Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé and H.J. Heinz are supporting a plan to certify that the palm oil they use in everything from margarine to cosmetics doesn't accelerate the destruction of
tropical rainforests. The companies have joined a consortium of 200 oil producers, commercial buyers and environmental groups to improve the industry's image and avert a consumer backlash.
Under pressure from retailers and environmental groups, U.S. and European consumer goods and food companies have been leading the push for higher standards in the palm-oil industry. To improve
palm oil's tarnished image, the Malaysia-based Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil--as the industry consortium is known--plans to introduce a system soon to certify palm-oil operations that meet strict
environmental criteria.
Environmental groups fear destruction will accelerate as the price of crude palm oil--called "green gold" by some producers--hits records. Almost 90% of all
palm oil is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia, which have seen widespread deforestation.
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