PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NEWS

  

News

26 July 2018

Palm oil and green public procurement

The latest GPP News Alert discusses the role of sustainable palm oil in green public procurement (GPP) including current guidance and policies on the issue. With tropical forests disappearing at a rate of about 13 million hectares per year, the spotlight is also on palm oil as one potential driver of deforestation. Palm oil is used in a wide range of products from food over fuel to cosmetics and its market share has increased over the past 20 years.

Requirements addressing sustainably produced palm oil form part of the proposals for the new EU GPP Criteria for Food and Catering Services. Certification schemes for sustainable production that are based on multi-stakeholder organisations with a broad membership, such as that of RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), can be used as a mean for proof.

Earlier this year, a study was commissioned by the European Commission’s (EC) DG Environment seeking to understand the environmental, social and economic aspects (both positive and negative) of palm oil production and consumption as well as existing palm oil sustainability schemes. This study will serve to inform the EU’s work on global deforestation, including the consideration into setting up an EU Action Plan on deforestation.

To find out more about the relation of palm oil and GPP including further guidance, read the latest GPP news alert here. For more information on the EU’s action on deforestation, click here.