In a big boost for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification standard, the Netherlands has committed to only using sustainable palm oil by the end of 2015—and becomes the first nation to do so. Dutch businesses are Europe’s largest importer and exporter of palm oil (about 2 million tons annually) with much of it going into products sold throughout the European Union.
The whole plan has been coordinated by the Dutch Task Force for Sustainable Palm Oil, initiated by the Dutch Product Board for Margarine (MVO). Director of MVO, Frans Claassen touted the motivation for the move:
“Dutch business has long been closely involved in efforts to make the palm oil supply chain more sustainable. The country has been one of the front runners in this respect. Now we commit ourselves to acting on our beliefs. Over the next few years, we will work very hard to ensure that all palm oil used in the Netherlands will be sustainable by the end of 2015…We call on other countries in Europe, North America and Asia to follow this example.”
Obviously, whether this goal is met by the end of 2015 remains to be seen, but some cheering is in order.
