100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil: Our Shared Responsibility
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INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE REPORT RSPO 2ND EUROPEAN ROUNDTABLE 2014 LONDON 4 JUNE 2014 100% CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL: OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY CLICK TO SHARE ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 Delegate Overview 4 Media Coverage 5 PANEL DEBATES 1. RSPO: The Best Option? 8 2. Europe’s Role 9 Issue Groups Discussions 10 World Café Discussions 11 Vox Pops 12 Delegate Feedback & Lessons Learned 14 Delegate List 16 Acknowledgements 17 This multimedia report is designed to capture the dynamism of the EURT, and summarise the day’s key discussions and messages. To access videos or podcasts of the sessions and hear what delegates had to say about the issues raised, follow the links throughout the report to the RSPO’s dedicated Vimeo and Soundcloud conference sites. RSPO VIDEOS RSPO PODCASTS And remember: the RSPO is an open source platform, so share the report, spread the word and comment! CLICK TO SHARE ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: EUROPE’S SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Collaboration across the supply chain goes to the very heart of the RSPO’s mission, and is a cornerstone of its pledge to tackle the negative impacts of palm oil production, notably tropical deforestation, species loss and conflicts with indigenous peoples. On the one hand, growers need to commit to certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) production, and on the other hand, users of palm oil all around the world need to commit to purchasing much more CSPO. The RSPO organised its second European Firstly, how can it accommodate the Roundtable (EURT) conference with the aim differing agenda of its diverse global of increasing the uptake of CSPO in Europe membership of growers, buyers and by driving momentum and commitment NGOs, while gaining and maintaining forwards via an event which focused on trust and its social licence to operate; and understanding and building a shared simultaneously, create a global supply responsibility agenda within the European chain that includes smallholders in the supply chain. transformation to sustainability? Held in the heart of London, the day- Secondly, what is a fair burden sharing long conference brought together over system, not only for covering the production 300 delegates from Europe, Indonesia, costs of a more sustainable palm oil industry, Malaysia and Latin America to foster but also for delivering a physically traceable greater collaboration among all palm oil supply chain? More and more companies stakeholders, and address the environmental, operating in Europe demand this measure, social and economic problems caused by despite the potentially added costs to unsustainable palm oil cultivation. businesses that implementing a physically segregated and traceable supply chain may The event was thought-provoking, lively impose. Consequently, does this trend risk and inspirational, but it also raised the bar the scalability and flexibility of the four in terms of what the RSPO needs to do different supply chain options offered to realise its aims. Essentially, the EURT by the RSPO? highlighted two critical questions, which the RSPO and its members must answer Indonesia’s Vice-Minister of Trade, Dr Bayu over time to maintain and develop its Krisnamurthi reminded the audience that shared vision. 42% of Indonesian palm oil is produced by smallholders, and bringing them into the 1 mainstream supply of sustainable palm members are encouraged to innovate oil is a national priority. To this end, the to create problem solving “apps”. This Government of Indonesia has adopted the vision demonstrates that the RSPO’s remit Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) provides space for other policy initiatives, standard, which is mandatory for all growers. provided that it remains the platform for collaboration and quality control. Dr Krisnamurthi called for collaboration between the ISPO and RSPO to create The latest step in the evolution of the synergies, and enable 100% internationally RSPO “platform” was the much anticipated certified sustainable palm oil production launch, during the London conference, of in Indonesia. But he also stressed that the the Global Forest Watch tool for sustainable thoroughness of a standard and its adoption palm oil. A collaboration between the speed have an impact on its economic viability. RSPO and the World Resource Institute, If Europe and other palm oil importers move the tool is a forest monitoring system, ahead too fast, he said, there is a risk that which consists of an online platform that many growers in producing countries may hosts satellite maps for all RSPO certified not be able to catch up and will be cut off palm oil plantations. This development is from the sustainable palm oil market. Despite expected to empower palm oil buyers to the breadth of debate and diversity of make an informed decision when it comes opinion voiced throughout the conference to responsible sourcing, and increase almost all participants agreed that the transparency in the palm oil supply chain. RSPO’s principles and criteria are a solid basis on which to build. In an impassioned speech, keynote speaker, Dr Alan Knight, OBE reminded the audience Echoing this sentiment, in his closing that the RSPO is by far the most innovative remarks the RSPO’s Secretary General and advanced sustainable commodity Darrel Webber compared the organisation certification scheme in existence, and that its to a smartphone platform on which members should be proud of what they have 2 Download PowerPoint by Dr Alan Knight, OBE been able to achieve thus far. One of the criticism from NGOs, scientists and local founders of the Forest Stewardship Council communities about forest and biodiversity (FSC), Dr Knight focused on the key drivers loss involving RSPO growers continue to for changing supply chains. Drawing on his raise questions about the organisation’s experience with the FSC he argued that the credibility. switch to sustainability must come from a company’s own belief that responsible Growing consumer awareness and outrage, sourcing is simply the right thing to do, and uncertainty in the market, weak sales of offers consumers the right choice, without CSPO, and the need for more concrete waiting for them to ask for it. commitments and partnerships within industry are also part of a very public, very Creating such a company vision and critical discourse the RSPO has to tackle organisational motivation, Dr Knight said, head on. will help speed up the uptake of CSPO in European consumer markets. Delegates To deal with these critical issues, the RSPO were challenged to take immediate action needs to build its capabilities as a platform and not to wait for the perfect solution. for innovation, as a collaborative network Business as usual is not an option and each and as a brand, and present a clear vision of actor along the supply chain has a valuable what a 100% sustainable palm oil world really and urgent role to play. should look like. The overriding message from the EURT By coming together and following this call was that the RSPO is on the right path and to action, the RSPO membership will be able doing ground-breaking work. Undoubtedly, to communicate a compelling and powerful it presents the best option available, but message of how shared responsibility is there is no room for complacency. One of the everyone’s responsibility. biggest challenges the RSPO faces is attacks on its licence to operate in Europe. Ongoing 3 DELEGATE OVERVIEW INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED Oil palm growers Delegates Countries Processors & traders Consumer goods manufacturers Retailers MALE/FEMALE ATTENDEES Banks & investors Social NGOs Environmental NGOs Other MEMBERSHIP MEN WOMEN RSPO Members Non-Members Other DELEGATE GEOGRAPHY Belgium 14 Hong Kong 1 New Zealand 1 Brazil 2 India 1 Norway 3 Cameroon 1 Indonesia 19 Papua New Guinea 2 Colombia 2 Ireland 3 Poland 3 Denmark 2 Italy 3 Singapore 4 Finland 3 Japan 3 Spain 4 France 9 Kenya 1 Sweden 5 Germany 26 Luxembourg 1 Switzerland 13 Ghana 1 Malaysia 20 United Kingdom 128 Guatemala 4 Netherlands 48 United States 10 4 MEDIA COVERAGE Before, during and after the EURT the conference achieved a good level of media coverage, including business and trade press such as the Financial Times, Food Navigator and Food Manufacture, and popular blog The Huffington Post. Unsurprisingly, food and retail sector trade media were especially active. While the majority of coverage came from English-language publications, thanks to a media partnership with Dutch trade media outlet VMT the conference gained wide exposure in the Netherlands’ trade press, including Duurzaambedrijfleven.nl and Trouw. The EURT also helped galvanise the RSPO’s existing relationships with the likes of Food Navigator, Food Manufacture and the ENDS Report. The diversity of conference speakers providing insider industry perspectives on sourcing sustainable palm oil proved to be an interesting hook for many journalists, which helped to generate several interviews prior to the conference, and secured coverage in high profile publications such as the Financial Times. Not every press interview resulted in immediate coverage; but the RSPO’s open approach to the press has helped establish relationships with new media outlets – for instance Environmental Finance and Procurement Leaders – which previously had not covered RSPO events. 5 MEDIA COVERAGE DATE PUBLICATION REACH 29.04.2014 Cosmetics Design Europe 27,654 20.05.2014 VMT 58,000 03.06.2014 BBC World News TV – Impact Interview with Darrel Webber 03.06.2014 Food and Drink International 52,000 04.06.2014