Archived press release

ASA bans misleading palm oil ad

9 September 2009

A misleading advert claiming palm oil is "sustainable" has today been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), following a complaint by Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth's biofuels campaigner Kenneth Richter said:

"The ASA is right to ban this misleading palm oil ad.

"Friends of the Earth research has shown that Malaysian palm oil production is not sustainable - it destroys forests, increases carbon emissions, and forces local communities off their land.

"The world must end its oil addiction - but biofuels are not the answer. EU biofuels targets should be scrapped - it's impossible to meet them without trashing forests and displacing communities.

"We should be investing in fuel efficiency and green alternatives to cars and planes, rather than damaging the environment in the misguided search for cheap fuel."

Notes to Editors

1. The ad in question appeared in the April 25th - May 1st 2009 edition of the Economist.

2. Details of the ASA ruling can be found here: http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46897.htm

3. In January 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that an advertisement by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) which described palm oil as "sustainably produced" was false advertising. The verdict followed a Friends of the Earth International complaint against an advert by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council. For further information see: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/sustainable_palm_oil_adver_09012008.html

4. In April 2009, research commissioned by Friends of the Earth and carried out by independent consultants Scott Wilson Group plc. showed that biofuels may be doubling carbon emissions instead of reducing them. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/biofuels_double_carbon_emissions_15042009.html

5. In October 2008, Friends of the Earth exposed the false sustainability claims of Malaysia's palm oil lobby industry in its report 'Malaysian palm oil - green gold or green wash? For further information see:http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/news/malaysian_palm_oil_15887.html
http://www.foei.org/en/publications/pdfs/malaysian-palm-oil-report

6. The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, requiring 5 per cent of the UK's energy in transport to come from biofuels by 2013, came into force in April 2008.The EU target requiring 10 percent of the EU's energy in transport to come from renewable sources by 2020 was passed in December 2008 but still needs to be implemented into national law. Significant new research on the carbon emissions caused by indirect land-use change to make way for biofuels crops was published in 2007 and 2008.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust