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We are an internationally recognised, independent organisation whose
unique expertise delivers sustainable natural resource management,
from policy, investment and procurement, to production on the ground.

Producers, purchasing and investment

We have extensive experience in supporting companies and governments set up and implement sustainable production and purchasing policies. See below for an overview. For more specific areas of support, use the categories in the panel on the left hand side.

  • 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

  • Independent monitoring of the ACE commitment

    Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) | 2008 ongoing

    In 2007, ACE members Tetra Pak, SIG Combibloc and Elopak initiated a global voluntary sector commitment to only source wood fibre that is traceable to legal and acceptable sources by 2018. Read more

  • Sustainable sugarcane for biofuel

    For Greenergy International Ltd | 2007 ongoing

    Ethanol from sugarcane is a promising biofuel alternative to fossil fuels. To ensure its supplies of Brazilian ethanol are sustainable, Greenergy turned to Proforest for help. 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

  • Supporting Tetra Pak's wood fibre sourcing

    Tetra Pak | 2004 ongoing

    Tetra Pak is a global leader in the production of beverage carton packaging material and has set itself a target of sourcing materials only from FSC certified suppliers by the end of 2015. Read more

  • Supporting Royal Horticultural Society's Timber Products Policy

    For Royal Horticultural Society Enterprises | 2002 ongoing

    Since 2002 the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has had a policy in place on trees and timber products. The policy sets out the Society’s commitment to supporting good forest management and requires that all wood products brought to RHS Flower Shows are made from wood certified as sustainable. Read more

  • John Lewis Partnership timber purchasing

    For John Lewis Partnership | gb | 2002 ongoing

    Proforest helps JLP develop and implement responsible purchasing timber policy and programme including training, verification support and site audits. Read more

  • Supporting Tesco's preparations for EU Timber Regulation

    For Tesco | 2011

    In March 2013 the requirements of the EU Timber Regulation will come into force. In view of these new requirements, Tesco has asked Proforest to carry out a review of their responsible sourcing policy and associated procedures. 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • HSBC: support for implementation of forest policy

    HSBC holdings plc | Europe | 2008 to 2010

    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

  • Sugarcane mill compliance with RFTO sustainability requirements

    For Caeté Mill | br | 2009

    Support the company to implement actions within their sugarcane plantation to comply with RTFO social and environmental requirements. Read more

  • Development of rapeseed sustainability criteria

    For Shell Global | 2009

    Shell is obligated under the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to supply a minimum amount of biofuels to the UK market and to report carbon and sustainability information about the biofuel delivered. Shell needed to demonstrate that their German rapeseed supplies met the RTFO requirements for sustainability. 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

  • 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

  • Jatropha Sustainability Guidelines

    For BP Biofuels | 2008

    Read more

  • Willis and Gambier supply chain support

    For Willis and Gambier | 2006 to 2008

    Proforest helped Willis and Gambier, a furniture agent in the UK, to formulate a responsible sourcing policy. We provided inputs in its policy implementation, including supply chain analysis and supplier audits. Read more

  • Support for House of Fraser

    House of Fraser | 2007

    Support for the implementation of House of Fraser’s Timber Sourcing Policy Read more

  • Belgian timber procurement policy evaluation

    For The Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment | 2007

    Evaluation of the Belgian federal public procurement policy on timber. Read more

  • Support for Marks and Spencer (M&S)

    For Marks and Spencer | 2006 to 2007

    Support for the implementation of Marks and Spencer’s timber sourcing policy Read more

  • B&Q Policy Review

    For B&Q | 2003 to 2007

    Provided technical support to B&Q during the review of the company’s timber policy in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Read more

  • Yayasan Sabah HCVF assessments

    Yayasan Sabah | 2006

    Read more

  • Chain of Custody Standard for Timber Trade Action Plan (TTAP)

    For TTAP | 2006

    Development of a Chain of Custody Standard to enable companies to trace wood back to forest origin and provide assurance of legal compliance. Read more

  • The Danish Guidelines for tropical timber procurement

    The Danish Government | 2005 to 2006

    Read more

  • McDonalds Global Forest Policy support

    For McDonalds | 2004 to 2006

    Development and implementation of a global forest policy to guide the company and its suppliers in the purchase and use of wood and paper products. Read more

  • Citigroup forest investment policy

    For Citigroup | 2005

    Read more

  • DLH forest policy

    DLH | Europe | 2005

    Read more

  • Danish tropical timber procurement evaluation

    For Danish Government | 2005

    Evaluation of the Danish guidelines on public purchase of tropical timber. Read more

  • Dutch government sustainable timber certification and CoC review

    With PwC for Dutch Environment Ministry (VROM) | 2004

    Review of the Netherlands National Assessment Guidelines for timber certification and chain of custody. 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

  • Travis Perkins: Timber purchasing policy

    Travis Perkins | Europe | 2001 to 2004

    Read more

  • Kingfisher Timber purchasing policy

    For Kingfisher plc | Europe | 2001

    Read more