Co-op in palm oil pledge

The Co-operative Group has claimed it is the largest UK supermarket to certify all of its palm oil as sustainable.

The retailer has purchased accredited GreenPalm certificates from a co-operative of smallholders who are producing sustainable palm oil, accredited by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. It currently has 81 own-label products that contain fully traceable, sustainable palm oil.

Sean Toal, acting chief executive for The Co-op’s food retail business, said: “Deforestation and the loss of natural habitat for the orang-utan and other endangered species are major issues, but, as a consumer-owned retailer, we are determined to play our part in supporting sustainable solutions.”