An environmental group’s investigative report, released on Wednesday, reveals that a supplier to brands like Nestle, Kellogg’s, and Colgate has been cultivating palm oil on land that was once part of the well-preserved areas of Peru’s Amazon rainforest.
According to the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) report, Peru-based supplier Ocho Sur and related companies have cleared over 130 square kilometers (50 square miles) of land in Peru’s Ucayali region, with most of the deforestation occurring since 2012.
This area is more than twice the size of Manhattan.
In a statement to Reuters, Ocho Sur claimed that nonprofit groups are trying to harm its reputation with untrue allegations.
The company stated that it obtained all required environmental permits when it acquired the land in 2016.
Ocho Sur added that it hasn’t increased its plantation area since then and has replanted areas that lacked forest coverage while preserving protected Amazon regions.
“Ocho Sur backs its commitment to biodiversity and preserving the forest,” it said.
Nestle stated that it looks into allegations when they emerge and expects suppliers to fix problems or face losing business with Nestle.
Kellanova mentioned it doesn’t directly deal with Ocho Sur but will communicate with its suppliers who do.