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Palm oil giant Sinar Mas continues to break environmental commitments

Wednesday, 05 May 2010 05:48

Image: www.freefoto.com

A policy statement released by Sinar Mas in early February and the GAR 2009 Annual Report presented today at its AGM claims commitments to the principles of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and a halt to clearing in High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, primary forests and peatlands. "Two weeks ago we revealed how Sinar Mas subsidiary PT ALM is currently destroying deep peatland and high conservation value forest in West Kalimantan. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Within the last few days, we caught Sinar Mas subsidiary PT BAT clearing rainforest bordering critical orangutan habitat again. This evidence shows that Sinar Mas' environmental commitments have been hollow" said Skar.

Greenpeace is targeting food and drink giant Nestle for using palm oil from Sinar Mas in a wide range of products from candies to soups. The multinational terminated its direct palm oil contract with the company last month, but continues to buy palm oil and paper products indirectly from Sinar Mas through suppliers like Cargill. Nestle has said it expects Cargill to stop supplying Sinar Mas palm oil unless the company adequately addresses to Greenpeace evidence of deforestation and illegal activity by the end of April.

"Sinar Mas has just days left to clean up its act or risk losing huge contracts with Cargill," said Skar. "Greenpeace is not against palm oil plantations. Our campaign is to stop companies such as Sinar Mas from destroying the world's remaining rainforests. Companies and governments must collaborate to protect carbon-rich peatland and rainforests."

Source: Greenpeace