NaPalmOil - part#3

Just found this podcast on The Guardian online where John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, explains why the environmental group holds Unilever responsible for the destruction of Indonesian rainforests and the killing of endangered orang-utans:

What Greenpeace says?

- if Unilever sorts out its supplies the company could fix deforestation 

- Unilever tries to upscale its best practices in order to avoid lights on its non-green aspects

What Unilever says?

-  Has joined the Sustainable Roundtable on PalmOil created in 2002 to deal with palmoil supply chain; and states that they are committed to find a sustainable solution (such as certification for the palmoil). Demand for palmoil has exploded; because of China and India larger consumption; and also because of the biofuels use.

What Greenpeace says #2?

- Unilever didn't deny the accusations from Greenpeace; they did not track the origin from palmoil used by them (data is all mixed up). Mr. Sauven says that Unilever has been committed to the roundtable (SRPO) but that this roundtable has just been used to cover business as usual practices from a lot of its members. Unilever knows for a long time about the problems but  members, some quite clearly involved in breaking Indonesian laws, contributed to deforestation and wiping out the orangutang's habitats, were not kicked out of the roundtable.

- Mr. Sauven say that time has come and Unilever needs to put up or shut up. Because it cannot go on claiming it is sustainable company, while at the same time they do not take responsibility for where that supply is coming from.

- Why Unilever? Every corporation involved in food or cosmetics is potentially consuming/buying palmoil. But Unilever joined the roundtable and was aware about everything that goes on related to palmoil. So there was no excuse to accept the conditions in place; and besides that, it has a lot of high profile product lines whom have palmoil as basic input. 

NaPalmOil - part #2

According to Down to Earth, Indonesia is the world's second largest palm oil producer, the third most extensive area of tropical forest and one of the richest centres of biodiversity. With Indonesia's forests disappearing at 3.8 million hectares per year, the area converted to oil palm plantations has doubled during the past decade to nearly 5 million ha.

The country is among the world's lowest-cost producers. And the costs associated with establishing environmentally and socially sustainable practices are not compatible with a competitive plantation industry. In a free market, the result is a 'race to the bottom' in terms of sustainability standards. Better standards are needed, but these are not the same thing as environmental and social sustainability. More? Click here. Or watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooCwCb6TEow

NaPalmOil - part #1

The story is like this:

1. PalmOil is a huge problem in Indonesia- but I would say that beyond a problem in itself, it strongly aggravates Indonesia's problems.

2. Greenpeace launched a campaign against Unilever (Dove products, spec.) as the company is one of the major buyers of palmoil (made in Indonesia). 

Campaign uses orangutangs and indigenous peoples as icons of vulnerability; and manipulates the original Dove campaign for liberating girls from abusive aesthetic patterns.

All my friends, from London to Manaus, are talking about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odI7pQFyjso&feature=user and some said they won't buy Dove anymore. 

3.  Almost all cosmetics in the world (and food, as well) use palmoil as basis. Have you noticed that even the "environment-friendly" products contain "pure vegetal oil" in its formula? Well, this is a proof that they are made of palmoil (possibly from Indonesia).

So what are the alternatives to Dove, asks a good friend of mine? There are organic and even vegan cosmetics nowadays. But they are expensive - so what about those people with take a shower everyday but can't spend US$ 5 just for a soap?

I think this debate is SUPERgood. That's why I think this is post #1.