Petaling Jaya, 31 May 2023 - Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) is pleased to announce that the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has concluded its Post-Verification Assessment Monitoring. This monitoring process serves as a follow up to the verification assessment that took place in stages between late 2021 and June 2022. The RSPO Secretariat initiated a verification assessment to confirm SDP’s compliance with RSPO’s Principles and Criteria (P&C) 6 – Respect Workers’ Rights and Conditions.

A Decision Letter dated 26 May 2023 has been published on RSPO’s website, affirming the absence of any indicators of forced labour in SDP’s Malaysia operations, where the verification assessment and monitoring were conducted. This reflects SDP’s commitment to ethical practices and our proactive efforts to safeguard the rights of our workers. Since the verification, RSPO has developed labour auditing guidance and is in the process of reviewing its P&C 2023 to focus on the indicators of the International Labour Organization. This is indeed a welcome development and will ensure the whole industry will eventually comply with international labour standards.d

SDP is committed to ensure the sustainability of all the initiatives and enhancements implemented, and actively seeks opportunities for continuous improvement. As part of this commitment to ensure compliance, we have implemented significant governance and structural changes within the organisation. We also drive capacity and capability programmes to raise awareness on human rights policies and procedures.

“RSPO is one of the highest sustainability standards among all edible oils in the world. The conclusion of its monitoring affirms the tremendous efforts, initiatives and progress we have made. As we capitalise on the insights gained from this journey, we are determined to act as catalysts for positive change within the industry. Our aim is to inspire and encourage others to embrace responsible and ethical practices, fostering a more sustainable future for the palm oil sector. We eagerly anticipate the broader industry’s adoption of comparable sustainable practices,” said Rashyid Redza Anwarudin, SDP’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

“We would like to thank the RSPO for their thorough evaluation and constructive feedback. We would also like to express our appreciation to our partners for their unwavering support in our sustainability journey. As a founding member of the RSPO, SDP remains committed to advancing standards in the palm oil industry,” Rashyid added.