POIG is committed to supporting the expansion of available responsibly produced palm oil, as well as exploring ways to increase the market demand for palm oil products produced by innovative growers within the industry. The largest piece of the work required to accomplish these goals undoubtedly rests on our members—through their adherence to the POIG Charter, but also through the additional activities they carry out that break barriers and move above and beyond the bare minimum industry standards.

POIG is growing both membership and its capacity to address key issues in the palm oil sector. With more innovators joining forces under POIG, we move closer to achieving POIG’s vision: a responsible supply chain that has broken the link between palm oil production and the destruction of forests and peatlands, the exploitation of communities and workers, and climate change.

Retailers & Manufacturers: leading brands L’Oréal and Barry Callebaut join POIG

The POIG Retailer & Manufacturer membership category was set up in November 2015. The membership category came to a running start with leading brands like Ferrero, Danone, Stephenson Personal Care and Boulder Brands having joined POIG. We are now pleased to announce that two more progressive companies have joined POIG in recent months:

• In December 2016, we welcomed L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics company, to POIG’s membership.
• In March 2017, Barry Callebaut, the global leading supplier of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, based in Switzerland joined POIG.

POIG is confident that both L’Oréal and Barry Callebaut are committed to driving the transformation to make responsible palm oil the norm.

Expanding the supply-base of responsibly produced palm oil: announcing Sime Darby’s application to POIG

In November 2015, we welcomed our third grower member, Musim Mas, the first major Southeast Asian oil palm producer to join POIG. Musim Mas has completed an independent labour compliance assessment that will soon be published, and is working towards a full independent verification of its operations against the POIG Charter. Since then, another milestone has taken place: Sime Darby Plantations, the world’s largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, submitted their membership application to POIG. Their application has been undergoing review in 2017. If accepted to POIG, Sime Darby will be the first Malaysian palm oil giant to commit to the POIG Charter, including its innovations on tackling pressing labour issues that have led to growing concerns amongst consumers of palm oil.

POIG Traders & Processors: new membership category open soon

After several months under development, the POIG Traders & Processors Charter is nearing finalisation, and is expected to be released in the coming months. Once launched, POIG membership will be open to another critical part of the palm oil supply chain, and we welcome all new applicants that fall under the definition of this membership category.

Further information on membership and application requirements can be accessed here, or requested by contacting the POIG Secretariat at [email protected].