Palm oil, palm kernel oil and their derivatives are present in about 70 percent of cosmetic and personal care products and with global demand fuelling unsustainable growth of the palm industry over the past decade, the RSPO hopes this new phase will transform the market.
The International Standards aims to halt the environmental impacts of this commodity; ensuring that primary forests are not replaced by new palm plantations, as well as encouraging an integrated environmental management and fostering the respect towards rural population's rights, especially those of indigenous peoples.
Interpretation
Through the local roundtable on palm oil, Peru already has a first interpretation of the relevant Peruvian legislation on palm oil to eventually adopt and foster RSPO standards.
"The standards are general expressions, such as 'protect the environment',” states Carlos Soria, WWF's Specialist. “However, in order to implement such recommendations and criteria, it is necessary to understand the laws in each particular country regarding this issue.”
“Through this interpretation it will possible to know which the relevant legislation is and which are the public organizations more suited to organize and promote the sustainable development of palm oil in Peru.”
Expectations
According to WWF Peru, global corporations, such as Unilever, plan to use only RSPO certified palm oil as of 2014.
It is expected to have a final interpretation document of the applicable national legislation regarding RSPO standards on March 15, 2013.
The advance of oil palm farmlands nationally, particularly in the Amazon, is rapidly growing. Without clear and appropriate parameters this growth might entail the extensive degradation of forests, its biodiversity and the environmental services provided to local populations and to the world.