Companies make palm oil pledge

Nestlé and Marks & Spencer have committed to purchasing palm oil from only certified sources by 2015.

The Swiss confectioner and UK retailer made the guarantee this week in a bid to limit environmental damage such as deforestation caused in the production of the commodity. Friends of the Earth argues deforestation caused by palm oil production is considered the biggest threat to the orang-utan.

Nestlé uses palm kernel oil in dairy and confectionery products and purchases processed palm oil and other oil mixes from a variety of sources. The firm's plan to buy only certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) follows a review of its supply chain.

M&S produces food, beauty and home products using palm oil and the move to convert all its supplies to CSPO by 2015 will affect 1,000 products every year.

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