Retailers sourcing more sustainable palm oil
EU retailers and manufacturers are taking more action to ensure they procure sustainable palm oil than they did two years ago, according to WWF's second Palm Oil Buyers' Scorecard.
This year 132 firms participated in the research, which scores companies against their membership of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and their commitments to sourcing palm oil from RSPO-certified suppliers.
The 2011 scorecard reveals that 66% of participants have pledged to ensure all their palm oil is RSPO-certified by 2015, but nearly half of the retailers and more than 20% of manufacturers scored very poorly.
“It is possible to source certified sustainable palm oil to cover most or all of a firm’s palm oil usage, so there are no excuses for all companies not to take action,” said Adam Harrison, WWF’s palm oil expert.
UK firms including Allied Bakeries, Cadbury’s and Waitrose were awarded top marks in this year’s scorecard.