The UK government has pledged to ensure all palm oil used in its food and catering services will come from sustainable sources by 2015.

Environment Minister Richard Benyon announced on Tuesday (30th October) that the government would be working with a number of supermarkets as well as environment and wildlife charity WWF to ensure the sustainability of palm oil used in the UK.

Palm oil is used in a wide range of everyday products, including numerous foods, sanitary products and cosmetics. However, much of the palm oil currently used is sourced from huge plantations, expansion of which is responsible for a significant proportion of deforestation of tropical forests around the world. In Indonesia, palm oil production accounts for 60 percent of deforestation.  

Timing his announcement to coincide with the International Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil annual conference, which is taking place in Singapore from 29th-31st October, Environment Minister Richard Benyon said, "The Government is leading the way by ensuring that only environmentally friendly sourced palm oil is used in its central food and catering services. This is great news for wildlife and forests around the world.

"People want to know that the products they are using are not contributing to deforestation and climate change and many UK businesses are already starting to make changes. Producers, manufacturers and charities will continue working together to speed up the move to 100 percent sustainable palm oil in everyday products."

The Government has pledged to set up an advice and information service to help UK businesses and government procurers work towards sourcing 100 percent sustainable palm oil. The government announcement follows the publication of numerous scientific studies which reveal the high environmental cost of palm production, making the issue one of global importance.

However, wildlife and environmental campaign organisation WWF responded that the government must step up its response given the severity of damage caused by unsustainable palm oil production.  WWF food and agriculture policy officer Adam Harrison said that, given the scale of the threat to the natural world posed by unsustainable palm oil expansion, it is critically important that industry and government come together to take meaningful action now.

The organisation said it would like to see all sectors, and individual companies within each sector, make public commitments to source 100 percent certified sustainable palm oil by 2015 and, more importantly, to start buying RSPO certified palm oil immediately.

Adam Harrison added, "The impacts of irresponsible and unsustainable palm oil expansion to meet growing demand are completely unacceptable in terms of deforestation, damage to wildlife and climate change. The urgency of the problem needs an equally urgent response.

"Whilst we welcome the National Statement as significant, it does not convey clearly enough the need to take action now. The whole UK palm oil industry from traders and processors through to manufacturers needs to match the best actions taken by individual businesses that have already committed to using 100% RSPO certified palm oil and which are, it many cases, well on the way to achieving this commitment ahead of time."

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