UB paves the way with top WWF Scorecard rating
United Biscuits (UB) is proud to have been awarded top marks in the WWF Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard, which was released today at the 9thRoundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The only company in its volume category to receive the highest score of nine points, UB began using certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) in 2009 and from mid 2010 was sourcing all of its palm oil in compliance with sustainable mechanisms.
Currently more than 70% of the palm oil UB uses is segregated CSPO, which is certified palm oil that is physically separated from non-certified palm oil all the way from the certified mills to the end user and guarantees that the end product contains CSPO. The company’s target is to source 100% segregated CSPO by 2012, a goal it’s well on track to achieve.
UB’s Fats and Oils Manager Simon Roulston said the company’s score reflects its continued commitment to securing a fully traceable supply chain for palm oil: “We are delighted with the recognition given for our extensive efforts to incorporate sustainable palm oil into our products and especially, relating to our push to use segregated sustainable palm oil
“This also includes palm kernel oil, which is not widely available yet to manufacturers. Through this segregated approach, we are able to ensure that the oils in our products originate from sustainable plantations.
“We are able, therefore to directly support growers committed to sustainable growth. With over 70% of our palm oil already segregated, we have undertaken extensive trials and are very close to increasing this significantly.”
WWF’s Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard 2011 – an update of the first scorecard published two years ago – measures over 130 major retailers and consumer goods manufacturers by looking at their commitment to, and use of, palm oil certified to the internationally recognised standards of the RSPO. Performance is measured against four areas the WWF believes shows how responsibly a company is acting in terms of palm oil use and sourcing:
- Being an active member of the RSPO
- Making a public commitment to RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil
- Disclosing how much palm oil they use
- Showing how much of the palm oil they use is Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) or is supporting sustainable production.
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard 2011 is available for download at www.panda.org/palmoilscorecard/2011
A leading international baked snack business, part of pladis which combines three centuries of baking and confectionery expertise by bringing together its iconic Godiva, McVitie’s and Ulker brands.