Indonesia: the multinationals refuse to say as to where their palm oil

AFP

AFP

Monday, 19 march, 2018 06:15

UPDATE
Monday, 19 march, 2018 06:23

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JAKARTA | multinational companies such as PepsiCo, Kellogg’s and Johnson&Johnson refuse to reveal the source of their palm oil, has denounced Monday the NGO Greenpeace, blaming these brands do not live up to their promises to fight against deforestation.

The palm oil is present in many products — from biscuits to cosmetics, passing by the biofuels — and its production contributes to deforestation in tropical areas, threatening species like the Sumatran tiger and the orangutan.

Sixteen multinational companies are among the biggest brand names of products of everyday consumption are not a good way to put an end to deforestation through their supply chains by 2020, in spite of their promises in this regard, says Greenpeace in a report.

The NGO had requested last January for the multinational companies to reveal the details on their supplies of palm oil, and only half of the major groups concerned had agreed to disclose such information.

The other half, including multinational companies such as Ferrero, Hershey, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Heinz, Johnson&Johnson, PepsiCo, PZ Cussons and Smucker’s, was denied, adds Greenpeace.

“The brands have promised repeatedly to put an end to deforestation by 2020. While it remains less than two years, they are no longer able to ” get there, said Kiki Taufik, head of the campaign against the deforestation in Indonesia for Greanpeace South-East Asia.

“Some, such as Nestlé and Unilever, have spoken out clearly on this. Others, among them PZ Cussons, Johnson&Johnson and Kraft, Heinz, continue to leave consumers in ignorance “, he added.

None of these companies contacted by AFP was not available in the immediate to react.

Every year in Indonesia, the forest fires – lit for the most part illegally, in order to clear and fertilize the land in order to increase in particular the plantations of palm oils – are destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares.

Only a minority of plantations currently meet the local standards relatively flexible for the exploitation of the oil palm, a strategic sector in Indonesia, which contributes largely to the exports, according to NGOS.