Allmark Foods Midrand Takes an Important Step Towards the Use of Sustainable Palm Oil

The use of palm oil in the food industry is inevitable. Its versatility, affordability and functionality has propelled palm oil to simultaneously be the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, albeit the most controversial. The environmental and social impact of cultivating palm oil has been widely broadcasted and as a result the use of palm oil broadly contested ¬– it is for this reason that the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established. Many food and product suppliers have started their journey towards the use of sustainable palm oil, and Allmark Foods Midrand, a division of Synercore, in recognition of the importance of such sustainability has recently acquired its RSPO certification.

Allmark Foods specialises in the blending, packaging and distributing of products for the South African food industry and since palm oil is found in a large variety of food products like
biscuits, chocolates, instant meals and peanut butter, the decision was made by Executive Management of Allmark Foods to use only sustainable palm oil in their products. Thanks to their recent RSPO certification, Allmark Foods Midrand will now form a part of more than 4,000 members worldwide who represent all links along the palm oil supply chain. These affiliates have committed to produce, source and/or use sustainable palm oil certified by the RSPO.

The RSPO was established in 2004 to promote the production and use of sustainable palm oil for the future of the planet, its people and its animals. RSPO is a not-for-profit organisation that unites stakeholders from the seven sectors of the palm oil industry, namely oil palm producers, processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks/investors, and environmental and social NGOs, to develop and implement global standards for the production and use of sustainable palm oil.

To receive this RSPO certification, companies like Allmark Foods Midrand, need to comply to RSPO Supply Chain Certification Standard. The aim of this criteria is to minimise the negative impact of palm oil cultivation on the environment and communities in palm oil-producing regions. The benefits of RSPO includes reduced emission of greenhouse gases, better waste management, reduced usage of pesticides, improved compliance with regulatory requirements, reduction of work place accidents and enhanced productivity.

Mariesa Vrey, Allmark Foods Group Quality Systems Manager, notes that the “RSPO certification is of great significance to Allmark Foods and will ensure compliance to all the applicable requirements of the RSPO Supply Chain Certification Standard that will now also form part of the continual improvement of our Food Safety Management System.”

From October 2020, all Allmark Foods products (from Midrand) containing RSPO certified ingredients derived from palm oil, will be included on the product labels along with the brand new BMT-RSPO-001226-AL certification number. Allmark Foods Klapmuts is next in line to receive its certification. Allmark Foods Operations Executive, Wayne Patton, states that this accreditation will ensure that “suppliers and most importantly customers will have the security of knowing products produced by Allmark Foods/Synercore are certified and compliant to the highest RSPO legislation currently offered.”

Major retailers have increased awareness regarding the sourcing of sustainable palm-oil and have called for their suppliers, who use palm oil and derived ingredients, to apply for RSPO certification. The more companies apply for this RSPO certification, the sooner sustainable palm oil can become the norm and the better we can look after our planet.