Carrefour Indonesia Makes Sustainable Palm Oil Commitment

With the RSPO Trademark, which will be displayed on the packaging of products that contain palm-derived ingredients sourced in compliance with the RSPO standards, Carrefour's customers can directly be involved in the effort to conserve the environment.

7/1/2011 --- PT Carrefour Indonesia, a multinational retail company, reiterates its commitment to be a responsible company with its declaration to exclusively source certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) and its implementation of the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) Trademark. This will encourage Carrefour customers to make the right decision in choosing products that contain sustainable palm oil through the RSPO Trademark labeling. Carrefour Indonesia established since 1998 and has 81 stores throughout 27 cities in Indonesia.

As a member of RSPO, the multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil in the world, Carrefour has a responsibility to promote the production and use of sustainable palm oil in the world. This is aligned with RSPO’s mission, which is to transform the market towards the use of palm oil that is produced in an environmentally-responsible and sustainable manner, around the world generally, and specifically in Indonesia, as the world's largest producer of palm oil.

Faisal Firdaus, Sustainable Development Manager, PT Carrefour Indonesia
"We are confident that environmental consciousness among Indonesian consumers is on the rise. We can observe this rapidly growing sentiment in the day to day life in Indonesia from environmental friendly choices from transportation modes; recycled materials; and purchase of products. As such, we have committed to exclusively buy certified sustainable palm oil by 2015," said Faisal Firdaus, Sustainable Development Manager, PT Carrefour Indonesia.

With the RSPO Trademark, which will be displayed on the packaging of products that contain palm-derived ingredients sourced in compliance with the RSPO standards, Carrefour's customers can directly be involved in the effort to conserve the environment and in helping to transform the Indonesian palm oil industry into a sustainable industry.

The global RSPO Trademark which was recently introduced into the market this year provides the right momentum for Carrefour and a number of consumer goods manufacturers to intensively educate the public on the benefits and values that separate products, which contain certified sustainable palm oil.

"Carrefour commits to playing our part in this market transformation as a responsible retailer, and also encourages other stakeholders within the palm oil supply chain to come together in raising the level of awareness amongst consumers in Indonesia towards sustainable palm oil sourced in an environmentally-friendly and socially-responsible manner," said Faisal Firdaus.

Darrel Webber, Secretary General of RSPO positively welcomes Carrefour's commitment, which is in line with RSPO's mission. We hope that the initiative taken by Carrefour will inspire other retailers and other parties in the Indonesian palm oil supply chain to transform the Indonesian palm oil industry into a sustainable industry, so its products can be well-received in international markets, such as Europe, India, and China.

The current estimated annual production capacity of RSPO-certified production units, 4.2 million tonnes of sustainable palm oil, equals about 9 percent of global production, estimated to be about 46 million tonnes annually. An estimated 11,500 tonnes of sustainable palm oil currently leave RSPO-certified oil mills every day. About 54 percent of the world's current RSPO-certified palm oil production capacity is in Malaysia. Indonesia is second, with about 35 percent of the current global supply. Papua New Guinea and Colombia provide the remaining 10 percent and 1 percent, respectively.