TLDR:
The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) has criticized Eni, the Italian oil giant, for continuing to use palm oil despite its “palm oil free” pledge. An investigation by T&E found that at least eight vessels carried palm oil byproduct Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) from Indonesia to Italy to convert to biodiesel. Eni was fined €5m in 2020 for misleading consumers with “green diesel” advertisements.
Eni pledged to discontinue its use of palm oil by the end of 2022, but the investigation found that its Gela and Venice refiners still rely on PFADs. The use of PFADs has been linked to deforestation and increased emissions. T&E called on Eni to end the use of all palm products to avoid misleading investors and consumers. The investigation also raises concerns about biofuels in light of the Meloni Government’s pushback against a Europe-wide ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
Italian oil giant Eni has continued using palm oil despite its “palm oil free” pledge in 2022, a new T&E investigation has found. The investigation has found at least eight vessels that carried Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD), a byproduct of palm oil production, from Indonesia to Italy to convert to biodiesel.