In response to international pressure from Forest Heroes’ She’s Not a Fan Campaign, as well other international efforts, Indonesia’s second-largest palm oil grower Astra Agro Lestari formally joined the Indonesian Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP). IPOP represents a growing partnership of palm oil companies with a mission to promote deforestation-free palm production and expand social benefits to local communities.
She’s Not a Fan focused on the Mandarin Oriental Hotel chain, a subsidiary of Astra’s parent company, the global conglomerate Jardine Matheson. Protests at Mandarin Oriental hotel locations in both London and New York City quickly led Astra to agree to a moratorium on further deforestation and peatland development, and ultimately a full zero-deforestation policy.
In response to the news, Forest Heroes Chairman Scott Paul released the following statement:
“With Astra Agro Lestari joining the Indonesian Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP) the forests of the world welcomed another hero. Deforestation in search of palm oil remains one of the top drivers of forest loss in Indonesia and a leading driver of international climate change. By delivering on their promise to join IPOP, Astra Agro Lestari has taken a major step forward toward a more sustainable future. However, this represents only the next step in a long journey, and as such, and I encourage Astra Agro Lestari to look at today not as an end, but rather the beginning.”
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