Sustainable palm oil gets boost in China
© WWF-Canon / Hartmut JUNGIUS
China-based producers and users of palm oil have
announced they intend to provide more support for sustainable palm oil.
Beijing, China — Major China-based producers and users of palm oil have
announced they intend to provide more support for sustainable palm oil, an
important boost for efforts to halt tropical deforestation.
The public statement, made at the 2nd International Oil and Fats Summit in
Beijing on July 9, committed the companies to "support the promotion,
procurement and use of sustainable palm oil in China," as well as "support
the production of sustainable palm oil through any investments in producing
countries."
China is currently the world’s largest importer of palm oil, accounting
for one third of all global trade. Increasing demand for palm oil, which is
used in everything from soap to chocolate bars, is causing considerable
damage to fragile rainforest environments, threatening endangered species
like tigers, and contributing to global climate change.
Palm oil producers and buyers making the statement included Wilmar
International, IOI Corperation, KLK Berhad, Kulim Malaysia Berhad, Asia
Agri., Premier Foods PLC and Unilever PLC. Oxfam International, TransAsia
Lawyers, and Solidaridad China were signatories.
“Given the massive of volumes of palm oil now being purchased, any move
China makes towards using sustainable palm oil will have a big influence on
protecting tropical forest resources in South East Asia and other areas,”
said WWF-China Country Representative Dermot O’Gorman.
WWF helped set up the international Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
in 2004, with the aim of establishing global standards for sustainable palm
oil production and promoting the use of products containing sustainable palm
oil.
WWF-China first introduced sustainable palm oil to Chinese companies in
2004, and continues to encourage the country’s buyers, producers, and
traders to participate in RSPO.
Sustainable palm oil received a massive boost in November 2008 when Dr. Huo
Jiangguo, President of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of
Foodstuffs and Native Produce, attended the RSPO annual conference in
Indonesia and announced that China supported the drive for more sustainable
palm oil products.
“Industry in China acknowledges that sustainability is one of the key
criteria of ensuring competence in the global market,” said Dr. Bian Zhenghu,
vice president of the China Chamber of Commerce during his opening address
to the forum.
“The roundtable encourages the entire industry chain to make a move towards
sustainability, and also gives Chinese stakeholders a big opportunity to
play a significant role achieving the aims of RSPO,” Dr. Bian said.
In conjunction with the summit, CFNA and WWF China organized a dialogue on
promoting sustainable palm oil in China. More than 100 participants from
government and industry attended the summit. Representatives from Malaysia,
Indonesia and Europe presented findings on the growth and impact of
sustainable palm oil development in key producing countries and trade
regions. At the conclusion, the names of pioneer signatories to the
Statement of Support for promoting sustainable palm oil in China were
announced.
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