Sourcing cage-free eggs and continuing to improve our sustainable food leadership

Mr Mayor, colleagues, the motion I am moving this evening in place of Cllr Caroline Andrews with whom I worked closely as we researched and drafted this motion, sets out the building blocks and a pathway for the borough to achieve leadership in sustainable food procurement. Given the vast environmental impact of food, making progress in this area is a key element in achieving our aspiration to become a beacon borough for environmental sustainability.

The motion has three parts:

- A switch of the 25,000+ caged eggs LB Hounslow currently buys to barn or free-range eggs;

- A phasing out of food products containing Palm Oil that is not certified to international sustainability standards;

- And becoming a founder member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

EGGS

So eggs first of all. The House of Commons, City Hall and over 40 local authorities already have a policy of sourcing only barn or free-range eggs in their catering facilities.

They have recognised it is important to support cage-free farming systems rather than battery farming.

Caged hens suffer greatly in their short lives. They are unable to carry out natural behaviours, such as foraging and dust bathing, or even flapping their wings.

I have no idea the total chicken population in Hounslow, but in my ward - amongst my constituents -- are six chickens: Pepsi, Auren, Pearl, Ruby, Ascot & Butternut. Anyone with a garden and looking to save on their grocery bills should note these chickens cost just £7 a month to feed and on a good week produce 28 eggs. As far one can tell - not living in a cage - these chickens live a happy life in their appropriately named Egloo and back yard.

Although prices may vary, it costs little more to produce an egg in a free-range system than an egg from a caged system. Last year LB Hounslow consumed 25,722 eggs, so the transition to free range eggs will cost the Council £745/ annum - not excessive in our view.

By making this switch we will give our endorsement to the hard work and campaigning of Compassion in World Farming, and our commitment will be recognised with the receipt of a 'Good Egg Award'.

This part of the motion - which I am delighted to hear the Conservative group are backing -- therefore commits the Council to source (from the start of the 2010/11 financial year) cage-free eggs from barn or free-range systems for all catering provided by the Council, through DS Catering.

It has been suggested to me that we should insert "UK-produced" in front of "barn or free range eggs" - I would be interested in colleagues' views in the debate that follows as to whether this is a minor amendment that would be welcomed.

PALM OIL

Palm oil is the second concern this motion seeks to address. Driven by ever increasing global demand for edible oils, the past few decades have seen rapid expansion in the production of two major edible oils, soy oil in South America and palm oil in the tropics.

There is serious concern that not all palm oil is being produced sustainably at present. Development of new plantations has resulted in the conversion of large areas of forests with high conservation value and has threatened their rich biodiversity.

Use of fire for preparation of land for oil palm planting has been reported to contribute to the problem of forest fires in the late 1990s. The expansion of oil palm plantations have also given rise to social conflicts between the local communities and project proponents in many instances.

Some of you may have read in The Independent yesterday that Western food manufacturers are buying so little sustainable certified palm oil that the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil system is in danger of collapse. Palm-oil producers say they may quit the Roundtable because so few buying firms are financially backing the scheme.

Only Sainsbury has bought significant quantities of this RSPO-certified oil, for 10 per cent of its range. This is why the Council must contribute its buying power to influence the market place.

Cllrs Oulds and Davies have proposed removing this bit of the motion at this time, which we accept. More work needs to be done to fully understand how we can successfully phase out the use of food products containing Palm Oil that is not certified. But this must be done with urgency.

As Hilary Benn has said "what happens in Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Brazil doesn't stay there. It affects us all." So we must think carefully. If we are to continue to feed the borough's children pizzas, let's at least ensure that the palm oil that goes into them is sustainably produced.

SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANTS ASSOCIATION

Finally the motion proposes that LB Hounslow commit to become a founder member of The Sustainable Restaurants Association, whose launch is supported by leading food NGO Sustain.

Membership will only cost £240pa and would ensure that the Parkside café follows best practices, drawing on the association's support and standards, and is a leader in the borough and across the wider public sector.

Membership will help LB Hounslow resolve challenges such as palm oil and its perhaps worth noting that one of its co-founders is Giles Gibbons, Chief Exec of Good Business, where senior advisor to David Cameron - Steve Hilton - was once based.

I am disappointed that I understand the Conservative group do not want to support this element of the motion just yet, but take Cllrs Oulds and Davies at their word when they say that they will look into this further, as I have this afternoon provided them with more information on the organisation.

There ends the rapid tour of the sustainable food landscape, so, for Pepsi, Auren, Pearl, Ruby, Ascot & Butternut - and their feathered friends - I urge you all to support the amended motion.

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