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An important target has been reached by GreenPalm, the certificate trading programme that rewards palm oil producers for operating sustainably.
Producers have earned more than $2.1M, just 12 months after signing up for GreenPalm, by selling certificates showing they meet stringent criteria for environmental and social sustainability set out by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
With GreenPalm, there is no need to change or replace a company’s existing supply chain. This is how it works …
Once certified by the RSPO, a palm oil producer can register a proportion of its product with GreenPalm. For each tonne of sustainably produced palm oil, the producer is awarded one GreenPalm certificate, which can then be offered for sale online at www.greenpalm.org
Manufacturers or retailers of products containing palm oil can then bid for and buy those certificates on line, in order to be able to claim that they have supported the production of sustainable palm oil. Consumers can then make environmentally and socially responsible purchasing decisions.
The trading and processing of the palm oil itself does not change, but producers have a greater incentive to work sustainably. The support of the companies buying GreenPalm certificates has been central to the programme’s success so far. Certificates have been redeemed by more than– retailers and manufacturers, and they are listed in the ‘market’ section of www.greenpalm.org, under ‘Redeemed Certificate Owners’.
In addition the GreenPalm membership list is growing every day. There are currently more than 60 members, including major UK retail multiples, high profile manufacturers and food service organisations. You can take a look at who they are by visiting the ‘GreenPalm Members page’ of ‘The market’ section of www.greenpalm.org.
GreenPalm is suitable for any company that sells or makes items containing palm oil or palm kernel oil. For some organisations, GreenPalm is the only feasible supply chain option that is endorsed by the RSPO.
More than 60% of the palm oil and palm kernel oil used in the UK goes through further processing into blends, derivatives and fractions, before it goes to retailers or manufacturers. To keep the product segregated at every stage would, in most cases, add prohibitive costs. This makes GreenPalm the only real option at present for users seeking a viable and sustainable supply chain.
One of the most important advantages perhaps of the GreenPalm programme is that it can even reward the small holder whose output is consumed domestically. Last but not least, for every GreenPalm certificate sold $1 is donated to support the vital work of the RSPO. Over $180,000 has been raised so far.
Learn more about GreenPalm. Visit www.greenpalm.org or call Bob Norman on +44 (0)–82 332013 or +44 (0) 7776–4731.
Tags: Business, ethical, ethical sourcing, food manufacturing, palm oil, sustainable, sustainable palm oil
Posted in Business · November 14th, 2009 · Comments (0)
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