KFC sends ‘strong message to business’ over rainforest-unfriendly packaging

The UK’s third-largest fast-food retailer KFC has officially ditched suppliers actively involved in rainforest clearance.

The UK arm of KFC, part of the Kentucky-based Yum! Brands, has updated its policy statement on the sourcing of its packaging, which rules out future use of material from Asia Pulp & Paper, one of the largest pulp and paper manufacturers in the world and a company that continues to pulp Indonesian rainforest.

KFC UK & Ireland joins a growing list of major global brands, including Disney, Mattel, Nestlé, Xerox, Kraft, Unilever and Danone, which have ruled out supply from the tarnished company thanks to campaigning efforts by groups such as Greenpeace.

In addition to stating a commitment to minimising the environmental impact of its packaging, as well as making its product as recyclable as possible, KFC’s revised policy statement says: “We will only work with suppliers that can demonstrate sustainable forestry management throughout their supply chain and that are not actively involved in rain forest clearance and we have specified to suppliers that we will only purchase from those who source wood, paper and pulp products from well-managed sustainable sources.”

Greenpeace rainforest campaigner Ian Duff said: “By walking away from companies like the increasingly ‘toxic’ APP brand, KFC UK is sending a strong message to the business community that it’s not acceptable to buy from companies that are turning the rainforest into rubbish.”