CHANNAHON, ILL. – Loders Croklaan welcomed its first bulk vessel shipment of palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in North America on Feb. 20 when it arrived in New Orleans. The Channahon-based company expects to begin deliveries of the oil to its customers in April.

“Considering how prevalent palm oil is in our everyday lives, its sustainable production is critical to meet rising demand and to protect the environment in which it is grown,” said David McLaughlin, managing director and vice-president, agriculture, for the World Wildlife Fund. “We are very pleased to see the leadership IOI-Loders Croklaan has taken by introducing RSPO-certified palm oil to the North American market, giving assurance to buyers that it was produced in ways that avoids illegal deforestation and protects the habitats of some of the most iconic species in the world, like the orangutan and Sumatran tiger.”