Sustainable Palm Oil
Policy Position
- The UK is a small player in the complex global market for palm oil, importing
only 1%[1] of the world’s annual crop.
- Some UK imports are used by FDF members and we support the need for those
imports to be from more sustainable sources.
- To tackle this, we support the aims and the multistakeholder approach of the
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) which is promoting the growth and use
of sustainable palm oil and has worked to bring certified palm oil to the
market.
- FDF encourages the active participation from its members in this global
initiative and looks forward to it delivering against its aims.
1. HMRC and USDA 2009 figures
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Background
Over 137.2 million tonnes of vegetable oil are produced worldwide every year, of
which 36%[2] is palm oil and palm kernel oil, the world’s largest oil crop. Over 87%[3] of the world’s
palm
oil is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, with the balance coming largely from
other parts of South Asia, West Africa and South America. This oil is
exported worldwide and
used
as a key raw material for both food and non-food industries. Because of its
versatility, the global demand for palm oil over the last decade has resulted
in
a
rapid expansion of production. Whilst the best oil palm plantations serve as
models
of
sustainable agriculture, serious concerns have been raised that not
all
palm
oil is
being produced sustainably.
As part of a global strategy on sustainable sourcing of commodities, the
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was formally established in April
2004. The
RSPO aims to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through
co-operation within the supply chain and open dialogue with its stakeholders.
Since its
formation, the RSPO has grown steadily in size having now approximately 300
members
and has established a RSPO certification system to bring certified sustainable
palm oil into the global market place.
2. USDA 2009
3. USDA 2009
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Last reviewed: 09 Mar 2010