CASE OVERVIEW
Background Information
Palm oil is an ingredient in many food products, shampoo, and cosmetics. Enormous areas of forest are being destroyed in order to produce the palm oil used in these commodities. Between 2001 and 2019, 2,399 million hectares – approximately the size of the Korean Peninsula – were destroyed in Indonesia, the biggest palm oil supplying country. Precious animals, plants, and indigenous people live in these priceless tropical forests. No one owns any rights to destroy these, and yet there are Korean companies being accused of such destruction.
Forest is our place. Soil is a mother. Destroying forest is like destroying the womb. We were raised with the wind, leaves, birds and animals in the forest. What happens if the forest is gone? Where are we going?
OUR ACTION
KTNC Watch is acting to improve government, industry, and market policy in relation to the production and supply of palm oil. KTNC Watch advocates for the use of sustainable methods to help preserve the priceless forests. KTNC Watch sends letters to companies, holds meetings with government officials, engages with international investment institutions, and initiates parliamentary debates. KTNC Watch also carries out advocacy activities, such as publishing reports to raise awareness, and holds public lectures. in 2020, KTNC Watch filed the complaint against POSCO International, KEXIM and NPS to Korean NCP.