What is RSPO supply chain certification?
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is an internationally recognized standard for assuring sustainable production of palm oil and palm kernel oil across the supply chain. Many of the world’s major brand owners and retailers now require their suppliers to become RSPO certified.
What is the RSPO standard?
The RSPO Standard for Sustainable Oil Palm Production, approved in April 2013, is presented as a series of Principles, Criteria, Indicators and Guidance, and is designed to be used by oil palm producers to implement sustainable production practices, and by certification bodies for field verification.
What does the RSPO do?
What is it? The RSPO is an industry-led initiative with a stated aim to “make sustainable palm oil the norm”. It was set up in 2004 with the backing of the WWF in response to growing evidence of the devastation that palm oil production resulted in. Its 4000+ members include the biggest palm oil producers and traders.
Who needs to be RSPO certified?
Sustainable palm oil sourcing In order for a company to claim it is using or sourcing RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil, all actors throughout the supply chain (producers, refiners, processors, traders, distributors and manufacturers) need to be RSPO members and RSPO-certified.
Why is RSPO certification important?
Access to RSPO certification for those smallholders is important for two main reasons: first, it may enhance the sustainability of their production system, and second, it may be a prerequisite for market access if RSPO certified oil palm will become the norm.
Does RSPO certificate means palm oil is fully sustainable?
RSPO certification is an assurance to the customer that the standard of palm oil production is sustainable.
What are the main principles and criteria of the RSPO standard?
The RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) are a set of stringent standards for sustainable palm oil production, which RSPO members must comply with. In line with ISEAL Alliance best practices, the P&C are reviewed every five years and subsequently submitted for ratification by the General Assembly of RSPO.
Why do we need RSPO?
It has a natural preservative effect which extends the shelf life of food products. It is also the highest-yielding vegetable oil crop, which makes it very efficient. It needs less than half the land required by other crops to produce the same amount of oil.
Does RSPO stop deforestation?
RSPO Certification’s Impact on Forests and Fire. Certification reduced deforestation rates by 33%, from a counterfactual mean of 9.8 to 6.6% y−1 (P = 0.028; Fig.
What are the requirements for palm oil to be certified as sustainable?
Understand their supply chain, requiring suppliers to have traceability to the palm oil mill and where necessary — to monitor and manage environmental and social risk — the plantation level. Ensure transparency by reporting on palm oil sources and usage, as well as their progress and actions at least annually.
Is the RSPO effective?
The study concluded that RSPO certification did result in better economic sustainability than that seen in non-certified plantations. However, the environmental and social benefits were unclear. It found no evidence that RSPO certified plantations retained orangutan populations more effectively.