A journey towards responsible palm oil — the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) worked from 2013 to 2023 to drive innovation in sustainable palm oil production, going beyond existing certification standards to protect forests, peatlands, communities and workers.
10 Years of Palm Oil Innovations
In connection with the 10-year anniversary and the formal conclusion of the Palm Oil Innovation Group in 2023, the initiative launched five impact reports. They capture the efforts made by POIG's members, the impact of POIG's work on the RSPO and palm oil production and use in general, and share the lessons and questions still outstanding to achieve responsible supply chains that have broken the link between palm oil production and the destruction of forests and peatlands, the exploitation of communities and workers, and climate change.
Download the reports below:
About POIG
The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) was a multi-stakeholder initiative that brought together palm oil producers, processors, traders, retailers, and NGOs committed to ensuring that palm oil is produced in a responsible manner. Founded in 2013, POIG worked alongside the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to develop and promote best practices that went beyond existing certification standards.
POIG's charter addressed key issues including:
- No Deforestation: Protecting high carbon stock forests and peatlands from conversion
- No Exploitation: Ensuring the rights and welfare of workers and communities
- Shared Responsibility: Promoting accountability across the entire supply chain
- Verification: Independent assessment and transparent reporting of member commitments
After a decade of work driving innovation in sustainable palm oil, POIG formally concluded its operations in 2023, having achieved significant progress in raising the bar for responsible palm oil production.
POIG Members
POIG's membership included leading palm oil producers, consumer goods manufacturers, and civil society organisations committed to responsible palm oil. Members included Agropalma, Daabon, Musim Mas, and many others who demonstrated their commitment through independent verification assessments.
The POIG Charter
The POIG Charter set out the framework for responsible palm oil production and sourcing. It included specific indicators for verification, separate components for retailers and manufacturers, and guidelines for traders and processors. The charter's verification indicators were independently assessed and reports published to ensure transparency and accountability.
Key components of the charter included:
- POIG Verification Indicators
- POIG Verification Assessments & Reports
- POIG Charter for Retailers & Manufacturers
- POIG Charter for Traders & Processors
Further Resources
- POIG Product List: A directory of products sourced from POIG-verified palm oil
- POIG Innovations: Key innovations developed and promoted by POIG members
- RSPO and POIG: How POIG's work complemented and influenced RSPO standards
Latest News (Archive)
- POIG Shared Responsibility Impact Report Launched (June 2023)
- POIG Verification and Assurance Publication Launched (May 2023)
- POIG No Exploitation Impact Report Launched (May 2023)
- The Living Wage: A Crucial Building Block for Responsible Palm Oil Growers (April 2023)
- Conclusion of POIG (November 2022)
Contact
For enquiries related to the Palm Oil Innovation Group archive, please email [email protected].