Adopt an Oranguan

If, like me, you are limited in what you can do in the battle to save the orangutan then why not do something simple.

For just £5 a month (that's about 2 lattes) you can adopt one of those beautiful creatures. BOS UK run a wonderful adoption scheme. You choose 1 of the oranguans that star in Orangutan Diaries and they send you a gorgeous photo, a certificate of adoption, the background to your chosen orangutan and regular updates. In addition you get to know that you are helping fund the amazing work BOS are doing in Borneo.


There's:

Ruthie Lomon Grendon

Kesi Nody

For more information and to adopt please visit www.savetheorangutan.co.uk

Tesco

And now time for the big giant, Tesco:

"I can appreciate your concerns regarding the implications of Palm Oil production and I would like to take this opportunity to explain our position.

We acknowledge the significant environmental consequences of rainforest destruction and the impact this is having on the orangutans. It's therefore very important that a sustainable supply is developed and supported by food and non-food manufacturers, especially those who currrently use Palm Oil in their products. But, such a supply, on the basis of an internationally agreed definition, doesn't exist at present.

We're encouraged that the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm OIl (RSPO) has recently come forward with a definition of sustainable production. This mmeans that, after a thereshold date, Palm Oil being produced on land from which the rainforest had been cleraed would be excluded. Palm Oil is usded inmany products and by a lrage number of manufacturers across the world. So, translating this promising work into the reality of an internationally recognised supply, as well as a market for the sustainability of Palm Oil, is a major challenge. I would like to reassure you that we're determined to play our part in meeting it.

To help us with this, we've recently become members of the RSPO. The RSPO will help the industry identify ways of sourcing our knowledge and ideas, and we'll make a positive contribution to building a sustainable supply chain.

We've also initiated discussions with other major retailers through the British Retail Consortium (BRC). And we're currently in ongoing discussions with our suppliers, to identify how we can all work together to achieve the goal of a genuinely sustainable supply of Palm Oil, and over which time scale.

We understand the strong level of concern about the loss of rainforest and the implications this holds for the habitat of the orangutans it supports. As a member of the RSPO and by working with other retailers we're playing our part."


For some reason, probably their track record, I don't have much trust in Tesco. For a company with such a large market share surely it should be leading the other retailers forwards. From this I get the impression that it's tagging along as a PR job rather than doing anything significant - or is that just me?

Morrisons

The letters are coming back thick and fast now with 2 more responses to date. Here's Morrisons' comments:


"Morrisons takes your concerns about palm oil and the impact of deforestation of orangutans seriously. We are committed to encouraging the responsible sourcing of palm oil and ensureing that its cultivation is not threatening forests or natural habitats.

Although palm oil is entirely GM free and has the highest yield per hectare than any oil or oilseed crop, it is recognised that there are environmental pressures on its expanision to eco-sensitive areas, particularly as oil palm can only be cultivated in tropical areas of Asia, Africa and South America. It is therefore vital that production and use of palm oil must be done in a sustainable manner based on economic, social and environmental viability.

As part of our commitment, in 2008 Morrisons was accepted on to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), to help promote best practice for the cultivation and use of sutstainable palm oil throughout the supply chain.

In addition, we intend to strengthen our position in 2009 and to monitor product specifications through supplier audit activity. There are around 35,000 lines of products in store of branded and own brand products at time and you will appreciate that any review across the business can be a fairly lengthly process. As a result of our approach, our policy has started to take practical effect so that, for example, we have recently introduced a new Heath and Beauty range incorporating certified sustainable palm oil.

I do hope this letter has gone some way to reassuring you that we take our responsibilities in the area very serioously."

Sainsbury's

Now it is Sainsbury's turn in the palm oil spotlight - here is what they have to say on the matter:

"I appreciate your concerns about the use of palm oil in the products we sell. We're aware that palm oil cultivation is a contributor to deforestation and climate change, and has a direct impact on the natural habitat of orangutans. I'm grateful for the chance to let you know what we're doing in this area.

At the end of May 2008, our Basics fish fingers became the first food in a UK supermarket to contain certified sustainable palm oil. Since then, we have also converted the rest of our frozen fish range and our standard bars of soap. Our aim is that all the palm oil in our own-brand products will come from sustainable sources by December 2014. In order to achieve this, we are dependent on may more plantations achieving certificatioon, and the suppliers of our raw materials and ingredients sorcing sustainable palm oil.

We continue to lead the way in supporting those organisataions best positioned to make a difference in this area. We remain fully engaged in the work of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO has made significant progress in overcoming the considerable challenges of tracing and certifying palm oil as sustatinable. We recognise that there's a need to review the RSPO certification standard continually to ensure it's alwaus recognised as thorough and robuts. We therefore play an active part in encouraging the RSPO tomake improvements. You can find out more information on this initiative at www.rspo.org

We're very proud that Justin King, our Chief Executive, is part of the steering group of the Prince's Rainforest Project (PRP), which aims to stop the destruction of rainforests. For more on this initiative, please visit the PRP website at www.rainforestsos.org

As most palm oil is still constumed in Asia and the Far East, there is a limit to the difference that Sainsbur's alone an make. However, as well as committing to removing unsstainable palm oil from our products, we are determined to demonstrate to companies in these countries that using certified sustainable pam oil can be both responsible and profitable.

Around 30% of global palm oil comes from small farmers. We recognise the valuable contribution that palm oil makes to the economies of developing countries, and how muchmany individuals and communitities rely on growing palm oil for their lievelihoods. For this reason, we do not fee it would be responsible for us to ban the use of palm oil in our products. This view is supported b y organisations like the World Wildlife Fund and Greenpeace, who are campaigning for improved palm oil sourcing standards. We believe we can make the most difference by promoting hte use of certified sustainable palm oil in our products.

We know that our customers want to know which products contain palm oil. We are in the process of making sure all our products containing palm oil say so on the label. Many other companies conceal the use of palm oil in their products by labelling it as vegetable oil. All our fresh and chilled food containing palm oil is labelled as such, and the packaging of the remainder of our products will be updated by July 2009.

We understand that there is a need for collective action, particularly between retailers, processsors and investors, to bring about change throughout the palm oil sector. In 2007, we established a European Retailers' Working Group, to share experis and give a voice to the concerns of our customers. This forum also provides opportunitiies for us to influence change at a UK, EU and global level. We Have chaired this group since it was established, which further reflects our commitment to bringing about change not only in our own sourcing policies, but in the industry as a whole.

We have been very encouraged by the positive feedback we've received from leading organisations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK. This support reflects the high regard in which Sainsbury's is held due to the major moves we've made in the sourcing of sustainable palm oil."


I feel this is a much more thorough response than the one I received from ASDA as it addresses more of the issues I raised. I do, however, feel it might be a bit of a standard letter in the sense it was once again not from the CEO (although it did say he normally responds personally but he is on holiday) - and also the phrase "the packaging of the remainder of our products will be updated by July 2009", still sounds like it is an ambition for the future rather than something that has happened (which it should have as we near the end of August).

I was interested and encouraged to read that WWF and BOS UK have given Sainsbury's positive feedback over their actions and would be interested to hear from these organisations themselves on the matter.

Michelle Desilets

Another key figure in the fight to save the orangutan and the forests in which they live in is Michelle Desilets.

Michelle has been working in orangutan conservation for over 15 years. She founded Borneo Orangutan Survival UK in 2002 and Orangutan Land Trust, which seeks permanent solutions for the long term survival of the orangutan in the wild by ensuring safe areas of land for them to live in.

Like Lone, Michelle's passion for great apes began at school. In class she saw films featuring Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall and Birute Galdikas. Though she did not aim to follow in their footsteps, she remained fascinated by the behaviour of these creatures and read widely in the area, learning about them and their habitat. Whilst pursuing a career as a teacher, Michelle always wanted the chance to see the great apes in the wild.

This dream was first realised on a trip to East and Central Africa where she came face to fae with wild gorillas. A trip to Borneo followed in 1994 where she voluteered at the Tanjun Puting National Park. During her time here, one little orangutan caught her attention more than the others and stole her heart. Michelle returned later to look after little Somalia and the other orangtuan orphans that came in to the project.

Three years later in 1997 Michelle and Lone decided to investigate the possibility of creating a new project deep in Central Kalimantan to give refuge and hope to the rising numbers of orphaned orangutans. Advice and help came from Dr Willie Smits and they found financial backing in the Gibbon Foundation and BOS Indonesia and the now famous Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Reintroduction Project began.

The firset dozen orangutans arrived at the project in 1999. Now it cares for over 500 orangutans and is viewed as one of, if not the, finest primate rehabilitation projects in the world.

Michelle hasn't stopped here. She has since begun a number of international campaigns to help orangutans. these include campaigns to stop their illegal trade, to repatriate smuggled orangutans and the campaign for sustainable oil.

Four years ago Michelle decided to devote all her time to these campaigns and along with spending much time out in Borneo on the front line, she never stops looking for ways of finding the much needed funding for the project.

Michelle is an amazing woman; dedicated, hard-working and inspiring.

ASDA's response on palm oil

Recently I wrote to some of the large supermarkets that are members of the RSPO to get their response on the issue of palm oil. Today, I recieved a letter from ASDA. This is what they had to say:

"As a major retailer we take our corporate responsibilities extremely seriously and always act responsibly in terms of putting matters concerning the environment and animal welface ahead of company profits.

The major challenge faced by all manufacturers and retailers, and recognised by organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund and Friends of the Earth, is that sustainable palm oil is available only in very small quantities. However, if Orangutans, Gibbons and other wild animals are under threat it's apparent something needs to be done. It's important that reputable companies which produce sustainable palm oil are encouraged to expand the availability of their product and so promote and protect the diverse environments in which these species live.

We're engaged in discussions with two major organisations - namely Friends of the Earth and World Wildlife Fund. We hope to assist them over the coming months in identifying the source of this issue and encouraging the development and use of sustainable palm oil.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us and I hope we can support any efforts in finding resolutions to this matter before it's too late. Please let me know if I can help further."

I was surprised to hear back from any of them, particularly so soon and although it wasn't directly from the CEO, it is a reply. However, my main questions such as:

How many products do you stock (own brand and other) contain palm oil?
Why is palm oil not labelled to give people the choice?
Why do you use palm oil at all until it is sustainable?

Were simply ignored.

I feel I might take her up on 'Please let me know if I can help further'.

RSPO

What is RSPO? This stands for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. It was formed in 2004 in reaction to the urgent and increasing global demand for sustainably produced palm oil. It's primary aim is to promote the grwoth and use of sustainable palm oil products through both credible global standards and the engagement of stakeholders.

RSP is a non-profit association and its stakeholders come from 7 different sectors of the palm oil industry:

Palm oil producers
Palm oil processors / traders
Consumer goods manufactureres
Banks / investors
Retailers
Environmenttal or nature conservation NGOs
Social / developmental NGOs

The idea is they work together to develop and implement these globabl standards for producing sustainable palm oil.

Currently its members include high profile, multinationals such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Colgate,Palmolive, The Body Shop, Cadbury, Tesco, ASDA and Waitrose.

It seems that the RSPO and its members are full of ideas and aspirations, but when major players such as Unilever only promise to use certified palm oil by 2015, it seems a weak promise. 2015 is 6 years away. Estimates predict the orangutan will be exinct in the wild in 10 years. These promises are too little too late.

As membership to the RSPO is completely voluntary no-one seems to be in a position to force these companies to act - and to act now. It's all very good PR, but not much action seems to be taking place. In addition to this, recent reports say that even 'certified palm-oil' is not necessarily sustainable at all. RSPP auditors can certify a planation as sustainable and hand out certificates equal to the number of tonnes of palm oil produced there. The plantation owners are then able to sell these certifiates on - to anyone. Those buying these certificates can then claim their palm oil is sustainable without it even being checked.

Surely this can't be right. This means that we, the consumers, are being lied to - not just misled but deliberately lied to and this cannot continue.

We can make a difference. We have to make each and every one of these companies take responsibility for their own products. We deserve to know what goes into our goods and we have the right to choose. If enough of us stand together we can hold them accountable for the awful scenes currently being witnessed in Indonesia.

For me the name 'Roundtable' conjours up images of King Arthur and his Knights. They were a noble group of men who kept their word, who knew the meaning of honour. If this group of multinational companies chooses to go by the same name, then their sense of honour and commitment should be no less. I promise to do all I can to help the orangutan and the forests of Indonesia, to get the companies to at least label their products properly in the short term and only use sustainable palm oil as soon as possible. These companies have made their own promises - we have to make sure they keep them!

Do what you can.