The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) announced on December 19 the formation of the North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network (NASPON), following the 15th Annual Roundtable Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. In an effort to accelerate collaboration within the market, NASPON’s mission is to educate, build momentum and assist North American companies in making and delivering on commitments to source sustainable palm oil.
The formation of NASPON brings together like-minded organizations working collectively to find long-term, industrywide solutions to secure certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) in their products. NASPON will bring a much-needed dialogue of sustainable palm oil to North America, further amplifying our collective goal to respect human and labour rights, local communities and biodiversity throughout the palm oil supply chain, said Darrel Webber, Chief Executive Officer of RSPO.
The collaborative resource will consist of associations, civil society organizations, consumer goods manufacturers, food-service retailers, retailers, and palm oil traders and producers committed to increasing the use of CSPO and certified sustainable palm kernel oil (CSPKO) in North America, with a goal of making sustainable palm oil the norm, both in this market and across the globe.
According to RSPO, this new coalition is necessary to bring this market into the global sustainable palm oil discussion with dedicated resources, a focus on challenges unique to North America and to build a critical mass of demand for sustainable palm oil.
Founding members of NASPON include Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons Companies, Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate Company, Bunge, Conservation International, Control Union, Dunkin’ Brands, Fuji Oils, Grupo Bimbo, International Flavors & Fragrances, IOI Loders Croklaan, Kellogg Company, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Rainforest Alliance and Target.
Rainforest Alliance is pleased to join NASPON as a founding member to support companies in meeting commitments to sustainable palm oil. Strong demand for responsible palm oil in North America is essential to achieving sustainable land management practices and improved smallholder livelihoods in key oil palm landscapes where the Rainforest Alliance works, such as in Indonesia, Colombia, and Guatemala, said Nigel Sizer, President, Rainforest Alliance.
