Palm oil End exploitation by big business

As the world's most widely used vegetable oil, palm oil crops up in all kinds of everyday products like biscuits, soap and chocolate. Cheap and versatile, the UK consumes around 1 million tonnes of the stuff annually. But almost 90% of our palm oil imports come from countries with high deforestation rates and poor track records on human rights. 

Southeast Asia produces much of the world's palm oil. Home to large rainforests and tropical peatland, the destruction of these habitats causes substantial carbon emissions and catastrophic fires. What's more, the plantations displace local people and destroy their homes and livelihoods, leading to thousands of land conflicts.

One of the most notorious palm oil companies is Indonesia's Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), owned by UK company Jardine Matheson. AAL is involved in many conflicts with local communities, occupying their land without consent. Read more about AAL and its ties to UK companies below.

We need to make companies accountable for the damage they cause in their supply chains. And if we can't ensure transparency and corporate responsibility, then we need a new law that will.

Demonstrators holding a banner that reads "People and planet over power and profit" and other placards

UK palm oil imports

Communities in Sulawesi have been facing land grabs and deforestation at the hands of Indonesia's second largest palm oil company, Astra Agro Lestari (AAL). Several companies have already suspended business with AAL, but Unilever has failed to do so. 

Alongside our allies from Indonesia, the Netherlands and the US, we've been holding Unilever to account for its conflict palm oil, for example by questioning the board at its AGM. We know Unilever is listening, and we’ll continue to push the company for action until AAL redresses the injustices faced by local communities.

Demonstrators holding a banner that reads "People and planet over power and profit" and other placards

We need to hold companies to account for harm in their supply chains

Tell your MP to back a new law