Sustainability is a key issue for the German confectionery industry and the processing of palm oil is part of the standard.
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) joined the country’s multi-stakeholder platform, making it the second Federal Ministry in the Sustainable Palm Oil Forum alongside the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
The BDSI is also an active member of the platform. According to a recent by Meo Carbon Solutions published by the Sustainable Palm Oil Forum (FONAP), approximately 90% of the palm oil used in the German confectionery industry is already sustainably certified.
Palm oil has many advantages over other vegetable oils and is a good and valuable raw material to produce confectionery.
The companies in the confectionery industry are therefore increasingly responsible for protecting the environment and species in ecologically and socially compatible palm oil production, said the BDSI.
It estimates that palm oil usage in the German confectionery industry in relation to total consumption both nationally is 9%, and worldwide 0.2 % - so is used in comparatively small quantities. Most of the palm oil used in Germany (43%) is in the bioenergy sector.
Boycott
Boycott calls undermine sustainability efforts and often also harm small producers in countries of origin such as Indonesia, Malaysia or Colombia, the BDSI said.
Many companies in the German confectionery industry and BDSI members are directly involved as members of the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and work intensively to set targets, to be 100% sustainable in the near future.
“The increased demand for ecologically, socially and human rights compatible palm oil leads in the long term to changes in practices in the palm oil sector, especially in the producing countries. They recognize that sustainable production conditions are not only sensible, but also form essential criteria for sales in the European market in the long term,” the BDSI said in its statement.