PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — A recent report by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), titled “Feeding Deforestation,” revealed that millions of tons of palm oil products were hidden in animal feed, potentially driving unnoticed deforestation. The report highlighted that palm oil used in animal feed made up the largest share of palm oil imports into the United States in 2022.
According to RAN, palm oil is commonly added to cattle feed and is found in various consumer products such as milk, cheese, chocolate, and ice cream. However, major companies like Danone, Ferrero, Mars, Nestlé, and Mondelez have not clearly disclosed whether the palm oil in their supply chains for animal feed is deforestation-free, raising serious concerns about their commitments to sustainability.
RAN’s investigation also revealed that some of the 24 animal feed exporters it analyzed, including Indonesian companies Jati Perkasa Nusantara (KPN), Cisadane Raya Chemicals, and Dua Kuda Indonesia, have not adopted No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policies. Malaysian exporters like Nutrion International and Ecolex SDN BHD were also found lacking in these commitments.
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Even though some companies in Indonesia, such as, Wilmar International, Permata Hijau, Musim Mas, and Golden Agri Resources have implemented NDPE policy, RAN claimed it was not fully implemented. The minimum information about the policy implementation was not enough and neitriher was independent supervision result. The policy might not be effective to prevent deforestation.
The report also revealed that in 2022, 36% of palm oil imports to USA did consist of animals’ woof in palm oil – base. These made them the biggest imports. Policy evaluation from 50 global scale – companies involved in the trade, manufacture, and free palm oil – animals’ products did show that 13 of 14 companies did not transparently inform about product use in their supply chain.
RAN also criticized that consumer goods forum (CGF), the biggest forum for the consumers’ goods producers, failed recommended NDPE implementation for palm oil that was used to produce animals’ woof.
Daniel Carrillo, Director of Forest Campaign of RAN said it would firmly act the big companies to prevent human rights violation and deforestation in their supply chain. He warned the companies could be informing the bad information for the consumers and investors if the companies claimed that theirs would be free deforestation without calculating the numbers of palm oil (product) in their animals’ woof production.
“After revealing this, the branded companies should really prevent human rights violation and deforestation (to get) palm oil products in their supply chains. The companies might lie to the consumers, investors, and other stakeholders if the companies claimed that their supply chains are deforestation fee without having action to calculate palm oil in their animals’ woof production,” Daniel said. (P2)
