Firstly, Nestlé Australia does not buy palm oil from the Sinar Mas Group for any of our products, including Kit Kat.
We do purchase palm oil from Cargill and we have sought assurances from them about their supply chain. Cargill has informed us that Sinar Mas needs to answer Greenpeace’s allegations by the end of April. They have indicated that they will delist Sinar Mas if they do not take corrective action by then.
We share the deep concern about the serious environmental threat to rainforests and peat fields in South East Asia caused by the planting of palm oil plantations. We have made a commitment to using only “Certified Sustainable Palm Oil” by 2015, when sufficient quantities should be available. Importantly, Nestlé Australia and New Zealand, as well as a number of other Nestlé markets, have already purchased Green Palm certificates, the certificate trading program to help suppliers tackle the environmental and social problems created by the production of palm oil.
Nestlé is also a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil.
Given all this, it is very disappointing that Greenpeace has produced such a video.
For further information:
Fran Hernon
Corporate Affairs Manager
Nestlé Australia Ltd
Direct line: (02) 8756 2976
Mobile: 0418 473 861
Email: [email protected]