GERMAN FORUM FOR SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL HAS LAUNCHED

The German Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil was launched on 2 September in Berlin. The Forum is a joint initiative of Henkel, REWE Group, Unilever and the WWF and is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). NGOs, associations and church organisations will be represented in the Forum as well. 
 
The goal of the Forum is to significantly increase the amount of sustainable palm oil, palm kernel oil and derivatives in the German,  Austrian and Swiss market, and to achieve as soon as possible 100% segregated, certified palm oil and palm kernel on these markets. Each individual member of the Forum Sustainable Palm Oil has committed to use only certified, sustainable palm oil by the end of 2014.
 
To the main tasks of the Forum Sustainable palm oil will be to educate the public about sustainable palm oil, develop solutions towards the mainstream uptake of sustainable palm oil in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and monitor the use of the certified sustainable palm oil in these markets. Additionally the Forum will involve itself in the ongoing discussions in RSPO to further improve the standard.
 
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is contracted to host the Secretariat of the Forum. Daniel May is appointed Head of the Secretariat.