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RT8 Update
If you have your eye on the palm oil industry you’ll have seen plenty of news coming from RT8, the annual meeting of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil this month. One of the outcomes that grabbed the most headlines was the resolution to give high conservation value to secondary, degraded forest, a move that has been welcomed by many environmentalists and campaign groups, including Greenpeace.
For GreenPalm, RT8 was a great opportunity to speak with growers and end-users about sustainable palm oil and the GreenPalm system. There was a lot of interest in our certificate-trading option, especially as the pressure builds on businesses to have their sustainable sourcing strategies clearly in place ahead of their looming deadlines.
It’s starting to become clear to many manufacturers and retailers that switching to 100% segregated sustainable palm oil by 2015 (or earlier, in some cases) will be very difficult, if not impossible, because of the sheer complexity of multiple, interwoven supply chains. For users of palm kernel oil in large volumes, it’s even more unlikely, as there are still no large-scale, consistent supplies.
That’s where GreenPalm is starting to make more sense than ever. The onus is also growing on businesses to support sustainable production in itself, and help change the industry as a whole, instead of simply using sustainable palm oil and looking after their own image. Again, this is where GreenPalm has true value as a tool for positive change.
Support for smallholders
Smallholders’ contribution to the sustainable palm oil revolution was high on the agenda at RT8 this year. Smallholders, both independent and those contracted to large firms, are responsible for about 40% of all palm oil produced, so it’s vital that they all use sustainable methods. Through GreenPalm, they have a commercial incentive to become RSPO certified, whether or not they export their product.
As we go into 2011, we shall be encouraging even more to sign up for audit and certification, and holding workshops and advice sessions to ensure they have all the support and information they need.
Netherlands goes 100% sustainable
The Netherlands has announced its commitment as a nation to stop buying and using uncertified palm oil by 2015. This is an enormous step and one that really raises the bar and sets a challenge for other countries. As we continue to work on encouraging China and India to join the sustainability movement, the Netherlands could provide real inspiration for the rest of the world to “go Dutch”.
Bound for Germany
There’s one more overseas trip for GreenPalm before the end of the year, as we head to Düsseldorf for REWE on 1st December. We’ll be among more than 100 exhibitors at the food industry showcase, and we hope to speak to many businesses at a time when interest in sustainable palm oil is rapidly growing in Germany.
Until next time, please email me or call me on +44 (0) 1482 332013 with any comments, news or queries.
Bob Norman
General Manager, GreenPalm
