World's largest palm oil producing company says no to deforestation

A new policy that looks to transform the palm oil
industry was recently announced. Asia's leading
palm oil producer, Wilmar International, said it
has committed to producing only products that
are free from links to deforestation and abuse of
human rights. Palm oil is a $50-billion a year
commodity that is found in half of all consumer
goods. It is in chocolate, baked goods, soaps,
detergents, and many more household items.
The production of it has caused the clearing of
tropical forests for plantations, threatening
ecological systems as well as forest animals.
In addition clearing land for plantations has
threatened the livelihoods of millions of people
who depend on forests for survival.
Scott Poynton, is a forest conservationist and
supply chain expert. He founded the international
nonprofit, The Forest Trusts, TFT, an organization
that works with businesses to help them produce
more responsibly.
He said the announcement by Wilmar
International is a massive one and a huge
commitment that will take a lot of work to
implement.
"There's never been such a strong commitment
in the palm oil industry before, and not only in
the palm oil industry, but in the agribusiness
sector such as soy, or beef, or any of these
sectors. There's never been an announcement
equivalent to this. So it's really of global
significance," explained Poynton.
The forest conservationist highlighted that the
commitment to "No Deforestation, No Peat, No
Exploitation, No High Carbon Stock... " sets a
benchmark for the entire industry, which includes
palm plantations in Africa.
"The Wilmar International is the largest palm oil
company in the world, and controls about 45%
of the global trade in palm oil. Wilmar itself has
interests in Africa, and one of the responses to
the announcement has been some concern
expressed by some civil society organizations,
NGO's, however, Wilmar's response is look we
are going to roll out these policies across our
global operation base which includes Africa," said
Poynton, who added this is good news for Africa
because there is interest in expanding palm oil
production on the continent.
"Palm oil is an opportunity to bring in socio-
economic development but we want to do that
without trashing and destroying the
environment, or people's lives," pointed out
Poynton. And he said the transformative policies
to protect forests and people will help ensure that
any new development that comes about will be
done in the right way.