Guatemala: NGOs call on Nestlé, Cargill & other companies to stop sourcing palm oil from REPSA amid failure to consult with indigenous communities affected by ecocide; incl. cos. responses
On June 10, 2021, 36 organisations issued an Open Letter addressed to all multinational corporations that source palm oil from REPSA (part of the Olmeca Group) in Sayaxché, Guatemala. The organisations allege that the company failed to consult with and address the grievances of Indigenous communities affected by ecocide, intimidation and violations of human rights. The organisations condemned the recent decision by Nestlé and Cargill to resume sourcing from REPSA, and called on other companies to refrain from being complicit with ongoing human rights violations. that Some of these companies that have previously sourced from REPSA, or are sourcing from Guatemala, are: Unilever, PepsiCo, Ferrero, Mars, Mondelēz, Colgate Palmolive, Wilmar, Oleofinos and AAK on the status of their sourcing from REPSA and the Olmeca Group.
All companies responded to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre's invitation to respond; responses are included below.