We pledge to use sustainable palm oil to protect endangered habitats
We've announced that the palm oil used in our own brand food will now come from certified sustainable sources. The first food on our shelves to contain certified sustainable palm oil will be Sainsbury’s Basics Fish Fingers that will convert by May 2008. This is another UK first for us, once again showing our leadership in responsible sourcing, and means that nearly eight million fish fingers will contain certified sustainable palm oil making an everyday food more ethical. The fish fingers are also Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) approved. Increased demand for palm oil is potentially an environmental catastrophe impacting on climate change, deforestation, the habitats of orangutans, as well as local communities. Also, by July 2008 we'll be the first supermarket to sell soap that contains certified sustainable palm oil. This is approximately three million bars every year. Providing honest and transparent labelling for our customers, we'll also be the first supermarket to label the use of palm oil in all our food. Labelling will be completed on our fresh and chilled food by July 2008. This news came as the annual fifth Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) conference took place in Malaysia.
Judith Batchelar, Director of Sainsbury’s brand, said: “From soap to biscuits, palm oil is in thousands of everyday food and beauty items wherever you shop. Rather than banning the use of palm oil, we want to find a sustainable solution that will stop deforestation while continuing to support the communities that rely on its production. By being the first supermarket to pledge that we will only use certified sustainable palm oil, we will help endangered species such as the orangutan and sumatran tiger, two of the most threatened species on the planet. Closer to home, we are investing in improving the sourcing of raw materials and updating our packaging. Once again, Sainsbury’s is using its scale to create major and positive change on a significant environmental issue that our customers care about. “
Adam Harrison, Senior Policy Officer, Food and Agriculture, WWF, said: "We welcome Sainsbury's move to address the serious impacts of palm oil demand and hope that their actions will inspire others to follow suit and commit to using only Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified palm oil. All retailers need to take action on palm oil and on their other major environmental impacts. We need a concerted push on all fronts such as cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the water footprint throughout their supply chains."
Michelle Desilets, the founder and executive director of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK, said: “It is a huge step for Sainsbury’s to make this commitment to source palm oil from certified sustainable sources. The future of wild orangutans in Borneo, and many other species that live in ancient forests across the developing world is in the hands of every consumer.”
