RSPO

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is an international non-profit organization that brings together actors along the palm oil supply chain to develop and oversee global standards for sustainable palm oil and to certify producers who meet those standards.

Founded in 2004, RSPO membership spans growers, processors, traders, manufacturers, retailers, investors, and civil society groups. Its governance includes an Assembly of Members and a Board, with standard-setting, accreditation, and certification activities carried out by independent entities.

RSPO develops the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil, which set environmental and social requirements intended to reduce deforestation, protect peatlands and high conservation value areas, respect workers’ rights, and promote legal compliance and transparency.

Certification is carried out through the RSPO Certification System, enabling producers to obtain RSPO-certified palm oil. The system also defines supply chain methods, including identity preserved, segregated, mass balance, and book-and-claim to trace or support sustainable palm oil.

Audits are conducted by independent certification bodies, with ongoing surveillance and periodic recertification to verify continued compliance.

RSPO has played a significant role in expanding certified sustainable palm oil, but it has faced criticism over the pace and rigor of implementation, governance transparency, and the effectiveness of certification in addressing deforestation and land rights concerns.