A report by EIA and our Indonesian partner Kaoem Telapak which documents alleged deforestation, corruption and human rights violations in Indonesia’s palm oil sector by companies which are linked via the involvement of members of the Fangiono family.
In this briefing we examine the extent to which the RSPO standard ensures legality, traceability and deforestation free palm oil. At first glance it may look as if the RSPO standard largely ensures palm oil is deforestation-free, legal and traceable. In reality, the system is complicated and many caveats and loopholes allow companies to bypass and bend the rules.
Here we analyse Indonesia’s key policies related to palm oil sustainability and deregulation, including the potential impacts of the newly passed UUCK.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is one of the world’s most well-known certification schemes. Its environmental and social standards are often ranked highly and yet it continues to face criticism, eroding trust in its brand.
Analysis by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Indonesian partners Kaoem Telapak reveals Indonesia is not set to fundamentally improve its palm oil standards.
As the world approaches 2020 targets to halt deforestation, the RSPO needs to rapidly implement radical solutions to restore its credibility. We question whether the RSPO is willing and able to rectify its systemic failures – ultimately, voluntary certification is too limited by its voluntary nature.