Sustainable Business

SB September 2013

Sustainable Business magazine - essential reading for sustainability professionals

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Radar 5/8 Cosmetics Estee Lauder and Clarins vilified for use of unsustainable palm oil Two of the world's most famous skincare brands, Estee Lauder and Clarins, have come under fire for their links to unsustainable palm oil and the resulting damage its use has on tropical rainforests. In a damning survey by the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) and Ethical Consumer magazine, Estee Lauder and Clarins, along with Superdrug and 'ethical' brands Jason skincare and Avalon skincare, have been named as companies using palm oil, a key cosmetic ingredient. The companies' products were ranked on a scoring system of one to 20, with 20 being the best score. Companies that do not use palm oil or their derivatives score 20, while those that use it but make no substantial policy statements and are not members of the Roundtable Click here keep up-to-date with the latest news from edie.net on Sustainable Palm Oil score zero. Sitting at the bottom of the survey rankings, Estée Lauder scored two, while Clarins received a score of zero. RFUK executive director Simon Counsell, said: "Today we call on these companies to face up to their environmental responsibilities, reduce their use of palm oil, and help ensure the long-term survival of the Congo rainforest, its people and unique wildlife." Ethical Consumer researcher Leonie Nimmo added: "The ugly truth is that whilst companies such as Clarins and Estée Lauder are involved in the beauty business, their products are implicated in some of the biggest acts of environmental destruction in the world." In response to the criticism, an Estée Lauder spokesperson told SB: "The Estée Lauder Companies are committed to the responsible sourcing of palm oil. We are members of the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC), which is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). "The NRSC is working towards finding sustainable sources of palm oil and palm kernel oil derivatives for

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