Beyond Zero
Our bold, new sustainability framework
The three pillars of the Beyond Zero framework
Net-Zero
Reduce our impacts on people and the planet, and accelerate our transition to net-zero
Zero harm
Reduce our negative impact on people and nature by achieving a fully traceable and deforestation-free supply chain by 2025 and maintaining alignment with relevant international frameworks
Tackling waste through circularity
Maintain the delivery of circular or reuse solutions for our material waste streams and develop pathways to minimise other waste streams
Restore
Transform the lives and livelihoods of individuals and our operations and beyond
Improving biodiversity
Develop and implement a Biodiversity Conservation Plan by 2025
Regenerative agriculture
Develop and pilot a regenerative agriculture framework for palm oil by 2028
Restoration and conservation
Restore, rehabilitate or conserve 100,000ha across and beyond our value chain by 2030
Transform
Transform the lives and livelihoods of individuals and communities within our value chain and wider influence
Promoting human, land & labour rights
Catalyse industry-wide progress by championing & advocating for human, land and labour rights
Transforming lives & livelihoods
Engage 50,000 smallholders through tailored capacity-building initiatives and new livelihood opportunities by 2035
Great place to work and live
Continuously improve the quality of life of more than 100,000 people in our workforce and communities, providing growth and support from aspiring workers to retired individuals
Zero emissions
Some of the initiatives driving forward this pillar
Biogas
We’re investing in biogas plants at mills to tackle SD Guthrie’s largest emission source within our upstream operations.
Our biogas plants capture methane emitted from anaerobic wastewater treatment ponds and then use this to generate power that is fed into the grid, powers or our own operations, or flared, ensuring that methane is not released into the atmosphere.
Solar energy
In addition to leasing land for solar farm development, SD Guthrie is venturing into active participation and strategic partnerships. This initiative will provide SDG with environmental benefits, including the acquisition of renewable energy credits (REC) generated by solar farms.
In FY2023, we successfully launched three rooftop solar projects and installed solar streetlights at 51 mills and estates throughout Malaysia.
Zero harm
Some of the initiatives driving forward this pillar
Crosscheck
To ensure full traceability, SDG uses Crosscheck, an online open-source tool that tracks the origin of CPO, PK, CPKO, and refined palm products.
Crosscheck monitors suppliers’ compliance with NDPE commitments via satellite imagery and spatial analysis. This tool provides insights into the traceability of our raw materials, helping us build a sustainable supply chain. It also facilitates engagement with suppliers and stakeholders and reports on progress and challenges.
Frameworks
We are guided by the principles outlined in our Responsible Agriculture Charter, Human Rights Charter, and Responsible Sourcing Guidelines (RSG). We have established rigorous NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation) standards and extended these requirements to our third-party suppliers. Every stakeholder within our supply chain is expected to comply with our RSG. Our primary focus is on monitoring our entire ecosystem and fostering engagement throughout the supply chain.
Waste Management
Palm oil Mill Effluent (POME) is the primary organic waste generated during the production of palm oil. SD Guthrie does not discharge untreated effluent into water streams as it will cause considerable environmental harm.
Palm oil refinery effluent (PORE) is wastewater from the refining of crude palm oil (CPO). PORE treatment usually involves a chemical process to remove oil, grease and inorganic substances before further biological treatment prior to its discharge.
Our robust management systems ensure all our mills and refinery operations are fitted with Palm Oil Mill Effluent Treatment System (POMETS) and Industrial Effluent Treatment Systems (IETS) that support the management of waste and comply with national environmental standards.
We continuously monitor the quality of discharged wastewater and wastewater treatment performance at our upstream operations. We also ensure that biological oxygen demand (BOD) remains below regulatory thresholds in the regions where we operate - Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands (SI).
Composts can be produced through a combination of the two largest constituents of mill wastes, POME and Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB), as well as other by-products, including decanter cake and boiler ash. Composts are applied in estates as a soil conditioner to enrich the soil. SD Guthrie began composting as part of its mill waste management in 2004.