Wilmar International Announces Policy to Protect Forests and Communities
(firmenpresse) - (DGAP-Media / 05.12.2013 / 17:17)
NEWS RELEASE
WILMAR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Wilmar International Announces Policy to Protect Forests and Communities
No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation Policy to meet rising market
demand for traceable, responsibly produced vegetable oil
Singapore, 5 December 2013 - Wilmar International, Asia's leading
agribusiness group, and global consumer goods leader Unilever today signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to accelerate sustainable
market transformation for palm oil. In parallel, and key part of the MoU,
Wilmar launched a new 'No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation' policy
that aims to advance an environmentally and socially responsible palm oil
industry.
The policy, which can be found on Wilmar's website
(www.wilmar-international.com), establishes mechanisms to ensure that both
Wilmar's own plantations and companies from which Wilmar sources will only
provide products that are free from links to deforestation or abuse of
human rights and local communities. It includes measures to protect high
carbon stock and high conservation value landscapes, and to ensure respect
for community rights and support for development.
'We believe that the palm oil industry can provide a sustainable and
affordable source of vegetable oil to meet rising global demand for
responsible products,' said Wilmar Chairman and CEO Kuok Khoon Hong. 'We
can produce palm oil in a way that protects forests, clean air and local
communities, all while contributing to development and prosperity in palm
oil growing regions. We know from our customers and other stakeholders that
there is a strong and rapidly growing demand for traceable,
deforestation-free palm oil, and we intend to meet it as a core element of
our growth strategy. We welcome more participation from the industry,
financial institutions, and civil society to join this initiative, which
will accelerate the achievement of our common goals.'
'We are truly impressed by the commitment Wilmar announced today,' said
Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Unilever's Chief Supply Chain Officer. 'Unilever
firmly believes that it is only through constructive dialogue and close
cooperation that we can lead the transformation of the industry. Wilmar, as
our strategic partner in palm oil, is clearly committed, with us, to
accelerating the much needed sustainable market transformation and to
helping us to achieve transparent, traceable and certified palm oil supply
chains. We will continue to engage with our suppliers, NGOs, governments,
the RSPO, end users and other industry stakeholders to develop
collaborative solutions to halt deforestation, protect peat land, and to
drive positive economic and social impact for people and local communities.
We applaud Wilmar's commitment and new policy and are looking forward to
our other leading suppliers to following suit.'
Wilmar will consult with a wide range of stakeholders including
governments, local communities, civil society, non-profit organizations and
business partners to guide effective implementation of the policy.
As a crucial part of its commitment, Wilmar announced that it will become a
member of The Forest Trust (TFT), a global non-profit organization that
works with businesses to deliver responsible products. TFT's Executive
Director Scott Poynton and Climate Advisers' Managing Director Glenn
Hurowitz have been working closely with Wilmar to develop the policies.
'We are grateful for the vision and contributions provided by Catapult and
Climate Advisers to help achieve a sustainable palm oil industry, and look
forward to working with them to protect forests, wildlife, and the
climate,' Kuok said. 'TFT's proven track record and immense expertise will
ensure that our commitment is implemented rapidly, effectively, and with
broad involvement from stakeholders. We will work closely with our
suppliers to provide the support they need to transition to sustainable
production.'
'Wilmar's new policies include all the elements needed for success: a
commitment to production that doesn't involve deforestation, peatland
conversion, or exploitation, and a credible plan for implementation,' said
Scott Poynton, Executive Director of TFT.
'Given its central role in the palm oil industry, Wilmar's commitment has
the potential to truly transform agricultural production to a responsible
basis,' said Glenn Hurowitz. 'Wilmar and Unilever's efforts can be a model
for other companies that want to grow their businesses in a way consistent
with the urgent need to address deforestation and climate change.'
About Wilmar
Wilmar International Limited, founded in 1991 and headquartered in
Singapore, is today Asia's leading agribusiness group. Wilmar is ranked
amongst the largest listed companies by market capitalisation on the
Singapore Exchange.
Wilmar's business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseeds
crushing, edible oils refining, sugar milling and refining, specialty fats,
oleochemicals, biodiesel and fertilisers manufacturing and grains
processing. At the core of Wilmar's strategy is a resilient integrated
agribusiness model that encompasses the entire value chain of the
agricultural commodity processing business, from origination and processing
to branding, merchandising and distribution of a wide range of agricultural
products. It has over 450 manufacturing plants and an extensive
distribution network covering China, India, Indonesia and some 50 other
countries. The Group is backed by a multinational workforce of about 92,000
people.
Wilmar's portfolio of high quality processed agricultural products is the
preferred choice of the food manufacturing industry, as well as the
industrial and consumer food businesses. Its consumer-packed products
occupy a leading share in its targeted markets. Through scale, integration
and the logistical advantages of its business model, Wilmar is able to
extract margins at every step of the value chain, thereby reaping
operational synergies and cost efficiencies. Wilmar remains a firm advocate
of sustainable growth and is committed to its role as a responsible
corporate citizen.
For more information, please visit www.wilmar-international.com
Media Contact:
Ms Sharon Chong,
Senior Manager - CSR
+65 6507 0513
sharon.chong(at)wilmar.com.sg
End of Media Release
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Key word(s): Environment
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