Figures show sustainable palm oil boost

By Noli Dinkovski

- Last updated on GMT

RSPO: launched an improved traceability system at last month’s EU roundtable event
RSPO: launched an improved traceability system at last month’s EU roundtable event

Related tags Sustainable palm oil Management

There has been an increase in commitments made from RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) members towards certified sustainable palm oil, new figures reveal.

So far this year, the proportion of Annual Communication of Progress submissions by RSPO members has increased to 75%, compared with 68% in 2015.

The number of voluntary submissions for organisations that purchase no more than 500t of palm oil annually has also more than doubled.

RSPO membership has grown by 15% since 2015 and now stands at 2,852 members.

Roundtable event

The numbers were revealed at a RSPO EU roundtable event, held in Milan last month.

The organisation used the event to launch an improved traceability system, which means the mill of origin for all certified sustainable palm oil can now be identified throughout all the supply chain checks the RSPO uses.

A new mobile phone app, meanwhile, allows consumers to find RSPO-certified products anywhere in the world.

Palm Risk Tool

The World Resources Institute also used the event to unveil its Palm Risk Tool, which is designed to help companies identify the risk of deforestation associated with a particular palm oil mill and its supply base.

The RSPO has come under repeated fire from Greenpeace over the level of its standards. Last month, the charity accused the RSPO of providing an inadequate action plan for IOI Corporation Berhad, which it had suspended after evidence revealed the extent of IOI’s impact on the environment.

Greenpeace had taken the view that many progressive companies and governments had already tougher standards in place than the RSPO.

Related topics Markets South East Asia Supply chain

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