UK’s DEFRA says non-biofuel industries can choose own sustainability definition

In the UK, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided that industries other than biofuels can create their own definition of sustainability for palm oil and aren’t required to follow those approved by the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive. It said in its recent report looking at improvements in palm oil sustainability over the past three years that it is up to the sectors themselves to decide what is sustainable. Palm oil only accounts for about 5% of the biofuel consumed in the UK, and roughly about 5% of palm oil production globally has traditionally one towards biodiesel, though that may change as Indonesia, Malaysia and India boost consumption.