Source: Australian Food News

Story By: Matt Paish

Australian companies are buying more certified sustainable palm oil than ever before, according to an assessment of palm oil buyers by multi-national conservation group, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The WWF today released its Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard 2011, which measures over 130 major retailers and consumer goods manufacturers by looking at their commitment to, and use of, palm oil certified to the internationally recognised standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

Palm oil is a highly versatile vegetable oil derived from very productive oil palm trees grown only in the tropics. Green activists claim that palm oil plantations are replacing rainforests and destroying wildlife habitats. Others counter-argue that palm oil can be produced sustainably.

Australian retailers Woolworths, Coles Supermarkets and Metcash; as well as food producers Goodman Fielder, Arnott’s, Snack Brands and Peerless Holdings were amongst those analysed by the WWF.

According to the WWF, most major Australian food companies have increased their use of sustainable palm oil over the past year. The WWF found that 66 per cent of the companies have committed to sourcing 100 per cent Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil-certified palm oil by 2015 or earlier.

To read the full story, follow this link: www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2011/11/23/wwf-praises-australian-companies-for-sustainable-palm-oil-efforts.html