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MSC and FOS certified more than nine million metric tonnes of fish in 2015

'Label shopping': Is the certification scheme model broken?

Voluntary certification schemes have fiercely denied claims from a new report that that are providing cover for companies that are "destroying the planet", raising questions of whether the abundance of certification offers is watering-down sustainability efforts.

Iceland has already brought out 100 new lines without palm oil in 2018

Iceland pledges to stop using palm oil in own-brand food

Frozen food giant Iceland has vowed to remove palm oil from all of its own-brand food products by the end of 2018.

Hershey will invest in “innovative agroforestry methods” to protect forests and climates. Image Andy Melton/Flickr

Hershey commits £355m to supply chain sustainability

Global confectionery company Hershey has committed $500m (£355m) to tackling child labour and links to deforestation in its supply chains, as part of a comprehensive new sustainability strategy.

Unilever first launched its Sustainable Palm Oil Policy in 2013, with the aim of achieving a full traceable supply chain

Unilever implements 'radical step' on palm oil traceability

Unilever has become the first consumer goods firm to publicly disclose palm oil suppliers and mills that it sources from, both directly and indirectly, a move described by the firm as a "major milestone" in driving sustainability through the industry.

PTPN employees more than 121,000 people and generated 63% if its $2.5m global sales from palm oil production

Unilever to increase sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia

Global consumer goods firm Unilever has struck a deal with a government-owned palm oil plantation firm in Indonesia to create a support framework that enables local mills and smallholders to produce palm oil according to standards of no deforestation and no peatland deterioration.

Commitments covering palm oil and timber were by far the strongest examined by the report, but just 18 companies obtained full scores for policies

Corporates set to miss zero-deforestation targets for 2020

A new report has found that no sector is on track to achieve a deforestation-free supply chain by 2020, with individual companies adopting a "piecemeal approach" by largely ignoring big contribution areas to deforestation, such as cattle production.

As part of the report, Kraft Heinz introduced a new goal to transition to a 100% cage-free egg supply globally by 2025

Transparency focus helps Kraft Heinz accelerate towards supply chain goals

EXCLUSIVE: Food processing company Kraft Heinz has enrolled in a journey of transparency to help deliver its CSR strategy, with the company's first ever sustainability report highlighting achievements with palm oil sourcing and challenges related to water consumption.

Research has shown that the forest and land-use sector could deliver 37% of the emissions reductions required by 2030 to halt dangerous levels of global warming

UK Government provides £62m to combat deforestation in Latin America

The UK Government has announced two new projects worth £62m will help tackle deforestation across Latin America by promoting sustainable new business models and sourcing practices.

Nestlé promised to end deforestation in its supply chain by 2015 in response to Greenpeace’s KitKat campaign of 2010

Nestlé, Hershey and Mars 'breaking promises over palm oil use'

Nestlé, Mars and Hershey have been accused of breaking pledges to stop using "conflict palm oil" from deforested Indonesian jungles, just days before the annual Halloween confectionery frenzy.

T&E, Oxfam and Friends of the Earth are among nearly 100 environmental groups protesting the proposal

New airplane biofuels plan would 'destroy rainforests', warn campaigners

A new plan to accelerate production of biofuels for passenger planes has drawn stinging criticism from environmentalists who argue that most of the world's rainforests might have to be cleared to produce the necessary crops.

While PepsiCo is a quarter of the way to its 2025 goals for annual water replenishment, the company has made slow progress across key sourcing targets

PepsiCo makes slow progress as it embeds new sustainability strategy

Food and beverage company PepsiCo has made inroads into its new set of sustainability targets, although a year of calibrating on new baselines means that progress will have to accelerate to reach key goals.

The REA claims that the Government’s own Transport Energy Task Force had lobbied for a 10% ruling for the crop-based bioethanol

Government raises renewable fuel obligation, caps crop-based fuel use

The UK Government has confirmed that it will increase the percentage of petrol and diesel that is sourced from renewables used for vehicle use, while the use of crops in fuel production will also be capped.

The majority of shareholder resolutions were withdrawn because companies agreed to make changes following preliminary engagement

Shareholder demands driving commitments on deforestation, report finds

Shareholder resolutions are an increasingly viable way to drive company action on deforestation, with more than half of proposals to address risks leading to business commitments from the likes of Kraft, DuPont and Mondelez, according to new analysis.

Imagery from RAN highlighting the illegal deforestation of elephant habitat

Pepsico, Unilever and Nestlé accused of complicity in illegal rainforest destruction

Pepsico, Unilever and Nestlé have been accused of complicity in the destruction of Sumatra's last tract of rainforest shared by elephants, orangutans, rhinos, and tigers together in one ecosystem.

Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations order, biofuel must be blended into petrol and diesel in the UK today at a rate of 4.75%

Biofuels needed but some more polluting than fossil fuels, report warns

Biofuel use needs to increase to help fight climate change as liquid fuels will be needed by aircraft and ships for many decades to come, finds a new report requested by the UK government.

Malaysian and Indonesian companies dominate global palm oil production, but have been linked to deforestation and slash-and-burn clearance methods

Unilever suspends sourcing from Indonesian palm oil supplier amid deforestation allegations

Global consumer goods firm Unilever has suspended sourcing from an Indonesian-based palm oil supplier which was found to be in breach of policy on deforestation and peatland clearance.

CDP analysis from 2016 revealed that more than $900bn in annual turnover is at risk from deforestation

McDonald's and L'Oréal join CDP's zero-deforestation supply chain agenda

Fast-food giant McDonald's, global cosmetics firm L'Oréal and healthcare specialists Johnson & Johnson are among the first eight major companies that have agreed to disclose key supplier information to CDP to manage deforestation risks.

A number of companies, including Unilever, Mars and Nestlé, have cancelled contracts with IOI because of last year’s suspension

IOI commits to 'best-practice' peatland and deforestation plans

One of the world's biggest palm oil suppliers has committed to address deforestation and exploitation in its supply chain, which had caused major brands to cancel contracts with the firm.

Greenpeace claims that HSBC formed part of a funding syndicate that offered $16.3bn in loans to palm oil companies accused of destroying vast areas of rainforest and peatland in Indonesia

HSBC revamps deforestation policy after Greenpeace investigation

HSBC has launched a new zero-deforestation policy following a Greenpeace investigation which linked the banking corporation to organisations that have been destroying Indonesia's rainforests.

The report found that 80% of the banks are failing to integrate the results of environmental stress tests into decision making processes, despite 70% introducing new stress tests

Major banks failing to align climate strategies to Paris Agreement targets

Despite more than 70% of banks introducing environmental and carbon footprint stress, many are failing to align business and investment strategies in keeping with the 2C pathway scenario established through the Paris Agreement.

Transport is responsible for around a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it the single biggest emitting sector in the continent

Diesel vehicles burnt almost half of Europe's palm oil in 2015

The share of Europe's imported palm oil being used up by diesel cars and trucks has reached an all-time-high, despite further evidence of its harmful environmental effects, according to a new report from an independent industry forecasting group.

T&E noted that because these biofuels would count as “zero-emission fuels”, they would make the EU's transport emissions look 478 million tonnes lower than they actually are

Leaked biofuel plan set to increase European transport emissions

A leaked draft of the European Commission's (EC) Renewable Energy Directive (RED) has revealed that a promised phase-out of food-based biodiesels will not be met, with new proposals set to increase European transport emissions by 219 million tonnes by 2030.

The agreement outlines fundamental elements of the converged methodology that protects HCS forests, and High Conservation Value (HCV) areas and peatlands

Palm oil sector agrees on unified 'no deforestation' approach

A host of multinational organisations including Unilever, Cargill and Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) have agreed upon a single, unified definition of "no deforestation" for the palm oil industry.

Sainsbury’s, M&S, Waitrose, Morrisons and The Co-operative are among the British retailers that have stepped up efforts to reduce the deforestation impacts of producing palm oil. Photo: WWF

Britain's retailers 'leading the way' on sustainable palm oil

Marks and Spencer (M&S), Associated British Foods (ABF) and Reckitt Benckiser (RB) are among a cluster of British-owned retailers, manufacturers and foodservice businesses that are "leading the way" on sustainable palm oil sourcing, while others appear to have fallen short of their commitments.

A forest is cleared for a palm oil plantation in Indonesia. Photo: Richard Carey, Fotolia

Korean palm oil firm accused of illegal forest burning in Indonesia

A Korean palm oil company has been dropped by buyers after footage emerged that allegedly shows the illegal burning of vast tracts of tropical forest on lands it holds concessions for in Indonesia.

Unilever has been tasked by the likes of Greenpeace to cancel contracts with suspect palm oil suppliers, photo: Greenpeace

Unilever refuses to reinstate IOI contracts until 'tangible progress' is shown

Consumer goods giant Unilever has announced that it will not reinstate the Malaysian palm oil supplier group IOI as a contractor until "tangible progress" is made evident of the groups desire to implement a new ethical sustainability action plan.

On Friday (5 August), the RSPO reinstated the IOI Group with its certification starting today (8 August) based upon the actions taken since its suspension

RSPO re-certifies IOI Group after initial suspension

Palm oil giant IOI has had its sustainability credentials re-certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) following its suspension by the certification body earlier in the year.

Currently, around 10% of the global palm oil industry is financed by equity investors, with US financial backing alone accounting for more than $5bn in funds

New transparency toolkit puts emphasis on investors to combat deforestation

A new online tool has been launched today (26 July) to highlight which global mutual funds and investment portfolios contain links associated to deforestation and palm oil holdings.

Shooting for a ‘fully traceable' supply chain goal for 2020, there is a case for suppliers and retailers to accelerate efforts to develop a fully transparent palm oil sector. Photo: Greenpeace

Could this new mapping toolkit solve the palm oil transparency challenge?

With rising transparency issues leading to supplier contracts being scrapped and green groups piling on the pressure to tackle the situation, a new World Resources Institute (WRI)-backed initiative could finally allow companies to gauge deforestation risks by evaluating satellite surveillance of global palm oil mills.

Data obtained by green group Transport & Environment (T&E) revealed that cars and trucks burned almost half of all palm oil used in Europe in 2014

Biodieselgate? British industry leads EU on elimination of palm oil biofuels, says REA

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has revealed that UK importation and consumption of palm oil-based biodiesel for use as a feedstock for vehicles still stands at 'zero' for 2015/16, in light of new data which shows that cars and trucks were responsible for almost half of all of the palm oil used across Europe in 2014.

Beyond the Perfect Storm: The Corporate Sustainability Challenge

Transforming the world to sustainability requires organisational leadership, skilled professionals and a desire for change. Concerns that were once viewed as distant and risks that were uncertain are now increasingly having an impact on businesses, economic prosperity and communities, health and wellbeing. Climate change, population growth, threats to nature, resource concerns, and global development pressures all combine to herald a ‘perfect storm’.

IOI has long been the target of environmentalists, who have previously accused it of felling forests and draining peatlands in Malaysian Borneo

Top palm oil producer sues green group over deforestation allegations

One of the world's largest palm oil producers is suing the green body that suspended its sustainability certification last month because of allegations it had deforested Indonesian rainforests.

Earlier this year, GAR completed the mapping and traceability of its supply chain through to each of its 489 mills across Indonesia

Palm oil giant sets 'fully traceable' supply chain goal for 2020

The world's second largest palm oil plantation company has told edie it wants to achieve "greater awareness of the production practices in the supply chain" as it sets itself an ambitious goal of 100% traceability to plantation by 2020.

The new mapping system could provide researchers with an effective platform to differentiate between forest destruction caused by climate change and deforestation

UN and Google forge 'eye-in-the-sky' forest mapping partnership

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has turned to tech giant Google to implement a high-resolution satellite-based data mapping system which could usher in an "unprecedented level of environmental literacy" for the forestry sector.

More than 83,000 hectares of the Tesso Nilo National Park in Indonesia have been converted into illegal plantations

Palm oil giant to address 'serious issues' of alleged illegal sourcing

The world's second largest palm oil plantation company has revealed that it is engaging with individual supplier mills which have allegedly been using 'tainted and illegal' palm oil sources, in an attempt to clarify revelations uncovered in a recent report.

In response to the suspension, IOI has denied all wrongdoing and is in the process of appealing the decision

Unilever cancels palm oil sourcing contracts over deforestation concerns

Global consumer goods firm Unilever has cancelled its contracts with a Malaysian-based palm oil producer and trader which has been suspended over deforestation and community conflict issues.

A patch of forest remains between palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Photo: Ulet Ifansasti/Greenpeace

Big brands 'failing' on palm oil policies, Greenpeace claims

PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson are among a raft of consumer goods companies that are "letting their customers down" by failing to break the link between the use of palm oil in everyday products and deforestation, a new Greenpeace report has concluded.

Store emissions have been reduced by 35% since 2005 meaning they are more than halfway to a 50% target for 2020

British retailers on track to meet energy, water and waste reduction pledges

The UK's biggest retailers including ASDA, Sainsbury's and Argos have collectively reduced carbon emissions by 19% over the past decade, with a 6% reduction in 2014 alone, according to new figures.

The supply chain mapping project will ensure that more than seven million tonnes of palm oil and kernels are sustainably sourced from GAR’s mills

Palm oil giant completes extensive supplier maps for sustainable palm oil

The world's second largest palm oil plantation company has today (25 February) completed the mapping and traceability of its supply chain through to each of its 489 mills in Indonesia.

The planet loses an average of 3.3 million hectares of forests each year

Unilever and M&S offer 'preferential sourcing' to countries with sustainable forestry policies

Unilever and Marks and Spencer's have announced they will try and source commodities like palm oil, beef, soy and paper from countries and regions with ambitious climate and forestry initiatives, in a joint effort to end global deforestation.

McDonalds will source wood fibre from recycled sources certified to at least one global standard

McDonald's sources certified wood fibre for front end packaging

Fast-food giant McDonalds has announced that all of its European-sourced packaging is now sourced from chain-of-custody certified wood fibre, as the company continues on its journey to source 100% sustainable packaging in Europe.

Sustainability issues in the cosmetics industry can range from the use of microbeads, to the sourcing of raw material like palm oil, to deforestation

Walmart and Target lead charge to get sustainable cosmetics on shelves

American retail giants Walmart and Target are two of the first companies to sign up to a new industry leadership group that aims to steer the beauty sector towards more sustainable products.

In 2014, PepsiCo reduced its water intensity by 23% compared to 2006, delivering a cost saving of $17m

PepsiCo's green plan saves $375m

PepsiCo's sustainability initiatives on energy, waste and water have saved the soft drinks giant more than $375m since 2010, according to its latest sustainability report.

Jakarta cityscape in Indonesia, which is world's sixth biggest producer of greenhouse gas emissions

Indonesia to cut carbon emissions by 29% by 2030

Indonesia, one of the world's biggest carbon polluters, said it would cut greenhouse gas emissions 29% by 2030 compared to what it is currently on course for.

Starbucks is the latest in a line of companies to have its sustainability credentials scrutinised by SumOfUs

Starbucks under scrutiny for palm oil policy

Starbucks has become the latest major brand to come under fire from campaign groups for its palm oil policy, with a new video urging consumers to boycott the coffee shop chain.