Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through cooperation within the supply chain.

Find out more about the RSPO, the role of WWF with regards to the Roundtable, and facts and figures regarding Certified Sustainable Palm Oil over the years.


NEW

WWF Assessment of RSPO Member Palm Oil Producers 2013

WWF's analysis of data from Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) member producers shows that a handful are making adequate progress on the road to 100% RSPO compliance.

Get the analysis ►
The RSPO demystified

Paving the way for sustainable palm oil

The RSPO has developed Principles and Criteria on Sustainable Palm Oil Production to ensure that palm oil production is economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial.

It promotes projects such as:

  • Responsible investment in oil palm – improvement of risk analysis/decision-making tools for banks and investors on palm oil development
  • Chain of custody – investigation of different approaches for creating links between sustainable oil palm plantations and the consumer

Certified Sustainable Palm Oil grows in market share

  • 2011: 5+ million tonnes, or 10% of the total amount of palm oil produced globally, was certified through the RSPO. Moreover, 114 palm oil producing and processing companies were certified to offer fully traceable RSPO-certified palm oil to end users.
     
  • 2010: The volume of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil on the market grows to 2.3 million tonnes, while sales of sustainable palm oil more than triple to about 1.3 million tonnes.
     
  • 2009: By October 2009, some 195,000 tonnes of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) have been traded. WWF is working to encourage companies to source 100% CSPO in the products they make and sell.
     
  • Mid-2009: RSPO-certified plantations are able to supply 1.75 million tonnes of sustainable palm oil per year – more than one-third of the EU’s annual uptake of palm oil.
     
  • 2008: First sustainable palm oil plantations certified. 

Supply and sales of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil
 

Sales and supply of RSPO-certified palm oil to 2012. Source: RSPO

For more recent data and graphs on RSPO-certified palm oil, visit the RSPO website
/ ©: Roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO)
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) logo
© Roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO)

Why join?

Joining the RSPO publicly shows your organization's commitment to sustainable palm oil production and use. This can improve access to new markets and investment sources.

Commited to sustainable palm oil? Then show it.

CASE STUDIES

What is WWF’s role in the RSPO?

As a founding member of the RSPO, WWF worked to make sure its standards are founded on solid social and environmental criteria, including a prohibition on the conversion of valuable forests to oil palm plantations.

We support monitoring, adoption and compliance to RSPO standards by palm oil producers, and are driving demand for sustainable palm oil amongst retailers and manufacturers.

We are working in places such as China, India and the EU, to ensure that the RSPO reaches its full potential. In Indonesia, we support the round table initiative by providing training on sustainable palm oil and High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF).

We also encourage producers, buyers and other stakeholders to adopt Better Management Practices (BMPs).

Results from the collaboration between WWF-Indonesia, Indonesian oil palm companies and the Indonesian Plantation Companies Association include:

  • Impact assessment on oil palm plantations
  • Guidelines and training modules, covering the experience of Indonesian Palm Oil Commission/WWF-Indonesia assessment on oil palm plantations combined with RSPO’s Principles and Criteria
  • Training on sustainable palm oil/ HCVF, attracting mostly plantation executives and managers, local government officials, smallholders, local NGOs and university representatives
  • Dissemination of HCVF concept and Principles and Criteria to smallholders in the Province of Riau (Sumatra) and training for smallholders on zero-burning practices

News

Related links

RSPO in brief

    • Established in 2004 as a cooperation between Aarhus United UK Ltd,  Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Migros, Malaysian Palm Oil Association, Sainsbury’s and Unilever together with WWF
    • Now a global non-profit association with more than 500 members, including oil palm growers, oil processors, food companies, retailers, NGOs and investors representing about half the world’s palm oil supply
    • Promotes the growth and use of sustainable oil palm products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders
    • Promotes palm oil production practices that help reduce deforestation, preserve biodiversity and respect the livelihoods of rural communities
    • Aims to see all of the world’s palm oil produced in a sustainable way
    RSPO website

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