Lion Corp. Urged to Stop Saying 'Palm Oil Is Eco-Friendly'

In a written statement issued in April 2006, eight organizations including FoE Japan, an international environmental NGO, and 14 activists found fault with TV advertising copy for detergents made from palm oil. The statement argued that the commercial for Lion Corp., a major Japanese manufacturer of household care products, could mislead consumers into believing that palm oil is perfectly eco-friendly. It told Lion to stop stating that its detergent is eco-friendly because it uses palm oil, and also to disclose information on the country of origin, as well as the social and environmental impacts of oil palm production.

The rapid expansion of oil palm plantations, a key driver of deforestation in Southeast Asia, is said to be responsible for various problems, including massive loss of forest ecosystems, violation of the human rights of local people in connection with land acquisition, and water pollution caused by improper use of agricultural chemicals.

Palm oil is widely used in Japan as an ingredient of food products, detergents and cosmetics. In the statement, the activists and organizations considered it important for consumers to take action to solve these problems in producing countries by, for example, checking the source and the production process of palm oil before making purchases.

In response to their statement, Lion expressed its intention to continue the advertisement in question, saying that the use of vegetable-based materials is eco-friendly, as it contributes to curbing increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, the company also stated that it will pay closer attention to the social and environmental impacts in palm oil-producing countries, while participating in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an international association to promote the sustainable production and use of palm oil.

http://www.foejapan.org/en/

Posted: 2006/06/28 10:11:10 AM
Japanese version