Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the sweet shop.....

[footlingagain]

It turns out that Nestle's FairTrade certification has more to it than meets the eye - or should that be less?

Apparently they're still using palm oil in their products - and it's the destruction of their home forest to produce palm oil that's done the most to drive the orang utan to the edge of extinction.  So while Nestle may be doing the right

Comments

[heleninwales]

I'll have to check out the ingredients of the Co-op's FairTrade chocolate. I've been buying that recently, when I have indulged in a spot of chocolate therapy.

[footlingagain]

I tend to buy theirs, too. I know they've always been keen on keeping their reputation intact, they were among the first to promote 'green' banking and so on, but it does make you wonder.

It's the suppliers that Nestle use that have a particularly bad reputation, but I haven't heard of any sustainable palm oil production methods. Having said that, I haven't looked very hard yet; I should do some more research.

Doesn't seem fair, though - you try not to encourage the worst practices and then find out that you still are!

I suppose that as long as large-scale production and consumption continues, we have to be extra careful and not take any sort of gong at face value, not even the Fair Trade one. *sighs & girds loins*