DEERFIELD, ILL. — Mondelez International on Nov. 10 laid out new milestones and requirements for suppliers to work toward a sustainable supply of palm oil as part of its updated palm oil action plan.
Key new provisions require suppliers to map and assess the risk for all supplying mills on the Global Forest Watch (an interactive on-line forest monitoring and alert system); provide assurance that no deforestation occurs on their own concessions and exclude third-party suppliers who do not immediately cease deforestation; and work with recognized third-party experts to protect labor rights.
“Our suppliers have done great work to align their policies and make their palm oil more traceable, but more is needed to drive real progress on the ground,” said Walter Nobles, vice-president of global raw materials for Deerfield-based Mondelez International. “So we’re asking them to improve practices across their entire operations and engage their third-party suppliers — who supply much of the oil they trade — to implement the same practices.
“We’ll exclude suppliers who don’t immediately cease deforestation in their own concessions or exclude deforestation in their third-party supply.”
The update advances the company’s goal to make sustainable palm oil the mainstream option, based on the principles that production should be on legally held land; not lead to deforestation or loss of peat land; respect human rights, including land rights; and not use forced or child labor.
By the end of 2015, 90% of the palm oil sourced by Mondelez International was traceable to the mill and 91% was purchased from suppliers with published polices that are aligned with Mondelez International’s principles.
