Greenpeace targets KitKat

A new Greenpeace report has criticised Nestle for using palm oil from destroyed Indonesian rainforests and peatlands in its chocolate products, pushing already endangered orangutans to the brink of extinction and accelerating climate change.

The report, Caught Red-Handed’, exposes how Nestle is sourcing palm oil from suppliers, including Sinar Mas, Indonesia’s largest producer of palm oil, which continue to expand into the rainforest. Sinar Mas also owns Asia Pulp and Paper, Indonesia’s largest pulp and paper company, notorious for its role in rainforest destruction.

“Every time you take a bite out of a KitKat, you may be taking a bite out of Indonesia’s rainforests, which are critical for the orangutan’s survival. Nestle needs to give the orangutan a break and stop using palm oil from suppliers that are destroying the rainforests,” says Daniela Montalto, Greenpeace International campaigner.

The report’s launch follows numerous attempts to persuade Nestle to cancel its contracts with Sinar Mas. Several major companies, including Unilever and Kraft, have cancelled their palm oil contracts with the company.

After the protest, Nestle has announced that that it is suspending direct contracts in Indonesia with Sinar Mas though Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven says, “Despite today’s announcement, Nestle will still be using palm oil from Sinar Mas in KitKats, because they’ll still be getting it from their other suppliers.”

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