KTC Edibles has launched a new range of sustainable products designed to combat the negative misconceptions about palm oil.
Called Planet Palm, the range includes palm oil as well as a selection of three specialist bakery products – margarine, pastry margarine and shortening. All products are Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified sustainable segregated, offering traceability back to the refinery.
KTC Edibles describes the range as “unashamedly ‘pro palm’” and hopes that it will change perceptions about palm, and continue to encourage customers to adopt sustainable solutions.
Gary Lewis, sales director at KTC Edibles, explains: “Over the past 15 years, the food industry has shied away from promoting palm oil – with brands either hiding their use or switching out of palm altogether. Unfortunately, switching from palm to alternatives doesn’t reduce deforestation or protect biodiversity. It simply moves the problems to another part of the world and can make them significantly worse!
“With Planet Palm, we’re doing something that’s never been done before – positioning palm oil as a positive product. This isn’t greenwashing – palm oil is the world’s most efficient oil crop, and when customers choose the right certified products, palm oil can be a responsible, sustainable option.”
In 2019, 70% of the total palm oil imports to the UK were certified sustainable – today, although there has been limited further progress, that number is similar because of the pandemic, food inflation, price increases, and legislative challenges.
KTC hopes that the launch of Planet Palm will help restart progress on the adoption of certified sustainable, segregated palm oil in the UK so as to eventually hit 100% sustainability.
As part of Planet Palm, KTC Edibles has partnered with DAABON, a global leader in sustainable agriculture, to develop new, fully traceable and organic, high performance palm oil products for the range. Potential upcoming products include solutions for bakery, confectionery and ice cream applications, such as doughnuts, waffles, chocolates and creams.
