Company is outright global leader in RSPO-certified palm oil production

Kuala Lumpur, 22 July 2011 - Sime Darby Plantation announced today that its sustainable production capacity has broken the million metric tonne mark, following a concerted effort to certify its Strategic Operating Units (SOU) by the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The company now has 36 of its 63 SOUs certified by RSPO, capable of producing more than 1.5 million MT of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) and Certified Sustainable Palm Kernel Oil (CSPKO). Managing Director of Sime Darby Plantation, Mr Franki Anthony Dass notes that the company’s progress has been on an incline since May 2010 with a dedicated focus on its RSPO certification, both in Malaysia and Indonesia.

"In 2009, we were capable of producing only 184,000 MT of CSPO. That rose to 421,000 in 2010, and today we are past the milestone 1 million MT. Our CSPO capacity is above 2.5 million MT annually, so to have breached the 50% mark in less than 3 years is immensely satisfying", says Anthony.

"There were many who doubted that the palm oil industry would be as quick to wear to the sustainable hat, despite RSPO. But Sime Darby has proven that the industry can, and it has. This RSPO certification also underlines palm oil’s status as the dominant vegetable oil in terms of environmental sustainability, and one that has a global reach and diversified use in both food and non-food applications.

Eight of the 36 certified SOUs are located in Indonesia, while the rest are in Malaysia. Sime Darby Plantation says their operations in Liberia will follow the RSPO guidelines, even though a national interpretation of RSPO for Liberia is still a work in progress.

"In Liberia we are starting on a clean slate. Unlike in Malaysia and Indonesia where we have to undo what we inherited from the old planters who were taught largely by the colonials, in Liberia, we are from the onset implementing the best planting and sustainable agricultural practices", explains Anthony.

This will ensure that when Liberia finalises their RSPO national interpretation, Sime Darby Plantation’s Liberian SOUs will be ready to be fully certified.

Sime Darby Plantation has also stepped up its efforts on implementing various Green Technologies to better manage its carbon footprint.

"Over the next few years, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint by 25% through various initiatives such as biomass composting, bioethanol and biogas projects. These are currently in various stages of trials and implementation. Other projects such as water and energy conservation and conversion of waste-to-wealth will augment Sime Darby Plantation’s commitment to sustainability," added Mr Anthony.

Also present at the media conference was Encik Syed Mahdhar Syed Hussain, the Head of Plantation Quality & Safety Management and Mr Tang Men Kon, the newly appointed Head of Plantation Sustainability.