Cop26’s official partner was accused of not doing enough to reduce deforestation due to palm oil.
Dettol, who supplied hand sanitizer and handwash for this event, has been criticized for making false claims about environmental sustainability, while making very little progress.
WWF awarded points to 24 companies this year for their palm oil sourcing practices.
Dettol supplied hand sanitiser and handwash for Cop26. Reckitt, its parent company, was chosen as the hygiene partner earlier this year.
Dettol’s parent company Reckitt Benckiser was ranked 11.4 out of 24 – below average for the 227 companies that were surveyed.
You can find palm oil in many products, but it is often produced in plantations that replace forests in south-east Asia.
WWF said: ‘Our planet can no longer wait for palm oil buyers to turn promises into action.’
Reckitt was named Cop26 hygiene partner as it vowed to ‘protect, heal and nurture’ for a ‘cleaner, healthier world’.
A spokesman said: ‘Reckitt is committed to zero deforestation and responsible sourcing, including for palm oil.’
Preparation for the opening of a new Palm Oil Plantation in a Protected Area of the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve in Indonesia.
A Cop26 spokesman said ‘all sponsors met robust criteria’.
The WWF added: ‘Slow action by much of the industry means that sustainability efforts fall drastically short of what is needed to counteract the ongoing damage caused by unsustainable palm oil production.
‘A large number of companies also continue to avoid all responsibility and accountability by failing to disclose information on their palm oil usage and sustainability efforts.
In Indonesia, a worker transports palm oil fruits. Although palm oil can be found in many goods, its production often means that plantations replace forests in south-east Asia.
‘From deforestation to biodiversity loss to global warming, unsustainable practices by the palm oil industry have contributed to the climate and nature crises we currently face.
‘Tackling them calls for accelerated and concerted corporate action.’
Earlier this year, Reckitt was named as the hygiene partner for Cop26 as it announced a sustainability plan in which it vowed to ‘protect, heal and nurture’ for a ‘cleaner, healthier world’.
‘As Hygiene Partner for Cop26, Reckitt is committed to combatting climate change and will provide an unrivalled level of scientific and medical expertise to develop and implement- hygiene protocols of the highest standards,’ it said.