Palm oil sourcing giant Wilmar International has unveiled plans to use satellite tracking and other digital technologies in a bid to eliminate deforestation risks from its supply chains. The company, which supplies 40% of the world’s palm oil, made a new pledge on Monday (10 December) to ensure that its supply chains are classed as “deforestation-free” by 2020 – a commitment which builds on its 2013 “no deforestation, no peat, no exploitation” (NPDE) sustainability strategy. In order to achieve the new goal, Wilmar International will carry out a supplier audit by the end of January 2019, with all suppliers found to be driving forest loss then facing “immediate” suspension.
EcoVadis's insight:
Soybean and palm oil cultivation along with timber production and cattle rearing are major contributors to deforestation; and these economic commodities have been getting a lot of attention recently. If current deforestation levels continue, the world’s rainforests may completely vanish in as little as 100 years, according to National Geographic, and this will have a disastrous effect on our world if we don’t act.
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