UK Supermarkets Failure to Remove Deforestation from Supply Chains Supports Calls for G2G Deals on Forests
- The latest annual report from WWF on progress towards commitments to halve the environmental impact of the average UK weekly shop by 2030 has found supermarkets are off track on a number of climate and nature measures.
- And a key milestone – to ensure food products such as soy, beef, cocoa and palm oil are not causing deforestation or conversion of wild areas to agriculture by 2025 – is unlikely to be met without immediate action, the report said.
Top 50 UK Supermarkets: TrolleyMFG
The WWF’s reported failure of major UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainbury’s, Asda and Morrison etc should come as no surprise.
Showy press events orchestrated by the WWF like this open letter to the British Prime Minister including Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose about protecting forests works well only for PR purposes of these supermarkets and the WWF’s claim to be about sustainability.
As pitiful as the result of WWF’s orchestration is, the reported failure of UK supermarkets to reduce deforestation in their supply chains and their subsequent appeal for governmental intervention points to one clear pathway in ensuring sustainable supplies of goods.
G2G agreements on Sustainable Goods
In the greater concern for global sustainability, there is no room for groups like the WWF which stand accused of human rights abuses, greenwashing their operations and deceit, cover-ups and dishonesty
Considering the stakes in producing sustainable food, it is time that we put on a lid on the tired old rhetoric of forests to define sustainability as typically claimed by the WWF. The group’s criticism against the UK’s joining of the CPTPP has zero value today as its latest report shows how little weight the opinions of the WWF carries.
The UK is set to join the CPTPP on December 15, 2024 marking its first ever free trade agreement with Malaysia.
The partnership with CPTPP nations in South East Asia, Central and South America can help us build resilient and robust supply chains, which are essential in an increasingly uncertain geo-political landscape where trade is being weaponised. Director General of the Institute of Export & International Trade Marco Forgione
Joining the CPTPP gave the UK new options which it will need to maintain its momentum as the world’s fourth largest exporter. This achievement is a far cry from its main trade partner of old, the European Union which faces a sad, bad future.
The problems plaguing the EU aside, the WWF is looking pretty silly these days as its Chicken Little outfit is exposed. Will the CPTPP trade deal with zero palm oil tariffs for Malaysia further incentivise deforestation for palm oil in Malaysia?
It's more nonsense from the WWF as the Malaysian Palm Oil Council countered.
“Malaysian companies and industry associations are leading the way in driving sustainability in the palm oil sector. The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification standard is one of the largest mandatory certification standards for agriculture anywhere in the world. Our farmers and companies are rightly proud of this world-leading track record on sustainability."
The MSPO may be fit for purpose for UK imports of sustainable palm oil but questions remain as to whether the European Union will accept it. This is by no means the fault of Malaysia as the problems lies with the EU’s internal struggles which the WWF happily jumped on in typical Chicken Little dress.
Fear mongering through Chicken Little declarations is a common tactic for groups like the WWF or US-based Mighty Earth which have no skin in the game except for their own salaries. If Julian Oram from Mighty Earth understood the impacts of the EU Deforestation Regulations, he would have refrained from uttering simple opinions like:
“But rather than making life easier for companies, businesses that have already invested huge resources into traceability, due diligence, monitoring and reporting systems have been badly let down. They now face uncertainty and legal confusion about what their requirements will be. Rather than boosting competitiveness, this makes Europe’s regulatory systems chaotic and unpredictable for industry. It shows the world that EU decision makers are not to be trusted about the seriousness of their intent when they pass new laws.”
This is utter nonsense as EU trade partners like Malaysia have taken the EU's demands seriously. Cocoa and coffee producing nations in Africa have welcomed the delay in the implementation of the EUDR as they work towards compliance. Even the EU's own industries have welcomed the delay to better prepare themselves.
Making the Case for Third Countries
If the EU Deforestation Regulations are a good example to follow according to pundits like the WWF, then what is happening with the EUDR should be followed by UK supermarkets.
Fresh off the re-negotiated deforestation regulations, the European Peoples Party (EPP Group) celebrated its challenge of the EUDR with a statement from Christine Schneider.
But the EPP Group pushed for more than just a postponement. "The European Commission has committed itself to updating the Deforestation Law within a year. This is thanks to the EPP Group," Schneider explained. "First, data platforms tracking product origins and a risk classification system will be operational at least six months before the law takes effect. Second, from 2028, countries practising sustainable forest management and showing no deforestation will have the opportunity to be exempted from unnecessary red tape."
While the No Risk classification has been removed, the delayed classification of countries at risk of deforestation for commodities exported to the EU is back in play.
This presents an immediate challenge for the Malaysian palm oil industry to convince the EU that Malaysian palm oil, which is likely to enter the EU market through EU-UK trade, deserves a low risk classification.
Malaysian Minister Johari Ghani who has repeatedly said that Malaysian palm oil will comply with EUDR laws will no doubt be busy in the coming months as the EU Commission aims to finalise the country benchmarking system as soon as possible but no later than 30 June 2025, in dialogue with most concerned countries.
All eyes are now on the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations which should further rubbish the roles of WWF and Mighty Earth in the trade of sustainable goods.
Published December 2024. CSPO Watch
Showy press events orchestrated by the WWF like this open letter to the British Prime Minister including Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose about protecting forests works well only for PR purposes of these supermarkets and the WWF’s claim to be about sustainability.
As pitiful as the result of WWF’s orchestration is, the reported failure of UK supermarkets to reduce deforestation in their supply chains and their subsequent appeal for governmental intervention points to one clear pathway in ensuring sustainable supplies of goods.
G2G agreements on Sustainable Goods
In the greater concern for global sustainability, there is no room for groups like the WWF which stand accused of human rights abuses, greenwashing their operations and deceit, cover-ups and dishonesty
Considering the stakes in producing sustainable food, it is time that we put on a lid on the tired old rhetoric of forests to define sustainability as typically claimed by the WWF. The group’s criticism against the UK’s joining of the CPTPP has zero value today as its latest report shows how little weight the opinions of the WWF carries.
The UK is set to join the CPTPP on December 15, 2024 marking its first ever free trade agreement with Malaysia.
The partnership with CPTPP nations in South East Asia, Central and South America can help us build resilient and robust supply chains, which are essential in an increasingly uncertain geo-political landscape where trade is being weaponised. Director General of the Institute of Export & International Trade Marco Forgione
Joining the CPTPP gave the UK new options which it will need to maintain its momentum as the world’s fourth largest exporter. This achievement is a far cry from its main trade partner of old, the European Union which faces a sad, bad future.
The problems plaguing the EU aside, the WWF is looking pretty silly these days as its Chicken Little outfit is exposed. Will the CPTPP trade deal with zero palm oil tariffs for Malaysia further incentivise deforestation for palm oil in Malaysia?
It's more nonsense from the WWF as the Malaysian Palm Oil Council countered.
“Malaysian companies and industry associations are leading the way in driving sustainability in the palm oil sector. The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification standard is one of the largest mandatory certification standards for agriculture anywhere in the world. Our farmers and companies are rightly proud of this world-leading track record on sustainability."
The MSPO may be fit for purpose for UK imports of sustainable palm oil but questions remain as to whether the European Union will accept it. This is by no means the fault of Malaysia as the problems lies with the EU’s internal struggles which the WWF happily jumped on in typical Chicken Little dress.
Fear mongering through Chicken Little declarations is a common tactic for groups like the WWF or US-based Mighty Earth which have no skin in the game except for their own salaries. If Julian Oram from Mighty Earth understood the impacts of the EU Deforestation Regulations, he would have refrained from uttering simple opinions like:
“But rather than making life easier for companies, businesses that have already invested huge resources into traceability, due diligence, monitoring and reporting systems have been badly let down. They now face uncertainty and legal confusion about what their requirements will be. Rather than boosting competitiveness, this makes Europe’s regulatory systems chaotic and unpredictable for industry. It shows the world that EU decision makers are not to be trusted about the seriousness of their intent when they pass new laws.”
This is utter nonsense as EU trade partners like Malaysia have taken the EU's demands seriously. Cocoa and coffee producing nations in Africa have welcomed the delay in the implementation of the EUDR as they work towards compliance. Even the EU's own industries have welcomed the delay to better prepare themselves.
Making the Case for Third Countries
If the EU Deforestation Regulations are a good example to follow according to pundits like the WWF, then what is happening with the EUDR should be followed by UK supermarkets.
Fresh off the re-negotiated deforestation regulations, the European Peoples Party (EPP Group) celebrated its challenge of the EUDR with a statement from Christine Schneider.
But the EPP Group pushed for more than just a postponement. "The European Commission has committed itself to updating the Deforestation Law within a year. This is thanks to the EPP Group," Schneider explained. "First, data platforms tracking product origins and a risk classification system will be operational at least six months before the law takes effect. Second, from 2028, countries practising sustainable forest management and showing no deforestation will have the opportunity to be exempted from unnecessary red tape."
While the No Risk classification has been removed, the delayed classification of countries at risk of deforestation for commodities exported to the EU is back in play.
This presents an immediate challenge for the Malaysian palm oil industry to convince the EU that Malaysian palm oil, which is likely to enter the EU market through EU-UK trade, deserves a low risk classification.
Malaysian Minister Johari Ghani who has repeatedly said that Malaysian palm oil will comply with EUDR laws will no doubt be busy in the coming months as the EU Commission aims to finalise the country benchmarking system as soon as possible but no later than 30 June 2025, in dialogue with most concerned countries.
All eyes are now on the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations which should further rubbish the roles of WWF and Mighty Earth in the trade of sustainable goods.
Published December 2024. CSPO Watch
Update December 06, 2024
Ursula Von der Leyen has approved the trade deal with MERCOSUR countries. According to her website:
This deal takes the EU-Mercosur sustainability commitments to the next level through:
-Making the Paris Agreement an essential element of the EU-Mercosur relationship.
-Concrete commitments to halt deforestation.
-Clear and enforceable commitments on sustainable development, including on labour rights and sustainable management and conservation of forests.
-An active role for civil society organisations to overview the implementation of the agreement, including human rights or environmental concerns.
Greenpeace Europe was first out of the gate with its criticism of the EU Mercosur trade deal
Toxic EU Mercosur trade deal agreed
The inclusion of "an active role for civil society organisations" may prove to be mere lip service, similar to Ursula's lip service to European farmers.
To our farmers: we have heard you, listened to your concerns and acted on them. This agreement includes robust safeguards to protect your livelihoods
EU farmers are not convinced as massive protests are planned
Ursula Von der Leyen has approved the trade deal with MERCOSUR countries. According to her website:
This deal takes the EU-Mercosur sustainability commitments to the next level through:
-Making the Paris Agreement an essential element of the EU-Mercosur relationship.
-Concrete commitments to halt deforestation.
-Clear and enforceable commitments on sustainable development, including on labour rights and sustainable management and conservation of forests.
-An active role for civil society organisations to overview the implementation of the agreement, including human rights or environmental concerns.
Greenpeace Europe was first out of the gate with its criticism of the EU Mercosur trade deal
Toxic EU Mercosur trade deal agreed
The inclusion of "an active role for civil society organisations" may prove to be mere lip service, similar to Ursula's lip service to European farmers.
To our farmers: we have heard you, listened to your concerns and acted on them. This agreement includes robust safeguards to protect your livelihoods
EU farmers are not convinced as massive protests are planned