The RSPO and sustainable palm oil.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global nonprofit to encourage sustainable harvesting of palm oil to meet the worldwide demand for the oil.   The RSPO has a certification program in which companies must meet strict criteria from each level of the production process.  Click here to view the RPSO Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production.  The RSPO defines sustainable palm oil production as being comprised of legal, economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations. 

The RSPO has a very detailed certification process but there are still some concerns about the program.  One concern is from the end product it is very hard to identify the real sources where the palm oil is being collected.  Most companies that utilize palm oil do not know where it is coming from.  Consider this: in 2004, Malaysia and Indonesia together accounted for 85% of global palm oil production. There is a direct correlation between the rise of palm oil and the fall of habitat for wildlife especially orangutans.  If you have not read "Cruel Oil, How palm oil harms health, rainforest and wildlife" published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, please click here to read it.

During the conference, there were many small palm oil plantation holders present trying to encourage the RSPO to help them get their land back.  Many of the small holders have had their land taken by the government of are over run by larger companies.  The small holders have an uphill battle when trying to become certified by the RSPO.  The certification requires them to commit to many criteria and when they are not in compliance of the criteria they rack up fees.

Antonia