Greenpeace: Certified ‘Sustainable Palm Oil’ Not Eco-Friendly

November 13, 2008

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Greenpeace said the first shipload of palm oil certified as “sustainable oil” from United Plantations, does not meet the criteria set for an environmentally friendly product. Greenpeace says the company does not comply with local Indonesian laws that protect the environment and has land conflicts with locals.

United Plantations is the first company to receive the certificate of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a certificate initiated by companies and non-governmental organizations in 2003.

According to Greenpeace, the company is cutting down trees from peat forests in Kalimantan, Indonesia, as well as cutting down trees in the territory of Orangutans.

In response, United Plantations said “the specific cases raised by Greenpeace pertaining to land conflicts were of criminal offenses involving assault and falsification of land ownership documents.” More responses from United Plantation can be found here (PDF).

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