By Innovation Group Delivers a Leap Forward In Efforts To Transform the Palm Oil Industry
The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG), the leading initiative to transform the palm oil industry, has released a new, robust and field-tested set of verification indicators that will drive much-needed change in the industry. The POIG Charter is already being used by leaders in the palm oil sector to break the link between palm oil, the destruction of forests and peatlands, and the violation of human and labour rights.
The POIG verification indicators will be used by independent third parties to determine if a palm oil company is protecting forests and peatlands that have high biodiversity, carbon and social values, while simultaneously upholding the rights of local communities and workers, and improving livelihoods for local communities. The indicators have been field tested by three palm oil growers, who are founding members of the POIG, in Brazil, Colombia and Papua New Guinea, and it will soon be put into practice in Indonesia.
The POIG has shown that it is possible to grow palm oil responsibly and that the claims of palm oil companies can be tested and verified in the field by independent third-parties. This is important as consumers want to know that the ingredients in the products they use have been grown to the highest environmental and social standards possible.
This is the first field-tested verification tool that can be used by global brands, such as the Snack Food 20, to third-party verify their suppliers’ compliance with the Palm Oil Innovation Group Charter.
The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) remains the gold standard for the production of responsible palm oil. It builds upon other certification systems, such as the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil, and tackles some of the most challenging issues facing the palm oil sector, such as the destruction of high carbon stock forests and the abuse of the most vulnerable workers.
The time has come for other palm oil producers, traders, retailers and manufacturers to demand, and scale up their efforts to produce truly responsible palm oil that is in line with the leading POIG Charter.
The Palm Oil Innovation Group Charter, verification indicators, and summary of the public consultation can be reviewed at http://www.poig.org/poig-verification-indicators/
The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) is a collective of progressive palm oil companies and brands together with environmental and social NGOs that are working to build on the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standards and commitments by both demonstrating innovation to implement RSPO existing standards as well as additional critical issues. Its members include Agropalma, DAABON, Musim Mas Group, Greenpeace, WWF, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and leading brands like Ferrero, Danone, Stephenson and Boulder Brands. For more information visit www.poig.org
