Commitments to and supplies for sustainable palm oil picked up steam in August and September as companies and organizations took environmental steps to avoid deforestation.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Aug. 12 reported sales of physical certified sustainable palm oil (C.S.P.O.) reached 1,117,042 tonnes from January to June, which compared to 678,181 tonnes from January to June in 2013. The C.S.P.O. sales were reported through identity preserved, segregated and mass balance supply chains.

The R.S.P.O. is a not-for-profit association that unites shareholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry. The R.S.P.O. contains several palm oil processors and traders, including AAK, Archer Daniels Midland Co., Bunge, Cargill, Global Agri-trade Corp., IOI Group and Stepan Co.

On Sept. 15, Minneapolis-based Cargill said it is becoming a member of The Forest Trust, an international, non-governmental organization that partners with companies to build responsible supply chains. With the help of The Forest Trust, Cargill has mapped the full supply chain of its Malaysian palm oil refineries to the individual mill.

The next day, The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., and Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., Canton, Mass., announced their respective programs to source palm oil. The Hershey Co. became a member of The Forest Trust and expects to achieve traceability to the mill level by the first quarter of 2015. Hershey then will assess which suppliers represent the highest risk for engaging in deforestation and require those suppliers commit to implementing responsible expansion procedures to the plantation level in 2016.

Dunkin’ Brands committed to sourcing only 100% sustainable palm oil in the United States by 2016. Dunkin’ Donuts uses a blend of palm oil, soy and cottonseed oil for preparing donuts.