Seventeen major food retailers and brand manufacturers are joining forces to combat deforestation caused by the production of palm oil, soya and wood pulp. “Forest protection is an engine for economic growth, not a sacrifice to growth.”
“Being part of the solution”
Under the chairmanship of senior executives Alexandre Bompard of Carrefour and Grant Reid of Mars, The Consumer Goods Forum – a global organisation bringing together retailers and their suppliers – launches a new initiative to support sustainable forest management: the Forest Positive Coalition of Action. Deforestation is largely caused by the production of three main commodities for consumer products: palm oil, soy and wood pulp (as a raw material for packaging). The signatories ask their suppliers to take steps towards a more sustainable model. They will set up working groups to improve transparency throughout the supply chain and undertake specific actions to ensure that the raw materials used become “forest positive”.
Big names are supporting the project: apart from Carrefour and Mars, also Mondelez, Colgate-Palmolive, Danone, Essity, General Mills, Bimbo, Jeronimo Martins, Metro, Nestlé, PepsiCo, P&G, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Unilever and Walmart have confirmed their commitment.
“We believe forest protection is a driver of economic growth, not a sacrifice to growth,” said co-president Grant Reid. “In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we must ensure that efforts to protect forests are part of the global response. This response requires all actors with an interest in ending deforestation and who are committed to being part of the solution to come together.”
