GLOBAL FRAMEWORK OF PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (GFP-SPO)
The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has developed a Global Framework of Principle for Sustainable Palm Oil, which it wants to be used as a reference for palm oil sustainability across the globe. One that the Council wants to be applied to other vegetable oils.
With a long-standing insistence that any definition of sustainable palm oil be tied into the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the principles of the GFP-SPO makes direct reference to the SDGs in creating the principles behind the GFP-SPO.
With a long-standing insistence that any definition of sustainable palm oil be tied into the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the principles of the GFP-SPO makes direct reference to the SDGs in creating the principles behind the GFP-SPO.
Global Principles for Sustainable Palm Oil - CPOPC
These are in short:
Principle 1: Develop partnerships for sustainable development through transparency and collaboration. This partnership should extend as a model to all vegetable oils.
● SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) specifically recognizes that to achieve the SDGs, there is a need for collaboration to cut across governments, civil society, scientists, academia, the private sector, other edible oil producers, and key edible oil markets. Through open conversation, sharing of ideas, and joint progress through partnerships, it will be possible to reduce antagonism driven by protectionism or fear of the unfamiliar.
Principle 2: Uphold peace, justice, and strong institutions through compliance with laws and regulations.
● SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) takes the view that beyond justice, promoting peace and strong institutions is the best path to sustainable communities. CPOPC believes that a country should manage its own institutions to the best of its ability.
● Palm oil is extremely important in upholding peace and justice, and this is especially driven by the larger growers in each country.
Principle 3: Invest in innovation and technology to drive the adoption of efficient practices.
To this end, the principal references SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure) takes the view that innovation and infrastructure play a key role in introducing and promoting new technologies, facilitating
international trade and enabling the efficient use of resources.
Principle 4: Minimize the net impact to the environment and ecosystems through the efficient use of scarce natural resources.
● The Palm Oil Industry has a commitment towards limited and controlled development of peatland for sustainable and responsible agricultural development. The palm oil industry has pioneered the use of this type of commitment as part of its efforts to create transformational change in the supply chain. This principle also incorporates SDG 11 to 15 to further support sustainability.
Principle 5: Benefit workers and local communities by improving their living conditions and respecting their rights.
● Having already discussed the potential positive partnership-driven approach, technology, and the importance of sustainability, it is essential to also consider the social and economic effect of palm oil
on CPOPC’s member countries’ development. The GFP also incorporates SDGs 1 to 8, amongst others ensuring eradication of poverty and quality education.
While RSPO, ISPO, and MSPO generally cover the provision of safe working conditions which are important, they can be further strengthened by highlighting SDGs 1-8. These working conditions should strive to be as good as possible and refer to the relevant safety and health requirements as currently pursued within the countries.
Principle 6: Inclusiveness for smallholders and low-income consumers
● Smallholder agriculture is an effective way to provide decent work for millions of people in rural areas. Having an economically sustainable farm is for many geographies the foundation of families (90% of farms run by families - FAO), and thus the community. On the other end of the chain, the production on these farms are important sources of sustenance, daily essential products and even energy. Both smallholders, and low-income consumers, require specific protection as they are in particularly fragile situations, being one financial setback away from hunger, poverty, inability to access education etc. This will be under the auspice of SDG 10, which focuses on reduced inequalities.
Principle 7: Commitment to continuous improvement
This principle emphasizes the idea that as time progresses, new tools and approaches are identified to support sustainability and productivity. It is also essential to make this document a living one, to ensure that the industry can continue to learn and evolve.
CPOPC member states are fully committed to adopt the GFP-SPO towards achieving the global SDGs. Given that the framework is using the SDGs as a guide, the proposed framework can be easily become a model for other vegetable oils. The CPOPC’s draft on GFP-SPO can be read in full here.
While it is apparent that a lot of thought and work went into creating the GFP-SFO document, the questions that have to be asked is why the CPOPC thought it was necessary.
We had a chat with Dupito Simamora from the CPOPC to gain some insights into the GFP-SFO
CSPO-Watch: What was the inspiration behind the GFP-SPO?
Dupito: For so many years, the attacks on palm oil is that it is not sustainable. Yet the science and research shows that it is a sustainable crop, especially for countries which need industries for sustainable development overall. Indonesian researchers in particular, have studied the impact of vegetable oil production’s roles within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their findings showed that palm oil is more important to the sustainable development of growing countries than other vegetable oils are to their respective countries.
For that reason, the main producing countries of Indonesia and Malaysia have argued endlessly that it is sustainable for us. But it is impossible to present these to the critics and big media who simply look at forests and orangutans and declare with their poorly informed biased views that palm oil is not sustainable.
We are tired of arguing with these people especially those who have never even spent time to understand the needs of countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Colombia.
That is why we want to bring our point of view to the United Nations. Let us all look at vegetable oil production worldwide, what it means to producing countries. Then work on a formula or guiding principles for sustainable vegetable oil based on the SDGs.
CSPO- Watch: There are existing frameworks for producing sustainable palm oil. Notably the RSPO which has been around for twenty years. In more recent times, palm oil producing countries have created national standards under the ISPO and MSPO. These schemes should have covered any issues on sustainable production so why the GFP-SPO?
Dupito: Certification is a business-to-business transaction. For RSPO, they do a good job when one company wants to buy certified palm oil, they can buy from a matching certified producer.
For the national certification schemes like ISPO or MSPO, these are national plans to produce palm oil sustainably. We think these are the best steppingstones towards producing vegetable oils sustainably. No other vegetable oil in any producing country has national certification schemes that can match the ISPO or MSPO.
But if you look at policy development in the UK, especially the EU with the proposals for corporate due diligence, you will see their narrow focus on forests. Deforestation to be exact. How did they come up with these draft policies that do not recognize the needs of forest-rich countries for development funds?
They have big talk about funding developing countries with schemes like REDD or funds to help poor countries with climate change but where is the money?
If you read the latest report from IPCC, the reason why we are facing climate disasters is the overconsumption of the US and EU in past decades. Even if they come up with the billions needed by developing countries that produce their palm oil, their cocoa and rubber, is the source of funding sustainable? Can they forever send billions of dollars to developing countries, money raised from taxing overconsumption?
I don’t think so. If you look at Norway’s funding for tropical forest conservation, it is not sustainable because the funds come from fossil fuel revenues. The recent IPCC report emphasized that fossil fuel consumption must be reduced or stopped. Worse still, we all know that that country did not meet its promise to Indonesia.
A sustainable development must be built on the countries own ability to provide for all of their citizens without the total sacrifice of forests and nature as we see in the EU.
CSPO-Watch: If I understood your comments correctly, the GFP-SPO sounds like a proposal to justify the sustainability claims of palm oil producing countries. The question is why focus on a single commodity when it takes so many other commodities to raise revenue for development?
Dupito: We did not want to focus on palm oil. This was forced upon us as the attacks on our development focused on palm oil. We saw it as a great social injustice that needed an emphatic response once and for all.
If you look at revenue sources for palm oil producing countries, you can see other commodities like coal and other fossil fuels or rubber. Palm oil producing countries can clearly convert their palm oil plantations to grow products that are outside the radar of environmental groups but why should we give up the crop that is most efficient at providing revenue? Especially one that uses the least acres of land per dollar of revenue?
Rich countries can make their demands for sustainably produced imports. National certification schemes like the ISPO and MSPO will provide assurance of quality based on their narrow focus on “deforestation” and labor rights.
But the EU and US markets are only part of the overall market for palm oil. Palm oil is only one of many vegetable oils that is consumed globally but none of the other vegetable oils are bound by national mandates for sustainable production. So there is an absence of equitable development that is being perpetuated by the anti palm oil sentiments of the EU.
It is therefore the goal of palm oil producing countries, led by CPOPC member states, to present the GFP-SPO as a framework for the sustainable production of all vegetable oils and commodities. Palm oil producing countries, spearheaded by CPOPC, will lead the way towards making all vegetable oils production sustainable.
CSPO Watch thanks Mr. Dupito Simamora for his thoughts on producing palm oil sustainably in the context of the UN's SDGs.
Published April, 2022. CSPO Watch
Principle 1: Develop partnerships for sustainable development through transparency and collaboration. This partnership should extend as a model to all vegetable oils.
● SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) specifically recognizes that to achieve the SDGs, there is a need for collaboration to cut across governments, civil society, scientists, academia, the private sector, other edible oil producers, and key edible oil markets. Through open conversation, sharing of ideas, and joint progress through partnerships, it will be possible to reduce antagonism driven by protectionism or fear of the unfamiliar.
Principle 2: Uphold peace, justice, and strong institutions through compliance with laws and regulations.
● SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) takes the view that beyond justice, promoting peace and strong institutions is the best path to sustainable communities. CPOPC believes that a country should manage its own institutions to the best of its ability.
● Palm oil is extremely important in upholding peace and justice, and this is especially driven by the larger growers in each country.
Principle 3: Invest in innovation and technology to drive the adoption of efficient practices.
To this end, the principal references SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure) takes the view that innovation and infrastructure play a key role in introducing and promoting new technologies, facilitating
international trade and enabling the efficient use of resources.
Principle 4: Minimize the net impact to the environment and ecosystems through the efficient use of scarce natural resources.
● The Palm Oil Industry has a commitment towards limited and controlled development of peatland for sustainable and responsible agricultural development. The palm oil industry has pioneered the use of this type of commitment as part of its efforts to create transformational change in the supply chain. This principle also incorporates SDG 11 to 15 to further support sustainability.
Principle 5: Benefit workers and local communities by improving their living conditions and respecting their rights.
● Having already discussed the potential positive partnership-driven approach, technology, and the importance of sustainability, it is essential to also consider the social and economic effect of palm oil
on CPOPC’s member countries’ development. The GFP also incorporates SDGs 1 to 8, amongst others ensuring eradication of poverty and quality education.
While RSPO, ISPO, and MSPO generally cover the provision of safe working conditions which are important, they can be further strengthened by highlighting SDGs 1-8. These working conditions should strive to be as good as possible and refer to the relevant safety and health requirements as currently pursued within the countries.
Principle 6: Inclusiveness for smallholders and low-income consumers
● Smallholder agriculture is an effective way to provide decent work for millions of people in rural areas. Having an economically sustainable farm is for many geographies the foundation of families (90% of farms run by families - FAO), and thus the community. On the other end of the chain, the production on these farms are important sources of sustenance, daily essential products and even energy. Both smallholders, and low-income consumers, require specific protection as they are in particularly fragile situations, being one financial setback away from hunger, poverty, inability to access education etc. This will be under the auspice of SDG 10, which focuses on reduced inequalities.
Principle 7: Commitment to continuous improvement
This principle emphasizes the idea that as time progresses, new tools and approaches are identified to support sustainability and productivity. It is also essential to make this document a living one, to ensure that the industry can continue to learn and evolve.
CPOPC member states are fully committed to adopt the GFP-SPO towards achieving the global SDGs. Given that the framework is using the SDGs as a guide, the proposed framework can be easily become a model for other vegetable oils. The CPOPC’s draft on GFP-SPO can be read in full here.
While it is apparent that a lot of thought and work went into creating the GFP-SFO document, the questions that have to be asked is why the CPOPC thought it was necessary.
We had a chat with Dupito Simamora from the CPOPC to gain some insights into the GFP-SFO
CSPO-Watch: What was the inspiration behind the GFP-SPO?
Dupito: For so many years, the attacks on palm oil is that it is not sustainable. Yet the science and research shows that it is a sustainable crop, especially for countries which need industries for sustainable development overall. Indonesian researchers in particular, have studied the impact of vegetable oil production’s roles within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their findings showed that palm oil is more important to the sustainable development of growing countries than other vegetable oils are to their respective countries.
For that reason, the main producing countries of Indonesia and Malaysia have argued endlessly that it is sustainable for us. But it is impossible to present these to the critics and big media who simply look at forests and orangutans and declare with their poorly informed biased views that palm oil is not sustainable.
We are tired of arguing with these people especially those who have never even spent time to understand the needs of countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Colombia.
That is why we want to bring our point of view to the United Nations. Let us all look at vegetable oil production worldwide, what it means to producing countries. Then work on a formula or guiding principles for sustainable vegetable oil based on the SDGs.
CSPO- Watch: There are existing frameworks for producing sustainable palm oil. Notably the RSPO which has been around for twenty years. In more recent times, palm oil producing countries have created national standards under the ISPO and MSPO. These schemes should have covered any issues on sustainable production so why the GFP-SPO?
Dupito: Certification is a business-to-business transaction. For RSPO, they do a good job when one company wants to buy certified palm oil, they can buy from a matching certified producer.
For the national certification schemes like ISPO or MSPO, these are national plans to produce palm oil sustainably. We think these are the best steppingstones towards producing vegetable oils sustainably. No other vegetable oil in any producing country has national certification schemes that can match the ISPO or MSPO.
But if you look at policy development in the UK, especially the EU with the proposals for corporate due diligence, you will see their narrow focus on forests. Deforestation to be exact. How did they come up with these draft policies that do not recognize the needs of forest-rich countries for development funds?
They have big talk about funding developing countries with schemes like REDD or funds to help poor countries with climate change but where is the money?
If you read the latest report from IPCC, the reason why we are facing climate disasters is the overconsumption of the US and EU in past decades. Even if they come up with the billions needed by developing countries that produce their palm oil, their cocoa and rubber, is the source of funding sustainable? Can they forever send billions of dollars to developing countries, money raised from taxing overconsumption?
I don’t think so. If you look at Norway’s funding for tropical forest conservation, it is not sustainable because the funds come from fossil fuel revenues. The recent IPCC report emphasized that fossil fuel consumption must be reduced or stopped. Worse still, we all know that that country did not meet its promise to Indonesia.
A sustainable development must be built on the countries own ability to provide for all of their citizens without the total sacrifice of forests and nature as we see in the EU.
CSPO-Watch: If I understood your comments correctly, the GFP-SPO sounds like a proposal to justify the sustainability claims of palm oil producing countries. The question is why focus on a single commodity when it takes so many other commodities to raise revenue for development?
Dupito: We did not want to focus on palm oil. This was forced upon us as the attacks on our development focused on palm oil. We saw it as a great social injustice that needed an emphatic response once and for all.
If you look at revenue sources for palm oil producing countries, you can see other commodities like coal and other fossil fuels or rubber. Palm oil producing countries can clearly convert their palm oil plantations to grow products that are outside the radar of environmental groups but why should we give up the crop that is most efficient at providing revenue? Especially one that uses the least acres of land per dollar of revenue?
Rich countries can make their demands for sustainably produced imports. National certification schemes like the ISPO and MSPO will provide assurance of quality based on their narrow focus on “deforestation” and labor rights.
But the EU and US markets are only part of the overall market for palm oil. Palm oil is only one of many vegetable oils that is consumed globally but none of the other vegetable oils are bound by national mandates for sustainable production. So there is an absence of equitable development that is being perpetuated by the anti palm oil sentiments of the EU.
It is therefore the goal of palm oil producing countries, led by CPOPC member states, to present the GFP-SPO as a framework for the sustainable production of all vegetable oils and commodities. Palm oil producing countries, spearheaded by CPOPC, will lead the way towards making all vegetable oils production sustainable.
CSPO Watch thanks Mr. Dupito Simamora for his thoughts on producing palm oil sustainably in the context of the UN's SDGs.
Published April, 2022. CSPO Watch