palm oil

• The RSPO Africa Roadshow: building capacity and raising awareness on sustainable palm oil

  With various partners | 2012 ongoing

  Large scale oil palm expansion in Africa is at an early stage. While oil palm development has the potential to deliver many socio-economic benefits, there are also potential environmental and social risks. The RSPO Africa Roadshow is a programma that aims to build capacity and raise awareness on sustainable palm oil among key stakeholders in Africa. Read more

• RSPO Principles & Criteria Review

  For RSPO | 2012 ongoing

  The Proforest Initiative has been invited to facilitate the review of the Principles and Criteria of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This will be their first full review since their introduction in 2007. The revised Principles and Criteria are expected to be ready in 2013. Read more

• Benchmarking voluntary standards – toward harmonization

  With ISEAL alliance, GIZ and RSB | 2011 ongoing

  The Sustainability Standards Transparency Initiative (SSTI) is a multi-stakeholder project seeking to develop a methodology for comparison between certification schemes. Read more

• Oil Palm Support Programme

  multiple clients | 2008 ongoing

  RSPO certification has become the accepted gold standard of sustainability in the palm oil sector, but reaching this standard can be a long and challenging process for many palm oil producers. Our Oil Palm Support Programme is one of the first global support programmes helping the palm oil sector move towards sustainability. Read more

• Lead auditor training for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

  Endorsed by RSPO | 2008 ongoing

  The RSPO has set the benchmark for the sustainable production of palm oil with its Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production. However, an important factor for success is having sufficient trained and experienced auditors in producer countries, able to check actual production practices on the ground against the requirements of the RSPO criteria. Read more

• Support for Greenergy’s sustainability programme

  For Greenergy International Ltd | 2007 ongoing

  Proforest has been working with Greenergy, the UK’s largest fuel supplier, to support the development and implementation of their sustainability programme since 2007. This support entails day to day advice and support on supply chain management for a range of agricultural commodities. Read more

• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

  RSPO | 2003 ongoing

  Palm oil is an ingredient in a vast range of products from cosmetics to foods, as well as a source of biodiesel. But its production can cause severe environmental and social impacts, especially where tropical forests are converted to oil palm plantations. In 2003, the RSPO invited Proforest to lead the process of developing a standard for sustainable palm oil production. Read more

• Mapping and Understanding the UK palm oil supply chain

  For Defra | 2010 to 2011

  This research project set out to investigate UK palm oil supply chains and potential approaches to encourage improvements in the sustainability of UK palm oil consumption. Read more

• HCV assessment for new palm oil plantation

  For Olam Palm Gabon | 2010 to 2011

  Olam International is one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and supply chain managers. Its subisdiary, Olam Palm, has committed to developing Olam’s oil palm business in full compliance with the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification system. Maintaining biological and social High Conservation Values (HCVs) is a key requirement of any new planting under the RSPO system, and Proforest was tasked with carrying out HCV assessments for Olam Palm’s first three concessions in Gabon. Read more

• Training on the HSBC Oil Palm Guidance Note for HSBC Malaysia

  For HSBC Malaysia | 2010

  Proforest has supported the development of and subsequent training on the HSBC Oil Palm Guidance Note. Read more

• Study on agricultural production models and methods for UK biofuels

  For Renewable Fuels Agency | 2010

  Production of a report on the environmental and social impacts of agricultural crops used for UK biofuels. Read more

• Supplier audits for Marks & Spencer

  M&S | 2009

  Assessment of the current level of supplier compliance with RSPO supply chain certification requirement. Read more

• HCV assessments for biofuel feedstock plantations

  With GTZ | 2008 to 2009

  Proforest, in collaboration with GTZ, conducted field studies in Mozambique and Thailand over the summer of 2008 to investigate how biofuel feedstock plantations can be planned and managed to comply with biodiversity and High Conservation Value (HCV) requirements contained in RSPO and other sustainability standards. Read more

• Biofuel Sustainability Assurance Programme

  For Shell Global | 2008 to 2009

  The increasing use of biofuel is a response to concerns on fossil fuel dependence, energy security and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the production of biofuel can also have adverse environmental and social impacts. As part of the development of a wider biofuels policy, Shell sought to develop a Global Assurance Programme seeking to to ensure sustainability for the agriculture commodities used for fuel. Read more

• Development of supply chain controls for RSPO

  DOEN Foundation | 2006 to 2009

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• Development of verification requirements for oil palm certification

  For RSPO | 2006 to 2008

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• ABN-AMRO sustainable investment support

  ABN AMRO | 2006 to 2008

  Provision of training, advice and research on forestry policy and investments in oil palm plantations. Read more

• Oil palm audit: Agropalma

  Agropalma Grupo | Latin America and the Caribbean | 2004

  Baseline audit of Agropalma’s compliance with the MIGROS criteria for sustainable production of oil palm. Read more

• ISIS Asset Management publication on oil palm

  ISIS Asset Management | 2003

  Background research and data analysis for a survey on the use of palm oil. Read more

• Oil palm audit: United Plantations

  For United Plantations Berhad | 2003

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• Oil palm audit: SA Grupo Daabon

  for Grupo Daabon | 2003

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• The Migros criteria for Oil Palm

  MIGROS | 2002 to 2003

  In 2002, the Swiss supermarket Migros was at the forefront of responsible purchasing when it decided to source sustainably produced palm oil for its own-brand margarine. As no international standard for sustainable palm oil production existed at the time, Migros asked WWF for advice, who in turn, came to Proforest. Read more

• FEDEPALMA Review of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact of the Vegetable Oil Industry

  With LMC International for FEDEPALMA | 2002 to 2003

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