Companies that make top brands including Kit Kat chocolate and Dove soap may face fines if they fail to buy more green palm oil under new rules aimed at improving the controversial industry's environmental sustainability.
Swathes of jungle, particularly in the world's top producers Indonesia and Malaysia, continue to be cleared as plantations expand aggressively, laying waste to the habitats of a kaleidoscope of rare animals, including endangered orangutans and Borneo pygmy elephants. Iceland's managing director had previously criticised the"agonisingly slow" progress in sustainable palm oil production.
Major companies value membership as it boosts their green credentials and losing it can bring a flood of negative publicity. In a bid to force them into action, the watchdog will require companies to increase their purchases of sustainable palm oil by 15 percent every year or potentially face fines or suspension from the body.
Nestle, whose products also include Smarties and Quality Street chocolates, said it was committed to having 100 percent of its palm oil certified by the green body by 2023.Last year Nestle's sustainable palm oil use reached 56 percent in Europe but in China, where there is less consumer pressure, the figure was zero, according to data the company provided to the RSPO.
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