Sustainable palm oil is the norm

84% of all the palm oil processed by the Dutch food industry in 2015 was sustainable, according to the final report by the Task Force Sustainable Palm Oil.

The percentage of sustainable palm oil in the Dutch food industry rose from 30% at the end of 2011 to 84% at the end of 2015. Sustainable palm oil’s percentage in physical flows also increased in 2015: of all the sustainable palm oil used, 80% was certified as ‘Mass Balanced’ or ‘Segregated’. Lamb Weston/Meijer (LWM), manufacturer of frozen potato products, won the 2015 Task Force Sustainable Palm Oil award for its complete transition to 100%-sustainable palm oil in line with the Task Force Commitment. 

Goal achieved

In 2010, associations from eight different sectors of the Dutch palm oil supply chain committed to the goal of achieving ‘100% sustainable palm oil for the Dutch market by the end of 2015’. Five years later, it has become apparent that the palm oil processed by these sectors and specifically for the Dutch market is actually 100% sustainable. This holds true for both the food industry and the animal feed industry. Hence, the Task Force’s ambition has been achieved. Eddy Esselink, Chair of the Task Force Sustainable Palm Oil: “This result is a milestone along the path towards a sustainable palm oil supply chain. Now that the companies and associations that are connected to the Task Force have achieved their aims, the next step is for the last remaining Dutch companies and associations switch to sustainable palm oil too.”  

Future 

The success of the Dutch Task Force has resulted in the formation of national initiatives focused on sustainable palm oil in ten other European countries. Together they are working towards the goal of the whole of Europe using only sustainable palm oil by 2020. This objective is receiving support from, among others, the European Sustainable Palm Oil (ESPO) project and the governments in five European member states. The members of the Task Force Sustainable Palm Oil are continuing to work towards a more sustainable palm oil supply chain via the Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil (DASPO). 

www.taskforceduurzamepalmolie.nl