Archived press release

MPs Asked to Act to Save the Orang-utan

2 May 2006

MPs will be challenged to take action to save the orang-utan at a Parliamentary reception tonight (Tuesday 2 May), hosted by Lib Dem MP Norman Baker and special guest Joanna Lumley. The event, organised by Friends of the Earth, will highlight how UK demand for palm oil is destroying rainforest and threatening the survival of the orang-utan [1].

The campaign group is calling on MPs to make changes to the Company Law Reform Bill, currently going through Parliament, to make UK companies responsible for the environmental impacts of their operations [2].

Palm Oil is used in thousands of everyday products, from margarine and bread to lipstick and soap, and is found in one in 10 supermarket products in the UK [3].

Although UK supermarkets claim to be environmentally responsible - and some have signed up to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil - none can guarantee that its palm oil is not linked to the destruction of the rainforest habitat that is home to the orang-utan and only some of the leading supermarkets have signed up to the Roundtable [4].

Norman Baker MP said:

"Demand for palm oil is threatening the survival of these fantastic creatures and it is shocking that our demand for cheap food and other products is behind this. I believe we must take this opportunity to use the Company Law Reform Bill to ensure that UK companies take more responsibility for the impacts they have on the environment."

Friends of the Earth Palm Oil Campaigner, Ed Matthew said:

"The Company Law Reform Bill represents a great opportunity for MPs to make sure UK companies clean up their act. The growth in demand for palm oil is putting pressure on precious areas of rainforest in Borneo and Sumatra, threatening the survival of the orang- utan. MPs have the power to do something about this and we urge them to take this chance."

Notes

[1] The oil for ape scandal - a parliamentary reception takes place at the House of Commons at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2 May, with Joanna Lumley, Norman Baker MP, Ian Redmond (Chairman of the Ape Alliance) and Tony Juniper (Executive Director, Friends of the Earth). Admission by invitation only - for more information contact the press office at Friends of the Earth on 020 7566 1649.

[2] Make business work for people and planet

[3] www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/oil_for_ape_summary.pdf (PDF)

[4] Tesco, Morrisons, Somerfield and Iceland have not signed up to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, despite being asked to do so. For more information on the Roundtable, see www.sustainable-palmoil.org

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust