Peanut butter giant Whole Earth has begun a campaign with the Sumatran Orangutan Society to plant 20,000 trees in the rainforest.
Whole Earth has strengthened its partnership with the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) with a campaign to support reforestation in the Indonesian island.
As a result of the campaign, Whole Earth peanut butters will see the SOS logo printed on its labels from December, in addition to a pledge to plant 20,000 trees in Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem, the only place in the world where orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses all live together.
Orangutans are one of the animals affected most heavily by palm oil production. Whole Earth uses sustainable palm oil in its peanut butter, which is certified with the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil. With this partnership, the nut butter company is taking a step forward to protect orangutans and protect its palm oil reputation.
Read our story on whether palm oil really is sustainable.
By planting thousands of trees as part of the #maketherainforestwhole partnership, Whole Earth will be contributing to restoring a crucial rainforest ecosystem that benefits wildlife, the climate, and local communities.
Emma Vass, CEO of Whole Earth’s parent company Wessanen UK, said: “Trees and forests have long been at the heart of the Whole Earth brand, and central to our brand identity. So naturally, we’re delighted to be working with the fantastic team at the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) to promote their vital work, highlight the importance of reforestation, and create The Forever Forest for the benefit of the planet, climate and biodiversity.”
Helen Buckland, director of the SOS, added: “It’s incredible to see how quickly a forest grows in Sumatra – within just a few years, Whole Earth and its customers will have created a new home for wild orangutans.”
“One of the biggest issues facing orangutans’ survival in the wild is the fragmentation of their habitat, so support for our reforestation program is vital in helping us ensure that Sumatra’s orangutans — and countless other species that live alongside them — have a future.
“The bigger picture, of course, is that rainforests like the ones we find in Sumatra have a major role to play in regulating the Earth’s climate and rainfall, so by planting 20,000 trees, Whole Earth’s impact will also be felt far beyond Sumatra.”
