21/02/2008 (The Edge Daily), Kuala Lumpur - Marks & Spencer has signed up with GreenPalm’s trading scheme to promote eco-friendly oil production as part of its plan to help the environment, ahead of a major conference here on palm oil.

European consumers have been increasingly concerned that palm oil is being grown at the expense of rainforest and peatland in Malaysia.

The International Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has developed strict criteria that producers must meet if they wish to enter the lucrative market for sustainable oil.

“As part of Marks & Spencer’s commitment to ensure all of the oil palm that it uses is sourced from certified sustainable sources, we have become the first member of GreenPalm.

“We hope this will send a clear signal to producers that there is a demand within the UK for palm oil to be produced using sustainable practices,” said Marks & Spencer’s director of technology David Gregory.

GreenPalm, which meets the RSPO standard said Marks & Spencer’s support would be an effective and viable route to sustainable palm oil.