The problem of palm oil

Abigail Bunker writes:

The RSPB is very concerned that the economic incentives for growing palm oil for biofuels and other oil-based products are encouraging increased rainforest destruction.

We welcome Sainsbury's denunciation of the outrageous practice of razing tropical rainforests - on which critically endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger depend - to plant oil palm, and their pledge to use only oils derived from 'sustainable sources' in their own-brand foods and cosmetics.

So, should the RSPB withdraw products containing oil palm from our own few retail outlets? We honestly find it very difficult to know! It is currently impossible to discriminate between sustainably and unsustainably produced palm oil. An internationally agreed system for delivering sustainable palm oil is still being developed - but creating robust verification and chain-of-custody processes are challenges still to be overcome. And the social and economic impacts of withdrawing food products containing palm oil from sale overnight are also tricky to evaluate.

Palm oil is grown predominantly in developing countries and can be critical to the livelihoods of local people and a major income stream for their governments.

We would not want to sell any product that had led to rainforest destruction, but how can we tell if we are? In a world where there is greater emphasis on trade being 'free' than either 'fair' or 'sustainable' it is very difficult to know if one is making the right choices.

We need a global trade agreements and robust and verifiable standards and certification schemes that take account of the ecology and fairness of production trade as well as the economics.

In the meantime, the RSPB, like others, is working hard to develop and implement policies to help us, our staff and our supporters to make the most sustainable decisions possible.