WWF are calling for several leading palm oil producers to not abandon the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) after forming a breakaway movement that threatens to undermine both the conservation and economic benefits the RSPO hopes to cultivate.

Impog

Several oil palm producers in Indonesia and Malaysia are believed to have met in Kuching, Sarawak to establish the Indonesia-Malaysia Palm Oil Group (Impog).

A spokesperson for the newly formed Impog stated that the criticisms of the industry are mainly coming from foreign NGOs who are keen on protecting their home-grown edible oil industries. In a statement released after the meeting, they have announced their intention to engage with the RSPO to develop a “more practical and implementable scheme”.

While this last statement does suggest that this collaboration is prepared to continue working with the RSPO, the establishment of Impog sends a message of a loss of faith in the Roundtable initiative.

Reports reveal that Indonesia and Malaysia, which together account for 85% of the world’s palm oil production, are closing ranks to respond to that perceived threat to their industry by European NGOs.

WWF see this perception as misplaced, as although they are a global NGO, they have individual branches that work within countries and are locally registered and governed.

Safeguarding

WWF helped found the RSPO in 2003, and have since worked closely with all stakeholders, including major Indonesian and Malaysian producers as well as both Gapki and MPOA, to agree on a robust set of standards to ensure strong environmental and social safeguards in palm oil production.

Certified and Sustainable

The worth of the RSPO has been proven in the past few months, with consumer pressure skyrocketing as a result of high-profile revelations about the effects of the industry on local ecosystems.

The RSPO offers a solution for manufacturers, traders and retailers who are facing this increased scrutiny of whether they are sourcing from sustainable plantations. With the publication of the WWF Scorecard on European buyers of palm oil products, demand for certified and sustainable palm oil has grown three fold and it is estimated that demand in Europe alone can potentially reach ten million tonnes by 2012.

More than 300,000 hectares of oil palm production have been certified and an increasing number of plantations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are becoming certified.

Keeping Everyone Unhappy

The WWF is aware that the RSPO does have weaknesses and that it does not have unanimous support from across the industry. It regularly faces criticism from both those involved in the industry and environmentalists who are opposed to it. The RSPO is in the unenviable position of at the same time being accused of both excessive strictness and leniency. But WWF points to this dichotomy as being the key to the RSPO’s success, as the reason it does not satisfy either group is because it strives to be as balanced as possible.

Undermining the Future

It would be counter-productive to call for a lowering of standards as this would undermine the success that have been achieved and brings into question the credibility of the RSPO.

If there is no RSPO, or the RSPO loses credibility, edible oil buyers may be forced to abandon palm oil, which would have a major impact on Malaysian and Indonesian economy. As well as this, the industry could close ranks and NGOs could find their calls for regulation or environmentally conscious activity falling on deaf ears. Ultimately it would be the people and wildlife of the countries that would suffer, not the industry.

You can help to raise awareness and bring about real change in the palm oil industry by joining the WWF today. You will know that your donations will be going towards ensuring that both wildlife and people around the world are not exploited for the sake of industry or development.