Palm oil campaign success
Since its launch our palm oil campaign has notched up many successes including:
A recent success has been persuading all the major UK supermarkets to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and also winning an Observer Food Monthly award.
The following is a timeline of our progress:
September 2005
The palm oil campaign was initiated in partnership with the Ape Alliance, which includes the Orangutan Foundation (UK), the Sumatran Orangutan Society, the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and Cockroach Productions.
Campaigning on the impacts of palm oil
October 2005
The palm oil day of action highlighted the negative impacts of palm oil. Targeting Tesco, who had done nothing to address its palm oil sources, campaigners encouraged people to sign postcards addressed to their MPs that urged for changes to the Company Law Reform Bill. Over 90 local groups took part.
South Cheshire Friends of the Earth's palm oil stall
May 2006
Friends of the Earth and norman Baker MP challenged MPs at a parliamentary reception to take action to save the orang-utan. MPs were urged to make changes to the Company Law Reform Bill that would compel UK companies to be responsible for the environmental impacts of their operations.
Special guest Joanna Lumley spoke about the changes she has witnessed in South East Asia, comparing her childhood experience with recent visits. Ian Redmond, the Chairman of the Ape Alliance, Friends of the Earth Director Tony Juniper, and Norman Baker MP also spoke.
June 2006
By June 2006, Friends of the Earth successfully lobbied ASDA, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's and the Co-op to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This meant that 5 of the big 7 supermarkets in the UK had joined the only initiative to support the production of truly sustainable palm oil.
Tesco finally agreed to join the RSPO after increased pressure from campaigners and activist persuaded them to give in.
July 2006
Friends of the Earth produced an online action and published a newspaper advert directed towards Morrisons, the only major supermarket yet to join the RSPO. After seeing the advert Morrisons met with campaigners and finally agreed to join. They were the last of the UK's major supermarkets to join up.
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It's good to see that the major UK supermarkets are finally starting to address the palm oil issue, but why did it take a major campaign by Friends of the Earth to get them to this point? |
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Craig Bennett, Head of Corporate Accountability at Friends of the Earth
March 2007
Friends of the Earth and the Ape Alliance won the Observer Food monthly award for ethical contribution to the food industry. Winners were selected by a combination of reader votes and a celebrity judging panel. The awards recognise and reward those who have made a positive contribution to the food industry.
Friends of the Earth's Ed Matthew with Helen Buckland of the Sumatran Orangutan Society, Alex James of Blur (who was presenting the award) and Ian Redmond.
Further information >>
Image © Calliste Lelliott/Friends of the Earth
South Cheshire Friends of the Earth
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