CEREAL MANUFACTUERER Kellogg’s has announced its global commitment to work with palm oil suppliers to ensure the product is fully traceable. The company has said that as part of its commitment it only wants to use palm only which is “produced in a manner that’s environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable”.
Kellogg’s is working through its supply chain to ensure that palm oil used is sourced from plantations that uphold the company’s commitment to protect forests and peat lands, as well as human and community rights.
Although a very small user of palm oil, Kellogg’s first started responsibly sourcing palm oil in 2009 and has worked closely with palm oil suppliers and stakeholders across the globe. All of the palm oil Kellogg’s has used since 2011 has been sourced through a combination of RSPO certified segregated supply, RSPO mass balance mixed-source supply, and the purchase of GreenPalm certificates.
“As a socially responsible company, traceable, transparent sourcing of palm oil is important to us, and we are collaborating with our suppliers to make sure the palm oil we use is not associated with deforestation, climate change or the violation of human rights,” said Diane Holdorf, Kellogg’s Company Chief Sustainability Officer.
Kellogg’s has called for all global palm oil suppliers to trace palm oil to plantations that are independently verified as legally compliant. Suppliers must also support to the company’s principles for protecting forests, peat lands, and communities and comply with all Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) principles and criteria.
“By partnering closely with our suppliers to meet these expectations, we will work together to address the important topic of deforestation,” Holdorf said. “Every year we make significant progress against this important priority, and as we seek to further advance these goals, we will continue to report annually on our progress.”
The commitment is gathering support from external stakeholders such as Green Century Capital Management, an environmentally responsible investment advisory firm that provides eco-conscientious people opportunities to invest in ways that encourage environmentally responsible corporate behaviour.
