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Marieke Leegwater | leegwater@mvo.nl
Telephone +31(0) 70 319 51 36
Fax +31 (0) 70 319 51 96
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July 26th, 2011
Cargill commits to supply RSPO certified sustainable palm oil to customers by 2015
Cargill has announced the palm oil products it supplies to its customers in Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and/or sourced from smallholder growers by 2015 (this excludes palm kernel oil products). This commitment will be extended across all Cargill's oil and trading businesses to cover 100 percent of its palm oil products and all customers worldwide - including China and India - by 2020.
 "Cargill is an active supporter of sustainable palm and has been a member of the RSPO since it was founded. We hope this commitment will encourage more participation across the supply chain and help RSPO palm oil become the mainstream", said Paul Conway, vice chairman of Cargill. "This goal will help us meet the rising demand for sustainable palm oil products amongst manufacturers and retailers, while continuing to encourage palm oil producers to adopt more sustainable practices."
Cargill already offers RSPO certified palm oil products to its customers. Its European, Malaysian, United States and Australian refineries have received RSPO certification. Its oil palm plantation at PT Hindoli in Sumatra, Indonesia, has also been certified and smallholder farmers at this location became the first to be certified under the RSPO's Smallholder Principles & Criteria in late 2010. The company also has its own policies in place for responsible palm production on its own plantations including commitments to not plant on high conservation value forests (HCVF); to not develop new plantations on deep peat land or land which is of importance to biodiversity; and a strict no-burn policy for land preparation.
The RSPO Principles & Criteria define the practices for sustainable palm oil production covering the legal, economic, environmental and social requirements of producing sustainable palm oil. At the end of 2010, 70 percent of Cargill's total crude palm oil was purchased from RSPO members and Cargill is encouraging its third party suppliers to join RSPO and attain certification for all of their palm plantations. For the full press statement please see: www.cargill.com/news-center/news-releases/2011/NA3047151.jsp
European Commission recognizes RTRS EU RED scheme
The European Commission has decided to recognize the Round Table on Responsible Soy EU RED scheme as voluntary scheme with which compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive can be demonstrated.
The RTRS scheme is among the first seven schemes to receive this recognition. Other schemes being recognized include:
- ISCC (German (government financed) scheme covering all types of biofuels)
- Bonsucro EU (Roundtable initiative for sugarcane based biofuels, focus on Brazil)
- RTRS EU RED (Roundtable initiative for soy based biofuels, focus on Argentina and Brazil)
- RSB EU RED (Roundtable initiative covering all types of biofuels)
- 2BSvs (French industry scheme covering all types of biofuels)
- RSBA (Industry scheme for Abengoa covering their supply chain)
The recognition will enter into force 20 days after its publication on 20 July and will be valid for 5 years. Changes of the scheme that may affect the recognition have to be notified to the European Commission.
The RSPO palm oil scheme has not been recognized yet. It is expected to be in the second batch of schemes to be evaluated by the European Commission. RTRS Executive Director Agustin Mascotena said: 'This EU recognition is a significant milestone for both the RTRS and the soy value chain as a whole. The RTRS Standard goes beyond EU-RED requirements, the latter consisting of some production and chain of custody specifics that differ from the RTRS Standard. Producers that certify RTRS have the possibility to include the biofuel annex to the auditing process. The annex is optional for those farmers that produce soy for biofuels exported to the European Union. Its creation was supported by Shell and several other stakeholder companies from the sector.'
In May the RTRS launched a new version of its RTRS Chain of Custody Standard. In this new version (2.1.) the Standard introduces Module E, which is aligned with EU RED requirements for mass balance EU RED certifications. Click here for this version.
Click here for the Commission Decision.
Click here for the full Commission press release.
Euro Fed Lipid Theme 'Oils and fats for a healthy and sustainable world' 18-21 September Rotterdam
From 18-21 September 2011, the Euro Fed Lipid Congress will take place in Rotterdam. The theme of this year's edition is: 'Oils and fats for a healthy and sustainable world'. The intended audience will include close to 800 professionals and scientists of the oils and fats sector. It is the first time that sustainability features on the agenda of this annual scientific event.
 As Sustainability is on the agenda for the first time it will get significant attention. The conference will be opened by Mr. Chandran (former Chief Executive of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association and one of the founding fathers of RSPO) who will speak on sustainability challenges and opportunities for palm oil. Furthermore there will be sessions on food security, sustainable sourcing of soy, rapeseed and palm oil and life cycle assessments of oils and fats. One session will be explicitly devoted to sustainable palm oil. The Product Board MVO was responsible for compiling the programme and will chair the sessions together with Professor Rudy Rabbinge from the Wageningen University.
During the sessions other speakers will include Cassio Franco Moreira of WWF Brazil on responsible soy, Jan Kees Vis of Unilever on the state of play within the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Eddy Esselink and Caroline Sikking of Unilever and Cargill on their efforts to work towards sustainable rapeseed production. During the session on palm oil sustainability Y.M Choo of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board will speak on the government's role in sustainable palm oil development. Furthermore FrieslandCampina will illustrate its strategy to switch to the use of sustainable palm oil.
The congress will give the opportunity to network and stimulate fruitful discussions at the interface of science and technology, research and application. The full programme can be found at www.eurofedlipid.org/meetings/rotterdam/programm_rotterdam_2011.pdf
Online registration is possible via www.eurofedlipid.org/meetings/rotterdam/index.htm.
Registration before 05 August 2011 will guarantee an early bird fee of € 560. After that date, the registration fee will be € 610.
Mapping UK Palm Oil use shows 24 % of UK palm oil is sustainable
DEFRA, the UK department for environment, food and rural affairs, has presented two reports following a mapping project of the palm oil use in the UK. The first report contains policy options, the second more detail on the use of palm oil.
Key findings of the reports, prepared by ProForest, show that the UK consumes 1.2% of global palm oil production and 10% of palm kernel meal. The main uses are shown in the graphic. Food sector use is estimated to be 68% of the total UK import of palm oil and palm kernel oil. Biscuits make up the largest share of this, likely using over 20% of the total import of palm oil. Animal feed use (also ultimately for food) is also very significant. An estimated 23% of the imported palm oil and palm kernel oil plus over 80% of the imported palm kernel meal is used for animal feed. The quantities of palm oil imported in the UK have decreased by 40% over the past five years.
According to the report the UK has imported around 55,000mt of sustainable palm oil as certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Furthermore, it is estimated that UK companies have purchased around 100,000mt of GreenPalm certificates (also through the RSPO). This accounts for around 24% of current UK imports.
Through qualitative analysis of the relative benefits and costs of the policy options the researchers concluded that the highest positive impacts are likely to be achieved by a combination of a public procurement policy that incorporates a time bound goal, together with targeted support and awareness raising to galvanise action across UK supply chains.
A two page summary of both reports can be found here. More information and the full reports can be found on the DEFRA website.
Dutch Bakery and Sweets standard requires use of sustainable palm oil
The Dutch Foundation Environmental Labelling and the Dutch Bakery and Sweets Association have developed a standard for sustainable production. The standard allows operators in the bakery and sweets sector to independently prove they operate in a sustainable way. The standard is composed of obligatory and voluntary requirements relating to sustainable production and sourcing of materials.
The standard contains requirements for the use of palm oil and products derived thereof. Operators for whom the purchase of palm oil products or products derived thereof is less than 5 % of their raw materials supply have three options:
- They have to make sure they purchase or trade palm oil products or products derived thereof that comply with the RSPO standards or an equivalent standard or make sure they cover their use with certificates
- Or they have to have a commitment signed by the director to start doing that within one year
- Or they have to be an RSPO member
Operators for whom more than 5 % of their total raw material purchases concerns palm oil or products derived thereof (based on price) have to guarantee a minimal percentage, starting with 50 % in 2011, of their purchased palm oil products complies with the demands of the RSPO Certification Standard or an equivalent certification scheme, or ensure the volume is covered using GreenPalm certificates.
The standard was developed by the Dutch Foundation Environmental Labelling (Stichting Milieukeur) at the request of the Dutch Bakery and Sweets Association, one of the members of the Dutch Task Force Sustainable Palm Oil, committing to the use of 100 % sustainable palm oil in 2015. Product Board MVO has assisted with the development of the standard.
For the full standard, please click here.
For more information on the full standard, please click here.
Golden Agri Resources Publishes sustainability report
Golden Agri-Resources Ltd (GAR) has published its first sustainability report outlining the company's activities in stakeholder engagement, environment sustainability, social affairs, supplier relations, consumer and customer relations and labour relations.
The report maps out the structure of the company and the full value of the chain of the business. It focuses on the upstream business, namely the plantations, mills and some key aspects of palm oil sales operations of the company in Indonesia over the 2010 calendar year. In addition, the report also covers GAR's key targets in its sustainability initiatives, which include working closely with the international NGO the Forest Trust to help GAR prepare for Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification of its existing palm oil operations by December 2015.
For the full report see: www.goldenagri.com.sg/pdfs/Sustainability/GAR_SustainabilityReport2010.pdf
The press statement can be found via: www.goldenagri.com.sg/sustainability_report.php
Carrefour Indonesia to exclusively source sustainable palm oil products by 2015
PT Carrefour Indonesia has indicated it will exclusively source certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) as of 2015 and start implementing the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) Trademark. With this move the company aims to encourage Carrefour customers to make the right decision in choosing products that contain sustainable palm oil through the RSPO Trademark labelling.
 Faisal Firdaus, Sustainable Development Manager, PT Carrefour Indonesia: "We are confident that environmental consciousness among Indonesian consumers is on the rise. We can observe this rapidly growing sentiment in the day to day life in Indonesia from environmentally friendly choices for transportation modes; recycled materials; and purchase of products. As such, we have committed to exclusively buy certified sustainable palm oil by 2015.
With the RSPO Trademark, which will be displayed on the packaging of products containing palm-derived ingredients sourced in compliance with the RSPO standards, Carrefour's customers can directly be involved in the effort to conserve the environment and in helping to transform the Indonesian palm oil industry into a sustainable industry.
Darrel Webber, Secretary General of RSPO, positively welcomes Carrefour's commitment, which is in line with RSPO's mission. "We hope that the initiative taken by Carrefour will inspire other retailers and other parties in the Indonesian palm oil supply chain to transform the Indonesian palm oil industry into a sustainable industry, so its products can be well-received in international markets, such as Europe, India and China."
Carrefour Indonesia has 81 stores throughout 27 cities in Indonesia. Carrefour stores in Indonesia have recorded 72 million transactions in 2010, up from about 62 million transactions in the previous year. Carrefour products are supplied by 4.000 suppliers, including 70% Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Carrefour Indonesia has also continued to foster SME development by providing a special location for SMEs called People's Corner at several Carrefour stores in Indonesia. Carrefour Indonesia is visioning to become the preferred retailer in Indonesia by 2012.
Cono Kaasmakers invests in sustainable palm kernel use
Cono Cheesemakers (Cono Kaasmakers), in association with the Foundations Nature & Environment (Natuur en Milieu) and Solidaridad, invests in sustainable production of palm kernel. The feed they feed to their cows contains about 10 % palm kernel expeller. Palm kernel expeller is a by-product produced during the production of palm oil.
With the collaboration Cono supports small-scale oil palm growers in Ghana and Malaysia in the transition to certified sustainable palm oil cultivation. The process is accompanied by Solidaridad and its local partners. Earlier, the organizations have started a cooperation for sustainable soy. Since May 2009 Cono participates in the Soy Producer Support Initiative (SOYPSI), an international program for environmentally friendly soy. Local soybean growers get help with investment in sustainable cultivation practices and certification.
Click here for the full press statement (Dutch language).
Waitrose commits to source 100% of soy from RTRS certified sources by 2015
Waitrose, a UK-based supermarket chain, has announced that it is committed to source 100% of the soy in its own label products from sources certified by the Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) by December 2015.
Quentin Clark, Waitrose Head of Sustainable Sourcing says: "Supermarkets account for the vast majority of food purchased in Britain - so we share a collective responsibility to ensure we're not damaging the world's precious resources with the ingredients we source. This is a challenging commitment - our farmers use many tons of Soya each year to feed their animals. But we and our customers need to be confident that Waitrose is part of the solution, not the problem."
This Soya announcement follows an on-going Waitrose commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. The retailer has set one of the most challenging timescales in the industry to switch to only certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), with a commitment to source 100% CSPO by the end of 2012.
For the full article click here.
Indonesia appoints first auditors to certify Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Scheme
Indonesia has approved about a dozen independent auditors to certify against the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standard, said Gamal Nasir, Director-General of Plantation at the Agriculture Ministry. "The auditors could start the certification process now because we have appointed them and we also have asked them to do the certification", Gamal told reporters on the side lines of a parliamentary meeting.
The RSPO secretary-general, Darrel Webber, has described the ISPO as an "excellent" initiative that would complement the RSPO. On the question whether ISPO may compete with RSPO certification the RSPO website gives the following response: Since palm oil is a global commodity, sustainability certificates have to be recognized worldwide. ISPO-certification would be based on criteria set and evaluated by the Indonesian government.
RSPO-certification, however, is based on criteria set by consensus among hundreds of members spanning five continents and seven stakeholder groups. They include leading NGOs, growers, banks, consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. Palm oil mills are audited and certified by independent, third-party certifying bodies, and the supply chain is secured and monitored through certified supply chain systems. It has taken years to build such a comprehensive framework.
ISPO-certification may help Indonesian palm growers work towards complying with the RSPO's criteria. The RSPO does, however, not foresee a global role for ISPO certificates.
Dutch government has spent 70 million on food sustainability
Dutch State Secretary Henk Bleker has informed the Dutch Parliament that the Dutch government has spent slightly over 170 million Euro on projects to make foods more sustainable in 2010. A 100 million of this was attributed to the Dutch Initiative Sustainable Trade. Of the other 70 million most of the budget was spent on innovations.
The full letter can be found here (Dutch language).
Jaap Oskam elected as new RTRS President
Jaap Oskam of Nutreco has been elected as the third president of the executive board of the Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS). He was supported by the European Feed Manufactuers Association FEFAC. Jaap Oskam takes over from Jeroen Douglas of Solidaridad, who has chaired the organisation during the last two years.
After the election FEFAC President Patrick Vanden Avenne stated: "It was a great honour and show of confidence for the European feed industry, to see Mr Jaap Oskam as their representative on the RTRS board elected as RTRS President." Nutreco is an active member of FEFAC's RTRS Task Force, which is providing technical expertise to the RTRS working groups seeking to facilitate the progressive implementation of the RTRS global standard on responsible soy which was adopted last year.
At the 6th International Conference on Responsible Soy, RT6, held in Buenos Aires on 15-16 June 2011, RTRS informed that app. 500,000 t of RTRS certified soybeans have been contracted this year and that it is aiming at doubling that amount in 2012. Several FEFAC Member Associations and companies have expressed sector commitments about a step-wide phasing-in of RTRS certified imports of soybean meal into Europe.
For the full press statement please click here.
SC Johnson to buy only sustainable palm oil
SC Johnson has announced that by 2015, it will only purchase palm oil-based ingredients that originate from responsible and sustainable sources. SC Johnson uses palm oil-based ingredients in some of its home cleaning products as a stabilizer, meaning these ingredients help maintain the consistency of a product. It also uses a small amount in some of its air care products.
"While SC Johnson's use of palm oil-based ingredients is relatively small, as a family company we believe responsibility is critical at every level. Being a smaller purchaser doesn't let us off the hook", said Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson, the fifth generation leader of SC Johnson. "Our commitment to the families who buy our products is that we will work hard to identify the best ingredients, we will source them responsibly and we will be transparent about what's inside our products."
Working with its suppliers as well as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), of which SC Johnson is a member, the company intends to ensure that all of the palm oil-based ingredients it purchases come from certified, sustainable sources in 2015.
For the full article see: www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sc-johnson-to-buy-only-sustainable-palm-oil-122504548.html
Sustainability in the Food Chain 20-22 September, London
On 20-22 September Public Ledger and Agra Europe organise 'Sustainability in the Food Chain'. The 20 September day will be fully devoted to assuring the supply of sustainable palm oil.
Speakers on the day include Yves Augrandjean of IOI Loders Croklaan, Alasdair McGregor of BM Trada and Andrew Worral of New Britain Oils. The day will be chaired by MVO.
For the full program, please click here.
Expert meeting "Who will feed the World?, 31 August Amsterdam
On 31 August Oxfam Novib and The Agri-ProFocus partnership organise an expert meeting on 'Who will feed the world' in Amsterdam. Speakers will include Dr Jan Kees Vis, Global Director Sustainable Sourcing Development, Unilever, leading scientists Prof Dr Rudy Rabbinge, of the Wageningen University and Research Center (WUR) and board member of AGRA, and Prof Dr Jan Douwe van der Ploeg, Professor of Rural Sociology at WUR, and author of, among many others, the book "The New Peasantries, Struggles for Autonomy and Sustainability in an Era of Empire and Globalization".
The meeting will take place on 31st August 13.30 - 17.30 hours at the Willem de Zwijger Pakhuis. It is free of entry, but, no-show without notification will cost €25.
More information and the invitation can be found via: www.agri-profocus.nl/newsletter/testnieuwsbrief/
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