Jakarta- The completed purchase of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd puts buyer Sime Darby Plantations on the spot: will it match NBPOL’s responsible palm oil practices on the ground, in particular by adopting a comprehensive forest conservation policy across its entire supply chain?
NBPO is a founding member of the Palm Oil Innovation Group, and was one of the leading companies in the Greenpeace Score card launched in 2012. Sime Darby on the other hand has not shown the leadership one would expect from the biggest plantation company in the world. The company does not have a strong Zero Deforestation policy across its global supply chains, like competitors Wilmar, Cargill, GAR, Musim Mas and Asian Agri now have The Palm Oil Innovation Group Charter that builds on the current RSPO Principles & Criteria, and sets a strong standard on the key values of protecting High Conservation Value Forests, High Carbon Stock Forests and peatlands, respecting customary land rights and labour rights and responsible agricultural practices.
Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner Annisa Rahmawati said:
“We encourage Sime Darby to adopt NBPO’s strong leadership role and the commitments that NBPOL is implementing on the ground, including membership of POIG. Following this purchase, we will keep close watch to see whether those commitments are adopted by Sime Darby, not watered down.”
Further info:
Media Contacts:
Annisa Rahmawati, Forest Campaigner Greenpeace Southeast Asia
M: +62 8111097527, E: [email protected]
Sol Gosetti, International Communications Coordinator, Indonesia Forest campaign,
E; [email protected], M: +44 7380845754