We are pleased to announce that multinational consumer goods company PZ Cussons has become a TFT palm oil member and pledged No Deforestation and No Exploitation in its palm oil supply chain. The company today launched the ‘PZ Palm Oil Promise’, which outlines its commitments, together with a time-bound action plan to achieve these. The Promise covers PZ Cussons’ global palm oil procurement, including its joint venture operations.

PZ Cussons wants to secure a long-term supply of responsible palm oil for its range of personal and home care, beauty and food products. Engagement with suppliers is essential in making this happen. Therefore, our focus together over the coming months is to work closely with suppliers to start building traceability of PZ Cussons’ supply chain across Indonesia and joint venture operations, PZ-Wilmar (with Wilmar) in Nigeria and Norpalm in Ghana.

Building traceability will help us identify practices used on the ground and assess where support may be needed to embed the PZ Palm Oil Promise. By the end of 2014 we should be in a position to define the approach and priorities for traceability to refineries, mills and fresh fruit bunches. The next phase will involve working with suppliers to agree the timeframe for meeting the commitments set out in the Promise. As well as No Deforestation – which includes the protection of High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests and High Conservation Value (HCV) forests – and No Exploitation of workers, the Promise covers respect for the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of local and indigenous communities and a ban on the use of toxic chemicals in oil palm plantation development.

Eileen Donnelly, PZ Cussons’ Director of Sustainability & Communications, says: “Through the PZ Palm Oil Promise we have developed what we believe is a vital part of our role as a buyer of responsible palm oil. TFT has a strong record of delivery in really understanding the palm oil landscape and helping companies and their suppliers to drive transformation, which for us is ultimately about knowing that all of the palm oil we buy was sourced with respect for people and the environment.”

TFT Programme Manager Rachel Kent says: “At the heart of any responsible palm oil supply chain is support for suppliers of all sizes, including smallholders. TFT and PZ Cussons will work closely to identify any suppliers who need help to understand and make the required change.”

PZ Palm Oil Promise