Palm oil growers who plan to convert peatlands and rainforests for new plantations have been warned: one of the world’s largest agribusiness companies is not interested in your palm oil.
On Tuesday, food giant Bunge formally responded to a report that BLD Plantation Bhd, a Malaysian palm oil company, intends to clear some 14,000 hectares of peatlands in Sarawak, potentially triggering the release of 37 million tons of carbon dioxide and violating Bunge’s sustainability policy.
“In light of the recently reported plans of BLD, Bunge has suspended indefinitely any new commercial activity with Kirana and its affiliates,” Bunge told Mongabay via email. “This decision is effective immediately.”
The statement came just days after the Forest Heroes campaign lodged a complaint with Bunge over BLD’s planned activity. Forest Heroes noted that Bunge’s deforestation-free sourcing policy barred palm oil produced via conversion of peatlands and rainforests.
