EPOA calls upon Dutch retailer EkoPlaza to use sustainable palm oil and not to ban palm oil.

With its announcement to stop using palm oil for its own label products the Dutch retailer EkoPlaza has decided NOT to ACT for the orangutan and rainforest protection. Boycotting palm oil will not lead to less deforestation and will not protect the orangutan. By moving away from palm oil, and ignoring the possibility to create a global move towards sustainable palm oil, EkoPalza positions itself outside the solution that is already being supported by the majority of palm oil industry, civil society and governments.

As EPOA we disagree with the message to boycott palm oil, because it:

• sends a discouraging signal to producers of sustainable palm oil
• sends a wrong and confusing signal to consumers that want to use their buying power to save rainforest and wildlife
• risks shifting sustainability and deforestation problems ‘out of sight’ to other vegetables oils

EPOA believes that the protection of rainforest and wildlife is only possible when we cooperate with each other and empower those companies that make sustainable palm oil a reality.

We strongly advice EkoPlaza to consider the risks of the alternatives by banning palm oil, and instead buy sustainable palm oil.  To achieve sustainably produced food products, we need food manufacturers and retailers to buy sustainable palm oil, to use it, and publicly support it. At EPOA we empower those companies and organisations that are already making the change on the ground, and challenge others to act too.