Burger King Goes Green and Drops Indonesian Palm Oil Giant
Burger King has joined a list of big corporations by dropping Indonesian palm oil producing giant Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART). The reason: Greenpeace says pristine rainforests and peatlands are being cut down and burned out to make room for oil palm plantations.
SMART is controlled by one of Indonesia's richest families and recently commissioned an independent audit into the environmental allegations against it.
In response to the findings, Burger King announced on Facebook that SMART's land clearing activities were inconsistent with their "corporate responsibility commitments."
SMART said on its website that it was disappointed with Burger King's decision.
"We have made mistakes, but these are not to the extent that it has been made out to be," the company said.
Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of palm oil, a staple ingredient used in everything from cosmetics to cooking.
Greenpeace has hailed Burger King's move and wants more companies to do the same. Its blogger Rolf Skar says: "This announcement is certainly good news for rainforests, orangutans, tigers, and our climate!"