As policy-makers meet with palm oil growers, traders and consumers in Brussels for the European Palm Oil Alliance conference it is clear that innovation is needed to break the link between palm oil and deforestation and social conflict.

One initiative is leading the way in demonstrating what is required to achieve truly responsible palm oil. The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) is a collective of progressive palm oil companies together with environmental and social NGOs that are working to push the boundaries of current requirements of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

The POIG has reached a number of new milestones in its efforts to find innovative ways to build on the current RSPO standards to halt deforestation, respect rights, resolve conflict and ensure greater traceability from plantations to grocery store shelves.

• POIG palm oil producer members, DAABON, Agropalma and New Britain Palm Oil Limited, have all commenced to trial third party verification of their practices against the Palm Oil Innovation Group Charter. These producers are breaking ground on new ways to implement the High Carbon Stock Approach and improve worker conditions and are driving the refinement of the procedures and indicators used to confirm compliance. Major palm oil producer Golden Agri-Resources has recently applied to become a member of the POIG and its application is being considered.
• New members with social expertise have joined the POIG and a Technical Advisory Group has been set up to develop innovative new ways to verify that companies uphold strong social safeguards including the protection of community and workers’ rights in the palm oil sector.
• Integral to the POIG Charter is a commitment to break the link between palm oil expansion and deforestation, by conserving and restoring High Conservation Values (HCV), by respecting the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of affected communities and by putting a High Carbon Stock Approach into practice. Members of the POIG have joined a broad group of stakeholders in establishing a High Carbon Stock Approach Steering Group that will govern the refinement and standardization of the HCS Approach.
• Six of the world’s leading consumer goods manufacturers and retailers have now pledged their support to drive the transformation of their sector towards responsible palm oil production and sourcing. Tesco, Ferrero, REWE Group, EDEKA, Boulder Brands and Stephenson have all announced their support for the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG). This growing support amongst buyers of palm oil shows a pressing need for the palm oil industry to innovate and meet the new global benchmark for responsible palm oil.

The Palm Oil Innovation Group is leading the way in innovation. The question now is whether more brands will come forward, support POIG and ask the RSPO and the palm oil industry to adopt these innovations to find new ways to transform palm oil for the better.

Download this press release here

As palm oil growers, traders and consumers gather in Kuala Lumpur for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) meeting it is clear that innovation is needed to break the link between palm oil and deforestation and social conflict.

One initiative is leading the way in demonstrating What’s Next for the RSPO. The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) is a collective of progressive palm oil companies together with environmental and social NGOs that are working to push the boundaries of current requirements of the RSPO.

The POIG has reached a number of new milestones in its efforts to find innovative ways to build on the current Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards to halt deforestation, respect rights, resolve conflict and ensure greater traceability from plantations to grocery store shelves.

• POIG palm oil producer members, Agropalma and New Britain Palm Oil Limited, have commenced to trial third party verification of their practices against the Palm Oil Innovation Group Charter. These producers are breaking ground on new ways to implement the High Carbon Stock Approach and improve worker conditions and are driving the refinement of the procedures and indicators used to confirm compliance. Major palm oil producer Golden Agri-Resources has recently applied to become a member of the POIG and its application is being considered.

• New members with social expertise have joined the POIG and a Technical Advisory Group has been set up to develop innovative new ways to verify that companies uphold strong social safeguards including the protection of community and workers’ rights in the palm oil sector.

• Integral to the POIG Charter is a commitment to break the link between palm oil expansion and deforestation, by conserving and restoring High Conservation Values (HCV), by respecting the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of affected communities and by putting a High Carbon Stock Approach into practice. Members of the POIG have joined a broad group of stakeholders in establishing a High Carbon Stock Approach Steering Group that will govern the refinement and standardization of the HCS Approach.

• Five of the world’s leading consumer goods manufacturers and retailers today pledged their support to drive the transformation of their sector towards responsible palm oil production and sourcing. Ferrero, REWE Group, EDEKA, Boulder Brands and Stephenson have all announced their support for the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG). This growing support amongst buyers of palm oil shows a pressing need for the palm oil industry to innovate and meet the new global benchmark for responsible palm oil.

The Palm Oil Innovation Group is leading the way in innovation. The question now is whether or not the RSPO will adopt these innovations to find new ways to transform the palm oil landscape for the better.

For media comment contact representatives of the Palm Oil Innovation Group:
Suzanne Kroger, Greenpeace: + 62 811 8800 420, [email protected]
Simon Lord, New Britain Palm Oil: [email protected]
Adam Harrison, WWF: [email protected]

To download the statement click here

Five of the world’s leading consumer goods manufacturers and retailers today announce their support to drive the transformation of their sector towards responsible palm oil production and sourcing.

Ferrero, REWE Group, EDEKA, Boulder Brands and Stephenson have all announced their support for the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG), by joining NGOs and palm oil producers seeking to break the link between palm oil and deforestation, social conflict and carbon emissions.

Growing support amongst buyers of palm oil shows a pressing need for the palm oil industry to innovate and meet the new global benchmark for responsible palm oil. Each of these five companies is looking forward to work with NGOs and leading palm oil producers to find solutions to complex supply chain challenges and ensure the procurement of responsible palm oil.

Integral to the POIG Charter is a commitment from producers to break the link between palm oil expansion and deforestation, by conserving and restoring High Conservation Values (HCV), by respecting the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of affected communities and by putting a High Carbon Stock Approach into practice.

The POIG will find innovative ways to build on the current Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards to halt deforestation, respect rights, resolve conflict and ensure greater traceability from plantations to grocery store shelves.
This endorsement by leading manufacturers and retailers was warmly welcomed by the members of the Palm Oil Innovation Group:

“Today, leading manufacturers and retailers have put their weight behind an exciting and innovative transformation of the palm oil sector.

Through their support of the Palm Oil Innovation Group many of the world’s leading brands are now taking a pivotal role in driving a move towards responsible palm oil. These companies can help transform the marketplace for palm oil through the development of innovative practices, joint supply chain actions and by increasing the demand for responsible palm oil.

Together with POIG’s palm oil producer members, Agropalma, DAABON and NBPOL these retailers and manufacturers have demonstrated that market support for responsible palm oil is a reality.
We look forward to working together to find new ways to transform the palm oil landscape for the better.”

For media comment contact representatives of the Palm Oil Innovation Group:
Suzanne Kroger, Greenpeace: + 62 811 8800 420, [email protected]
Simon Lord, New Britain Palm Oil: [email protected]
Adam Harrison, WWF: [email protected]

Click here to download the statement

Founding member of POIG, Brazilian palm oil producer Agropalma has released its very first sustainability report. The report documents Agropalma’s progress in providing fully traceable palm oil products, as well as efforts in forest protection, community engagement and labour conditions.

The report can be downloaded here

Founding members of POIG, Agropalma, DAABON and New Britain Palm Oil have been named among the World’s most responsible palm oil producers in a new report by the Forest Heroes campaign.

The campaign, labels the leaders in the industry as ‘Green Tigers’ described as companies who are ‘adapting to the revolutionized global market by evolving to ensure that their growth does not come at the expense of forests.’ and ‘are working aggressively to protect forests and reduce their overall environmental footprint are enjoying dramatically improved market access – with strong prospects for continued international growth.’

To read more about the Forest Heroes campaign and the Green tiger ranking click here.

The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) today released a set of indicators that allow for the independent verification of performance against the POIG Charter, which was  released in November 2013. The POIG Charter builds on the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil’s (RSPO) certification standard with additional requirements that ensure all palm oil operations by POIG grower members are free from deforestation, the destruction of peatlands,
and human and labor rights abuses.

Download the full press release

The indicators are available here

POIG founding member New Britain Palm Oil Limited released their fourth Sustainability Report in April 2014. The report details how the company is working towards compliance with the POIG Charter.

The report can be downloaded here