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Ape protest at Unilever factory Ape protest at Unilever factory
(30 minutes later)
About 50 Greenpeace campaigners are staging a protest at Unilever sites in Merseyside and London.About 50 Greenpeace campaigners are staging a protest at Unilever sites in Merseyside and London.
The protesters, some dressed as apes, went into the plant at Port Sunlight, Wirral, and Unilever House on Victoria Embankment to highlight palm oil usage.The protesters, some dressed as apes, went into the plant at Port Sunlight, Wirral, and Unilever House on Victoria Embankment to highlight palm oil usage.
Greenpeace claims the use of palm oil by companies such as Unilever is damaging rainforests in Indonesia.Greenpeace claims the use of palm oil by companies such as Unilever is damaging rainforests in Indonesia.
However, Unilever says that it is leading the search to find solutions to achieving sustainable palm oil. However, Unilever says it is leading the search to find solutions to achieving sustainable palm oil.
In November, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) - which Unilever chairs - agreed criteria for sustainable palm oil production which addresses many of Greenpeace's concerns, the company said.
"The problem is simply that demand of palm oil has exploded," a spokesperson said.
"It is essential that all those involved sign up to agreed criteria to make sustainability work on the ground - but this is not an easy process and is taking longer than we would all like.
We're not against use of palm oil per se, but what we are against is destruction of rainforests to support the palm oil plantations Greenpeace spokesman
"Nevertheless, we remain absolutely committed to finding a solution."
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said the force was aware of the demonstration, which she described as "peaceful" and said officers were monitoring the protesters.A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said the force was aware of the demonstration, which she described as "peaceful" and said officers were monitoring the protesters.
A Greenpeace spokesman said the group arrived in two vans at the front and back entrance of the Wirral site at about 0640 BST and simply walked in.A Greenpeace spokesman said the group arrived in two vans at the front and back entrance of the Wirral site at about 0640 BST and simply walked in.
Some of the protesters were dressed as orang-utans and may have caused a distraction to security, the spokesman said.Some of the protesters were dressed as orang-utans and may have caused a distraction to security, the spokesman said.
We're not against use of palm oil per se, but what we are against is destruction of rainforests to support the palm oil plantations Greenpeace spokesman
Later at 0735 BST, campaigners dressed as orang-utans scaled ladders on to a balcony at the headquarters in London.Later at 0735 BST, campaigners dressed as orang-utans scaled ladders on to a balcony at the headquarters in London.
The demonstrators are occupying the sites in protest at Unilever's use of palm oil in some of its products, such as Persil, the Greenpeace spokesman added. 'Controversial' oil
He said the group would leave "if Unilever agrees to stop buying palm oil from companies who are destroying rainforests". The spokesman said the group would leave "if Unilever agrees to stop buying palm oil from companies who are destroying rainforests".
"We're not against use of palm oil per se, but what we are against is destruction of rainforests to support the palm oil plantations," he added. "We're not against use of palm oil per se, but what we are against is destruction of rainforests to support the palm oil plantations," he saidd.
Greenpeace is urging Unilever to use its influence to stop palm oil suppliers clearing areas of rainforest - the natural habitat of orang-utans in Indonesia - to support the crop.Greenpeace is urging Unilever to use its influence to stop palm oil suppliers clearing areas of rainforest - the natural habitat of orang-utans in Indonesia - to support the crop.
Palm oil is an ingredient in foods and soaps and a bio-fuel added to diesel for cars. Palm oil is an ingredient in foods, soaps and detergents and a bio-fuel added to diesel for cars.
The BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin said it was a controversial oil because it is often grown on rainforest land in South-East Asia. The BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin said it was a controversial oil because it was often grown on rainforest land in South-East Asia.