A UK ban on commodities linked to deforestation such as palm oil and cocoa is a big step in the right direction to preserving rainforests.
In June, the UK government announced a ban on the sale of goods containing ingredients linked to the destruction of the world’s rainforests. The long-awaited legislation means that supermarkets and stores that trade in internationally sourced commodities such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber will be legally required to check that their supply chains are free from products linked to illegal land clearances.
The announcement, made during London Climate Action Week, is an attempt to clean up corporate supply chains and will potentially affect products such as chocolate, shampoo, cooking oils, coffee and cosmetics. It follows the European Union’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR), which is set to be phased in from December 30. This requires all companies to prove that goods consumed in the EU are deforestation-free, legally produced, and fully traceable.
“We have long called for UK deforestation regulation as an important step in driving forest conservation across retail supply chains in line with business commitments,” said Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium.”
Guide to deforestation-linked products
Global deforestation is driven primarily by agricultural expansion for seven key commodities: cattle, palm oil, soy, wood, cocoa, coffee and rubber. Between them, they account for a vast range of commonly used products, with around 90% of all global deforestation driven by agricultural expansion to meet the international demand for such commodities.
Products linked to the global destruction of forests include:
- Cattle: found in beef, leather shoes, belts, furniture upholstery and pet food.
- Palm oil: used in packaged foods, lipstick, soap, detergents and biodiesel.
- Soy: used in animal feed for meat, dairy and farmed fish, as well as soybean oil and tofu.
- Wood and timber: turned into printer paper, cardboard shipping boxes, tissues and flat-pack furniture.
- Cocoa: key ingredient in chocolate bars, cocoa butter and confectionery.
- Coffee: present in roasted beans, instant coffee mixes and ready-to-drink beverages.
- Rubber: used to manufacture natural rubber gloves, hoses and vehicle tyres.
The work of World Land Trust
One of the key activities carried out by the partners of World Land Trust is to ensure that protected forests are free from the threat of deforestation. By purchasing vast areas of land under threat from destruction, it not only preserves the forestry from agriculture and mining, but protects the wildlife within it, promoting biodiversity and helping to tackle global climate change.
But while the initial land purchase brings some security to the local communities, ongoing monitoring by teams of rangers ensure the long-term protection of the forests. Meanwhile, reforestation programmes in which saplings are grown, planted and nurtured restore parts of the forest destroyed by agriculture and wildfires, bringing entire areas back to life.
“The protection of land is the best mitigation we have against climate change, and at World Land Trust we have a proven method that works,” says Emma Douglas, Director of Development at WLT. “We want to protect larger, more connected and climate resilient landscapes that contribute to both local and international biodiversity goals.”
