'Our target is to source 100 percent RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil by 2015'
Palm oil is a land-efficient crop and an important raw material for the food industry that contributes to economic development in many emerging markets. High demand has led to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations, often in environmentally sensitive areas.
We use only 0.2 percent of global palm oil supplies. However, it is present in many of our products, and we are committed to sourcing it more sustainably.
Mars is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a nonprofit membership organization that promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil. Through the RSPO, we are working to reduce the impacts of palm oil production and address concerns about the industry. While some environmental organizations have questioned the effectiveness of the RSPO, it is the only body that brings together all the relevant industry players, and we are committed to helping it create significant and lasting long-term change.
Currently, we only source palm oil from other RSPO members, although their product is not necessarily certified. We have begun purchasing certified palm oil for our European business and have set a target to use only 100-percent RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil by 2015.
Our businesses have worked together to produce a detailed plan for sourcing certified palm oil and are working toward a 2011 target to source 20 percent of supplies from RSPO-certified suppliers, moving us toward our 2015 goal. Our European markets have already achieved this 20 percent interim target.
