After pressure from global corporate watchdog SumOfUs, Wilmar adopts industry-leading anti-deforestation policies.

February 28, 2014

SumOfUs.org is a global, grassroots consumer movement for corporate accountability. With support from Voqal Fund, SumOfUs achieved serious progress toward many of its organizational goals and achieved campaign victories across a wide spectrum of corporate accountability issues, including anti-deforestation policies, factory conditions in Bangladesh and the ethical sale of Angora fur.

Working with Catapult Campaigns, Forest Heroes and Rainforest Action Network, SumOfUs successfully persuaded Wilmar International – the world’s largest palm oil trader – to implement strong “No Deforestation, No Exploitation policies.”

Additional success came in the fight to improve labor conditions in Bangladesh. Over a period of nine months and working with the International Labor Rights Forum, United Students Against Sweatshops and many other partners, SumOfUs was integral in applying sustained pressure to international and regional retailers. Ultimately over 110 brands were persuaded to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

SumOfUs also waged a successful campaign against European apparel retailers to stop selling Angora Fur. After SumOfUs spread the word about the horrific and painful fur removal practices used by Angora farmers in China, it was able to halt production of Angora products by 3 major European apparel retailers until ethical suppliers of Angora fur are found.