensure this is matched by committed action to use

credibly certified palm oil in their products as

quickly as possible. The litmus test is how fast this

can be achieved. I understand that Asda is now talking

to its parent company Walmart about also joining the

Roundtable and it is to be hoped that they will follow

suit. "

" While it is good news that companies like Asda are

starting to recognise their wider responsibilities,

this has only happened after sustained campaigning to

highlight the particular problem with palm oil.

Government action is needed to ensure that all

companies realise the need to minimise their

environmental impacts in all areas. That is why the UK

Government must amend the Company Law Reform Bill now

going through Parliament to make sure company

directors are accountable for the environmental and

social impacts of the products they sell. "

There are over 500 companies in the UK that buy and

sell palm oil and palm oil products, and only 16 of

these have joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm

Oil. Co-op Retail is the only other British

supermarket to be a member. A survey by Friends of the

Earth in 2005 revealed that the vast majority of UK

companies don't even know where their palm oil comes

from.

Friends of the Earth believes the failure of most UK

companies to take effective action to stop sourcing

palm oil from destructive sources demonstrates the

need for stronger regulation to raise corporate

standards. Friends of the Earth is calling for the

Government to introduce an amendment to the Company

Law Reform Bill, currently in Parliament, which

requires company directors to minimise the

environmental and social impacts of their operations.

Notes:

[1] The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is

an " association created by organisations carrying out

their activities in and around the entire supply chain

for palm oil to promote the growth and use of

sustainable palm oil through co-operation within the

supply chain and open dialogue with its stakeholders. "

The RSPO was formerly established on 8th April 2004

and on 23rd November 2005 adopted the " Principles and

Criteria for sustainable Palm Oil Production " . For

more information go to: www.sustainable-palmoil.org

[2]

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/oil_for_ape_summary.pdf

 

 

 

 

Contact details:

Friends of the Earth

26-28 Underwood St.

LONDON

N1 7JQ

 

Tel: 020 7490 1555

Fax: 020 7490 0881

Email: info

Website: www.foe.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Michelle Desilets

BOS UK

www.savetheorangutan.org.uk

www.savetheorangutan.info

" Primates Helping Primates "

 

Please sign our petition to rescue over 100 smuggled orangutans in Thailand:

http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/822035733

 

 

 

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