January 12, 2018 – Ahold Delhaize has joined more than a dozen global retailers, consumer goods manufacturers and civic groups to form the North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network (NASPON), with the goal to educate, build momentum and assist North American companies in making and delivering on commitments to source sustainable palm oil.
Palm oil plantations, largely in tropical areas in Southeast Asia and increasingly in Africa and Latin America, produce 65% of the world’s traded vegetable oil. Palm oil is a key ingredient in many foods, cosmetics, soaps and detergents and is a significant biofuel stock. Overall demand is expected to double by 2020, increasing the pressure on tropical forests and biodiversity.
"Ahold Delhaize believes that companies working together pre-competitively on the development of the North American certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) market will be able to achieve NAPSON's goal of reaching 100% CSPO in North America," said Hugo Byrnes, Vice President of Product Integrity. "Reducing environmental and social risk in palm oil supply chains is a goal that unites us all."
He notes that Ahold Delhaize is already leading by example. Own-brand products companywide with palm oil as an ingredient only use CSPO.
Other founding members of NASPON include Albertsons, Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate, Bunge, Conservation International, Control Union, Dunkin' Brands, Fuji Oils, Grupo Bimbo, International Flavors & Fragrances, IOI Loders Croklaan, Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Rainforest Alliance and Target.
Read the press release.
