(Erin’s Note: We still don’t personally buy Kellogg’s products for many reasons, but what they’re doing here is a good start and we are pleased with their decision. We are also very proud of these two young girls for speaking up at such a young age and making a difference.)
Kellogg’s has updated its international palm oil policy after a campaign launched by two British schoolgirls to save endangered orangutans garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures.
Asha, 12, and Jia Fitzpatrick, 10, stopped eating Kellogg’s cereal and started a petition after seeing a documentary about how deforestation to build palm oil plantations destroyed populations of the apes.
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The sister’s petition was titled: “Kellogg’s stop destroying rainforests for cheap palm oil”!
Orangutans spend most of their time in trees. Forest clearance has led to the deaths of more than 50,000 in Borneo and Sumatra, with countless more orphaned.
Palm oil is used in various Kellogg’s products and countless other everyday items. (it is crucial to look for “sustainably sourced” on food labels)
Pleading with businesses to help stop the destruction Asha and Jia wrote on their change.org petition:
“We are sisters and we love orangutans.We were really upset when we saw the numbers being killed and orphaned every year are being increased by companies who want cheap palm oil – and it has to stop now.”
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They gathered more than 780,000 signatures for their cause, which caught the eye of bosses at Kellogg’s. After meeting the sisters, the firm pledged 100 percent of its palm oil would be sustainably sourced by 2025.
Harvinder Dhinsa, Asha and Jia’s mum, from Leighton Buzzard, Beds, said they were “really surprised” by the move. She added:
“They weren’t expecting such a commitment. I’m proud of them – it shows no matter how small you are you have a voice and people will listen.”
Kellogg’s spokeswoman Alison Last confirmed the firm had now “updated its global palm oil policy and launched its global deforestation policy”. She said:
“Kellogg’s is committed to working with its suppliers to source fully traceable palm oil that is produced in a manner that’s environmentally responsible, socially beneficial… which includes helping to mitigate deforestation.”
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Orangutans are on the World Wildlife Fund’s critically endangered list with fewer than 120,000 left in the wild. We ALL need to be aware of whether palm oil is in the items we purchase, and make sure we avoid those that are not sustainably sourced.
