Cargill supports Unilever's drive to use sustainable palm oil

Cargill has entered into a supply agreement to provide Unilever's European operations with 10,000 metric tonnes (mt) of segregated refined palm oil, certified by the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

This means that the oil will have been certified as sustainable, having been segregated at every step in the supply chain.

Cargill's new offering will strengthen its ability to provide sustainable palm oil products to meet customers' requirements and will complement its existing certified RSPO Mass Balance palm oil offering.

"Unilever is ahead of plan to achieving 100% sustainable palm oil by 2015 with over 35% already being RSPO certified this year", said Marc Engel, chief procurement officer at Unilever.

Cargill's offering of fully segregated refined palm oil follows the RSPO certification of the company's European and Malaysian oil refineries.

PT. Hindoli in Sumatra, Indonesia received its RSPO certification in February 2009 and Cargill is currently working to certify its other palm plantation in Indonesia, Harapan Sawit Lestari.

Cargill fully supports the RSPO process to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil throughout the supply chain.

The company aims to buy 60% of its total crude palm oil from RSPO members by the end of this year.