Ferrero Group reaches the goal of 100% certified segregated RSPO sustainable palm fruit oil, one year ahead of its original target.The new EU regulation 1169/2011 has changed the legislation currently in force concerning the labeling of foods. New Europe-wide legislation which has come into effect starting from 13th December 2014 means that palm oil will no longer be a hidden ingredient on food packing. This is a move which green groups are hailing. Some countries are in charge against the use of palm oil in the food, accused of being harmful (though lacking precise scientific data) and deforestation.
Nutella puts a step out from the storm that hits the use of palm oil in confectionery, using only palm fruit oil that is 100% certified as sustainable and segregated according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Segregation is the tool that allows to keep the sustainable palm oil is physically separate from palm oil is not sustainable, and to trace the path from plantations certified sustainable production lines. Since 2005, Ferrero has been an active member of the RSPO, an international organization whose focus is making sustainable palm oil sourcing a normal practice. From the beginning, Ferrero decided to directly source RSPO certified segregated palm oil. “In achieving 100% segregated certified sustainable palm oil within the context of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, Ferrero has demonstrated that it is tackling tropical deforestation in a credible way” said Richard Holland, Director of WWF’s Market Transformation Initiative.
In November 2013, Ferrero Group announced its strategic partnership with the non-profit organization TFT (formerly The Forest Trust) by launching its own Charter. The Charter has 10 specific criteria, which have been passed down to suppliers for the implementation in the plantations Ferrero supplies from. The current journey to Ferrero’s Charter is one of collaboration and transparency: activities in the field are carried out with TFT’s teams, suppliers are fully engaged through constructive dialogue and time-bound action plans whilst consumers are kept informed through reports