DuPont Nutrition & Health has completed its switch to 100% certified sustainable palm oil and palm oil derivatives used in its Global emulsifier production. The achievement is the latest milestone since the company pioneered the introduction of sustainable palm oil emulsifiers in 2009.
Following the 2009 launch of the world’s first palm oil emulsifiers from Mass Balance supply chain certified by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the first emulsifiers made with RSPO-certified Segregated palm oil joined the DuPont Danisco range in 2011.
Furthering thier commitment to Sustainability
The new development means that the remainder of the company’s entire global range of palm-based emulsifiers is now based on RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil and derivatives, which promotes the production of palm oil with greater consideration of its environmental and social impacts.
Brenda Kelly, business director, DuPont Nutrition & Health explains the motivation behind this move. “At DuPont, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact from all of our raw materials, operations and final products. As such, it is clearly critical that we start by obtaining our raw materials with recognized, sustainable certification.”
In addition, DuPont recently announced a strengthening of its sustainable footprint for emulsifiers by converting to woodchips at its Grindsted facility, Denmark, which is one of the world's largest emulsifier plants. The change means a reduction of 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to removing 20,000 average Danish cars from the road for a year.
Fulfillment of the sustainable palm oil pledge
DuPont initially intended to convert all of its palm-based raw materials to certified sources by the end of 2015, but this transition was delayed by insufficient market demand and a shortage of certain certified palm oil derivatives. RSPO Book & Claim certificates now allow DuPont to fill the gap until conversion to physical supplies can happen.
“Through the Book & Claim system, the intention is to support the growth of sustainable palm oil production over time,” Kelly says.
In the coming months and years, DuPont will continue to encourage its stakeholders in working towards replacing Book & Claim volumes with certified sustainable palm oil from physical supply chains such as Mass Balance, Segregated and Identify Preserved palm oil and derivatives. An ambitious and comprehensive sustainable palm oil sourcing policy will also be launched in 2017.