KLM Airlines Protested Refuse to Use Palm Oil

KLM Airlines Protested Refuse to Use Palm Oil

Dutch airline KLM gets protests from the CPOCC because it is considered to have called for a negative campaign on the use of palm oil from Indonesia. The protest was delivered by CPOCC in a letter addressed to KLM CEO Pieter Elbers.

In his letter, the CPOCC represented by Executive Director Mahendra Siregar confirmed that KLM's policy is not fundamental. The invitation to use palm oil was loaded with KLM in its corporate magazine.

"With respect, the policies adopted by KLM seem to be a bit misguided and do not know the latest developments in the global vegetable oil market, especially those related to environmental issues," Mahendra said, as quoted in his letter on Friday (24/11/2017).

Mahendra also explained that high vegetable oil demand can only be met by utilizing the productivity of oil palm. This is because palm oil that can produce vegetable oil is higher than other vegetable oil sources such as rape seed, soybean or sunflower.

"Rapeseed produces only vegetable oil of about 0.3 tons per hectare, soybeans and sunflower produce 0.6 tons per hectare. While palm oil can produce 3 to 6 tons per hectare, "added Mahendra.

On the other hand, Indonesia as the largest producer of palm oil has also met the requirements of importing countries of palm oil. One of them is having RSPO certificate which is a commitment not to do logging.

Furthermore Mahendra also explained in his letter that Indonesia also has a policy of replanting old palm trees. Replanting is done on the same land using seeds with good productivity.

"It seems KLM also does not fully understand that the only sustainable palm oil is RSPO certified, whereas Indonesia and Malaysia also have their own certificate of ISPO and MSPO," he said.

To that end, he invites KLM to provide balanced and factual information about palm oil. Moreover KLM has plans to float the route of flight to the ASEAN region especially to Indonesia and Malaysia, the two largest palm oil producing countries in the world.

"I note that KLM is undertaking a development strategy in ASEAN countries, including having Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur as its regional hub.can I suggest that business expansion should consider the sensitivity of the debate on palm oil and a much more balanced assessment of sustainability and the global environment , "he concluded.