RSPO response to public allegations of non-sustainable practices

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a multi-stakeholder organization promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil. The Roundtable’s 420+ members, including many mainstream palm growers, oil traders, processors, manufacturers and retailers worldwide, have pledged to work towards implementing sustainable business practices. Today, more than 1.5 million tonnes of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil have been produced, and supply and sales are growing.
Occasionally, assertions are published about RSPO members allegedly not yet fully acting in accordance with the RSPO’s principles and criteria for sustainable palm oil production. While their numbers are few, the RSPO takes all such assertions very seriously in order to safeguard the overall integrity of the Roundtable and its certification system.
The RSPO inquires with members about public complaints insofar published evidence permits. Without access to the full evidence and the cooperation of those who collected it, however, the RSPO’s ability to investigate fully and fairly, and to take action if needed, is limited.
In case of a possible breach, the RSPO calls on parties to use the organization’s fair and balanced grievance procedure and to make all evidence available to the RSPO’s Grievance Panel.