• Latest
  • Trending
The palm oil industry promises reform, but there’s still no sign of change

The palm oil industry promises reform, but there’s still no sign of change

December 4, 2017
UK announces ‘protectionist measures’ for its agriculture

UK announces ‘protectionist measures’ for its agriculture

February 21, 2019
Olives pitting US against EU in global trade fight

Olives pitting US against EU in global trade fight

February 21, 2019
Business news in brief

Business news in brief

February 21, 2019
Top European court rejects application concerning dam construction

Top European court rejects application concerning dam construction

February 21, 2019
EU committee shelves climate concerns to open US trade talks

EU committee shelves climate concerns to open US trade talks

February 21, 2019
HC asks NGO to respond to CBI plea in Talwar case

HC asks NGO to respond to CBI plea in Talwar case

February 20, 2019
UK Presses EU for Brexit Compromise

UK Presses EU for Brexit Compromise

February 20, 2019
Germany sees ‘most difficult part’ in EU-U.S. trade talks ahead

Germany sees ‘most difficult part’ in EU-U.S. trade talks ahead

February 20, 2019
European farms could grow green and still be able to feed population

European farms could grow green and still be able to feed population

February 20, 2019
Canadian pork exports to Mexico soar as trade wars bite U.S. farmers

Canadian pork exports to Mexico soar as trade wars bite U.S. farmers

February 20, 2019
Olive oil lubricates EU trade visit

Low returns and rural areas’ restrictions keep young Greek farmers away

February 18, 2019
Olive oil lubricates EU trade visit

Olive oil lubricates EU trade visit

February 18, 2019
-18 °c
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Eco Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • Green Policies
    • National Security
  • Economics
    • Green Economy
    • Oil & Gas, Mining
    • Finance & Banking
  • Environment
    • Water
    • Forests
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Waste
    • Wildlife
  • Agriculture
    • Food
    • Farming
    • Palm Oil
    • GMO
  • Science
    • Research & Reports
    • Publications
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • Oceania
  • Lifestyle
    • Green education
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Health
    • Green Jobs
  • Home
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • Green Policies
    • National Security
  • Economics
    • Green Economy
    • Oil & Gas, Mining
    • Finance & Banking
  • Environment
    • Water
    • Forests
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Waste
    • Wildlife
  • Agriculture
    • Food
    • Farming
    • Palm Oil
    • GMO
  • Science
    • Research & Reports
    • Publications
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • Oceania
  • Lifestyle
    • Green education
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Health
    • Green Jobs
No Result
View All Result
Eco Daily News
No Result
View All Result

The palm oil industry promises reform, but there’s still no sign of change

December 4, 2017
in Agriculture, Farming, Forestry, Palm Oil
0
Home Agriculture
Post Views: 149

 

It was ten years ago that Greenpeace first published an investigation into Indonesia’s palm oil industry. We showed that the world’s biggest brands got their palm oil from companies destroying Indonesia’s rainforests – threatening local people as well as tigers and orangutans.

As people learned the truth about their shampoo, cosmetics and chocolate bars, brands and their suppliers started to feel the pressure. In 2013, Wilmar became the first palm oil trader to adopt a No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy. Others followed suit, and by the end of 2014, most household brands and big palm oil companies had sworn to protect Indonesia’s rainforests.

Greenpeace doesn’t take companies at their word – we watch them closely to make sure they’re keeping their promises. A couple of years ago, we investigated household brands and weren’t that impressed with what we found. So this year, we took a look at the biggest palm oil traders – the companies that brands get their palm oil from.

The results are alarming. Not one of the traders could prove it wasn’t buying from palm oil companies that destroyed rainforests. Most could not even say when there would be no deforestation in their supply chains. Instead of cutting out dirty palm oil, traders have a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy – they pretend everything is under control while Indonesia’s forests go up in smoke.

Indonesia’s people and environment are paying for the industry’s failure. The country has lost 31 million hectares of forest – an area almost the size of Germany – since 1990. A recent study on Borneo and Sumatra orangutans showed that the population has significantly declined, with destruction of their habitat a leading cause of the crisis. Forest destruction has also contributed to the annual fires and haze crisis that threatens the health of people across Southeast Asia. One study estimated that the 2015 fires crisis contributed to over 100,000 premature deaths. NGOs have also uncovered widespread human rights abuses in palm oil plantations, including child labour and worker exploitation.

This should be a wake-up call for brands like PepsiCo, Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Mondelez. These brands promised their customers they would cut ties with forest destruction. For too long, brands have passed the buck to their suppliers – the traders whose progress we assessed and found wanting. It’s time brands took responsibility for the palm oil they’re using. The first step is to tell us where their palm oil really comes from.

Then brands need to clean up their supply chains and cut out anyone still destroying forests. That’s the only way we’ll get this destructive industry to change. Thankfully it’s not all bad news. Just a few weeks ago, scientists discovered a whole new species of orangutan in Sumatra! This is an amazing discovery – but like the rest of the orangutan popular, there’s a big risk that their habitat gets destroyed. It’s up to us to make sure that these amazing creatures have healthy branches to swing on in the future.

 

Bagus KUSUMA is a forest campaigner with Greenpeace Southeast Asia

 

 

Greenpeace

Tags: deforestationforest firesGreenpeace Southeast AsiaPalm Oil Industry
ShareTweetShare
Next Post
World gathers at UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi to tackle global menace of pollution

World gathers at UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi to tackle global menace of pollution

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

eleven − eleven =

Translate

Links

Popular Post

UK announces ‘protectionist measures’ for its agriculture
Agriculture

UK announces ‘protectionist measures’ for its agriculture

February 21, 2019
0

Britain will impose tariffs as well as quotas and will introduce subsidies to support its farmers in the event of a...

Read more
What are New Zealand’s environmental priorities over the next 20 years?

What are New Zealand’s environmental priorities over the next 20 years?

July 15, 2016
South China Sea Ruling: China Caused ‘Irreparable Harm’ to Environment

South China Sea Ruling: China Caused ‘Irreparable Harm’ to Environment

July 15, 2016
Climate change department shut down by Theresa May in ‘plain stupid’ and ‘deeply worrying’ move

Climate change department shut down by Theresa May in ‘plain stupid’ and ‘deeply worrying’ move

July 15, 2016
Animal shelter uses Pokémon Go craze to enlist volunteer dog walkers

Animal shelter uses Pokémon Go craze to enlist volunteer dog walkers

July 15, 2016
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

Ecodaily.eu is part of Eco Daily Media Group LLC, which delivers daily news around the globe.

© 2011 Eco Daily

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • Green Policies
    • National Security
  • Economics
    • Green Economy
    • Oil & Gas, Mining
    • Finance & Banking
  • Environment
    • Water
    • Forests
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Waste
    • Wildlife
  • Agriculture
    • Food
    • Farming
    • Palm Oil
    • GMO
  • Science
    • Research & Reports
    • Publications
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • Oceania
  • Lifestyle
    • Green education
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Health
    • Green Jobs

© 2011 Eco Daily