Sourcing palm oil
Palm oil is an important and versatile raw material for both the food and non-food industries, accounting for more than 28m tonnes of the world's annual 95m tonnes of vegetable oil. However - as oil palm can only be cultivated in the tropical areas of Asia, Africa and South America - there are concerns that the soaring global demand is causing the expansion of some plantations into eco-sensitive areas.
In March 2006, Waitrose became a Member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) - a global, multi-stakeholder forum set up to encourage the sustainable production and use of palm oil. As a member in the RSPO's Retailer category, Waitrose commits to the organisation's objectives and will actively contribute to the growth of sustainable palm oil through its practices and the implementation of relevant projects.
Waitrose does not sell any own-label palm oil and - because of its strict technical specifications and the importance it places on traceability - is aware of the small but growing number of own-brand products in which palm oil is used as an ingredient. Also, because of its concern about sustainability, a policy to govern its sourcing has been developed and guidelines for implementation in partnership with the oil producers who supply it are being developed. Waitrose are keen to see the industry develop robust and auditable traceability systems for commodity oils such as palm oil.
Nick Monger-Godfrey, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Waitrose, comments:
We have joined the roundtable because we firmly believe that its work is essential if we are to be able to source sustainable palm oil in the future. Many media reports focus on how land conversion in areas like Indonesia is endangering species such as the orangutan. This is occurring because of the huge increase in the demand for palm oil, whether as a biofuel, or as a replacement for Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (HVO) used in foodstuffs. Waitrose has already taken significant steps to remove HVOs but we are conscious that if palm oil is to be used as a replacement, it must originate from sustainably certified plantations.
The Roundtable, although less than three years old, is already beginning to develop practical solutions. In November last year, the Roundtable agreed international standards for sustainable palm oil production, and it expects a small number of plantations to produce the first batch of independently accredited palm oil later this year. However, as an international traded commodity food producers and retailers will not be able to purchase certified palm oil in any quantity until the industry has helped audit systems to enable full traceability.
Our policy
Waitrose is committed to offering quality food and drink. As a responsible retailer we aim to source ingredients with the least possible impact on the environment. We recognise that with rising demand, it is essential that palm oil is sourced from sustainable plantations to ensure that we do not contribute to the destruction of high value conservation forests which is threatening the biodiversity and the livelihoods of the local communities that are dependent on it.
To achieve our objective of only sourcing palm oil from sustainable sources, Waitrose are committed to the following:
- To clearly label our food. Waitrose already has in place a technical policy to name oils, rather than use the term 'blended vegetable oils'. As a result we can confirm that palm oil is used as an ingredient in only a small number of our own branded products, which are identifiable to our customers.
- To support the work of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. As members Waitrose are committed to actively participate and promote its principles and goals and to work with our suppliers and the Roundtable to help develop robust and auditable traceability systems for the international supply of commodity oils such as palm.
- To communicate our policy with our suppliers and encourage them to adhere.
For more information
For more information about responsible sourcing of palm oil, visit the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil at http://www.rspo.org 
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