Cocoa

The cocoa used in our rice-milk chocolatey coating (our own recipe and made just for us) is sourced from a company that promotes sustainability: encompassing fair labor (only sources where international labor standards are practiced), environmental stewardship, and providing improved economic returns for cocoa farmers. They are active in the World Cocoa Foundation and collaborate with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rain Forest Alliance. So, while our “chocolate” isn’t certified fair trade, it is ethically sourced.

As an aside, Fair Trade Certification is a costly and ongoing expense for a compliant company wishing to use this designation. This is why many companies sourcing ethically are not certified "Fair Trade." Our vendor has chosen not to absorb this cost. Go Max Go has also made a decision not to assume the heavy financial burden of paying for various certifications. We understand our vendors stance and support them 100 percent.

Palm Oil

Go Max Go is aware of the potential problems with palm oil production and we are working with a company who assures us they are sourcing sustainably. Our vendor's parent company is one of the founding members of the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). Their plantations are environmentally sound, and have been so for some time. Our vendor's stance on sustainable sourcing preceded the formation of the RSPO in early 2000. So, in summary, our vendor is sourcing responsibly, consciously, with awareness, and very importantly, they are involved in designing ethically sound standards for future production and helping to implement positive changes within this industry.

The Roundtable is comprised of palm growers, palm oil users, retail users and a number of NGO's (Non-governmental organizations formed to preserve/improve the climate of social and/or environmental issues) including World Wildlife Fund, Boreneo Child Aid Society and UTZ Certified. The RSPO was founded in order to develop the guidelines for ethical and sustainable practices in the production of palm oil. They have already implemented many of the goals of the RSPO and are committed to a program of continuous  improvement. The parent company of our vendor has a facility in Malaysia, and their palm oil is fully traceable throughout the entire supply chain. This is something other palm oil suppliers are not incorporating in their production and sales of the product: a fully traceable history of the product from inception to sale.

It seems the RSPO is a hotly debated organization because large companies under public scrutiny, like Unilever, are involved. However, it is because of the pressures from RSPO and others that Unilever, the world's largest user of palm oil, has severed ties with Sinar Mas, thought to be the most offensive producer of palm oil. Now, Sinar Mas is being forced into responsible action or they'll lose millions of dollars in corporate contracts. Along with large companies, NGO's are heavily monitoring the execution of policies created by the RSPO to cultivate a sustainable industry. There are about 20 NGO's actively involved in the RSPO.

Again, our vendor's palm oil is fully traceable from inception to sale. Part of the advocacy for sustainable practice required by the RSPO is transparency: fully traceable sourcing. We really did do our homework, as this is a vegan product and to destroy an animals habitat, the planet, and people's lives would be adverse to what we want our products to be. As I mentioned earlier, the RSPO gets flack and accolades depending on who is speaking (writing) and if their goal is to abolish palm oil production entirely or to modify and improve conditions. We made our decision to use our current vendor based on everything we could find regarding this subject. It's an issue that (we're happy to say) is in the spotlight so the industry should experience a lot of positive changes. Incidentally, biofuels are the largest end user of palm oil, and are responsible for the majority of deforestation within the palm oil industry and cattle grazing remains the largest culprit of deforestation by far.

After this paragraph we've included a letter written by the Executive Director of Orangutan Land Trust (used by permission) in response to an opinionated but misinformed opponent of the RSPO. We think it's very telling of the efforts being made to advance this industry into one that is compatible with the earth, the animals, and us. As palm oil is a necessary ingredient for our product, we are on top of the issue and we will continue to ask for updates from our vendor to ensure we are sourcing in the most responsible manner possible.

The aforementioned letter:

As Executive Director of Orangutan Land Trust and representative of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation on RSPO, I believe there is a role for us to play from within this organisation. Groups like ours and Wetlands International and Sawit Watch challenge RSPO every step of the way–highlighting and denouncing short-comings, failures, and misplaced agendas. We are thorns in their sides, pushing for more credibility and transparency. If you attend ANY of the RSPO meetings, you can see us in action, and judge for yourself.

Monocultures including oil palm, soya, rapeseed and corn exist and will continue to exist. It is essential that they operate in the most sustainable way possible. But we all understand that a monoculture by its very definition can never truly be considered “sustainable.” I think of it as degrees of sustainability, and that there are bare minimums that we can and should expect as the norm: no land-grabbing, a no burn policy, no conversion of peat or HCV areas, to put it in the most simplistic of terms.

As individuals and communities, we have the right to avoid the use of palm oil on principal, but it will still be produced despite this. We must fight for ensuring that that which is produced is produced “sustainably.”

We SHOULD reduce the overall demand for oil-seed monocultures, especially for use in biofuels.

As a member of RSPO, I support the goals of the RSPO, but do not endorse the failures of the RSPO, such as certifications of certain members who were undeserving.

Yours sincerely,
Michelle Desilets
Executive Director
Orangutan Land Trust
http://www.forests4orangutans.org

Thanks to all of you for your time and support of our company and products!

~ Go Max Go