Australian companies are buying more certified sustainable palm oil than ever before, according to an assessment of palm oil buyers by multi-national conservation group, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The WWF today released its Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard 2011, which measures over 130 major retailers and consumer goods manufacturers by looking at their commitment to, and use of, palm oil certified to the internationally recognised standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Palm oil is... ...Read more »

People in Australia are becoming hooked on sustainable seafood, says the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with more fisheries, suppliers and retailers seeking MSC certification to meet growing consumer demand for sustainably-sourced seafood products. “A growing number of fisheries in Australia, and worldwide, want to show their commitment to sustainable fishing by getting certified to the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fisheries. They want to do this because they’re proud... ...Read more »

Sara Lee Corp has announced a new five-year initiative aiming to triple its purchases of sustainable coffee, expand partner programs and support the market for sustainable tea. The company, currently divesting itself of many of its product lines to focus on its coffee business, is speculated to be considering splitting its coffee and processed meats businesses. “Sara Lee’s long-term goal is to use only certified coffee and tea in all products worldwide, and this new aggressive five-year plan... ...Read more »

Sainsbury’s announced today that all tuna used as an ingredient in its food will be caught using the pole and line method by the end of this month. This move ensures that 100% of Sainsbury’s tuna across all products is responsibly sourced. Sainsbury’s fresh, frozen and canned tuna is already line caught. All of Sainsbury’s ready meals, sandwiches, pate, dips, salads, sandwich and potato fillers and sushi containing tuna will now be sourced using the more selective fishing... ...Read more »

West African farmers have succeeded in cutting the use of toxic pesticides, increasing yields and incomes and diversifying farming systems as a result of an international project promoting sustainable farming practices.Around 100 000 farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal are participating in a community-driven training programme (West African Regional Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) Programme) executed by FAO. Working in small groups, called Farmer Field Schools, smallholders... ...Read more »

On Friday (17 December) Mars, Incorporated received the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) for its work in cocoa sustainability and efforts to improve economic development in the cocoa-growing region of the Republic of Ghana. Mars was chosen from a record number of 78 nominations submitted by American ambassadors around the world. The ACE awards, which were established by the State Department in 1999, are given to honor U.S. businesses that demonstrate good... ...Read more »

VicRelief Foodbank, Victoria’s largest food relief organisation, recently enlisted the help of Swinburne University and the National Centre for Sustainability, to draft and publish their Eco Report 2010, demonstrating the food relief charity’s deep commitment to the environment. Swinburne’s Carbon Accounting Course Teacher, Tony Hodgson and his students generously donated their time and resources to help the charity measure their eco footprint, ultimately enabling them to become... ...Read more »

The Australian Caper Company has scored a double win at the 2010 South Australian Premier’s Food Industry Awards, announced last week in Adelaide.Taking out the combination of the Peats Soil Creating Sustainability Award and the SARDI Leading Innovation Award was a special moment for company founder, Jonathon Trewartha. “With our products, you are eating the herb, the leaf and fruit of the plant. The crop not only creates vital rural jobs but is environmentally sustainable,” Mr... ...Read more »

A symbol to show consumers that products contain “sustainable” palm oil was launched yesterday (9 November).The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) unveiled the trademark at its annual meeting in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. The RSPO said the logo will mean consumers can “easily distinguish” products that contain palm oil sourced following the organisation’s rules. “The RSPO trademark will reassure consumers that products they buy contribute to sustainable... ...Read more »

The Dutch Product Board for Margarine, Fats and Oil (MVO) announced last week (5 November) that all palm oil used in the country would be sustainable by the end of 2015, as certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) The MVO said that all palm oil suppliers and buyers in the Dutch market have “pledged to work collectively towards this goal”. The Dutch Taskforce on Sustainable Palm Oil, which includes all associations representing the Dutch refining industry, food manufacturing... ...Read more »