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European Commission likely to phase out Europe’s Palm Oil based Biodiesel by 2020?

Posted on : 05 Jun, 2017

 

EU, one of the world's largest palm oil consumers is now taking a lead position in limiting its palm oil consumption – particularly in palm oil based biofuels.

 

This year Czech GUE/NGL (European United Left/Nordic Green Left) member Kateřina Konečná has called on the European Commission to step up its efforts to promote responsible cultivation of palm oil and prevent palm oil-related deforestation – that has endangered Sumatran rhinoceros, the Sumatran tigers and the Bornean orang-utans. The appeal also calls on the European Commission to phase out palm oil usage in the production of biodiesel by 2020 and introduce certification on products for using socially responsible origin of palm oil.

 

Used in a wide variety of products from margarine, chocolate spreads, crisps, to cosmetics, detergents and biofuels, the use of palm oil has more than doubled since 2010. According to estimates by the GUE/NGL, it will again double by 2050.

 

Some of the advocates of EU produced ethanol say that EU produces renewable ethanol from crops grown by European farmers under the most sustainable conditions in the world. By limiting palm oil and its derivatives in the renewable transportation fuels they believe EU  can reduce greenhouse gases, without causing environmental problems elsewhere.

 

More about sustainable use of palm oil will be discussed at CMT’s 9th ASIA Sustainable Oil Palm Summit held on August1-2, in Kuala Lumpur.

 

For more information, contact Ms. Huiyan at huiyan@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9113.

               

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