Best Group
Palm oil assessment- Latest update: October 2025
- Next scheduled: November 2027
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Bloomberg ticker:1389467D CH Equity
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LEI:No LEI
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RSPO member?Terminated
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Website:
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Media Monitor
- ZSL's SPOTT team monitors international media for news on assessed companies, collecting articles about pertinent activities. They don't confirm the accuracy of the media coverage, but it can be leveraged by SPOTT users to gain insights into a company's operations and possible risks. To access this company's media reports, scroll down or click here.
Company assessment: Best Group – November 2018
Assessment date:
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Sustainability policy and leadership
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0 / 11. Sustainable palm oil policy or commitment for all its operations?
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0 / 1
2. Policy or commitment applies to direct and third-party suppliers?
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0 / 1
3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?
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0 / 1
4. Sustainability report published within last two years?
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0 / 1
5. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to improve sustainability in relation to palm oil?
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6. Verification report on compliance with POIG Charter, if a POIG member?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 1
7. Activities with government, NGOs or academic institutions to improve palm oil sustainability?
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Landbank, maps and traceability
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0 / 1
8. Total land area managed/controlled for oil palm (ha)?
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0 / 1
9. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?
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0 / 1
10. Plasma/scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?
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0 / 1
11. Unplanted (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?
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12. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?
The company states that some land is systematically allocated to conservation set-asides, but no information is provided as to hectarage or location.
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0 / 1
13. Area for infrastructure (ha)?
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0 / 1
14. Number and names of company owned mills?
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0 / 1
15. Maps or coordinates of company owned mills?
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0 / 1
16. Number and names of supplier mills?
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0 / 1
17. Maps of estates/management units?
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0 / 1
18. Maps of scheme/plasma smallholders?
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0 / 1
19. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to mill level?
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0 / 1
20. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to plantation level?
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0 / 2
21. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level (above 80%)?
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0 / 2
22. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from own mills traceable to plantation level (above 75%)?
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0 / 2
23. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from supplier mills traceable to plantation level (above 75%)?
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Deforestation and biodiversity
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0 / 1
24. Commitment to zero deforestation?
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0 / 1
25. Deforestation commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
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0 / 1
26. Criteria for defining deforestation?
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0 / 1
27. Evidence of monitoring deforestation?
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0 / 1
28. Examples of habitat management and/or habitat restoration?
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0 / 1
29. Implementing a landscape-level approach to biodiversity conservation?
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30. Commitment to biodiversity conservation?
The company only states that it creates set-aside areas to "preserve the wildlife and biodiversity therein" but makes no commitment regarding biodiversity conservation.
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0 / 1
31. Commitment to not endanger species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?
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0 / 1
32. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?
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0 / 1
33. Examples of species conservation activities?
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HCV, HCS and impact assessments
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0 / 1
34. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?
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0 / 1
35. HCV commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
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0 / 1
36. Commitment to only use licensed High Conservation Value (HCV) assessors accredited by the HCV Resource Network's Assessor Licensing Scheme (ALS)?
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0 / 1
37. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for planting undertaken prior to January 2015, and associated management and monitoring plans?
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0 / 1
38. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for all estates planted since January 2015?
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0 / 1
39. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans for all estates planted since January 2015?
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0 / 1
40. Satisfactory review of all High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments undertaken since January 2015 by the HCV ALS Quality Panel?
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0 / 1
41. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?
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0 / 1
42. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments?
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0 / 1
43. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?
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0 / 1
44. Social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?
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Peat, fire and GHG emissions
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0 / 1
45. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?
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0 / 1
46. Peat commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
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0 / 1
47. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?
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0 / 1
48. Landbank or planted area on peat?
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0 / 1
49. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?
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50. Commitment to zero burning?
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0 / 1
51. Zero burning commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
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0 / 1
52. Evidence of management and monitoring fires?
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0 / 1
53. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates?
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0 / 1
54. Details/number of hotspots/fires within surrounding landscape/smallholders?
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0 / 1
55. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity?
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0 / 1
56. GHG emissions from land use change?
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0 / 1
57. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?
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0 / 1
58. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?
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0 / 1
59. Percentage of mills with methane capture (100%)?
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Water, chemical and pest management
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0 / 1
60. Time-bound commitment to improve water use per tonne of FFB Processed?
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0 / 1
61. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD and COD)?
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0 / 1
62. Progress towards commitment on water use?
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0 / 1
63. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD and COD)?
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0 / 1
64. Protection of natural waterways through buffer zones?
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0 / 1
65. Evidence of treating palm oil mill effluent (POME)?
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66. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?
The company states it reuses palm oil waste as organic fertiliser, but does not make a statement about reducing its use of fertilisers or pesticides.
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0 / 1
67. No use of paraquat?
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0 / 1
68. No use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?
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0 / 1
69. No use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?
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0 / 1
70. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?
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0 / 1
71. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?
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Community, land and labour rights
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0 / 1
72. Commitment to human rights, referencing the UN Declaration of Human Rights or UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights?
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0 / 1
73. Commitment to human rights applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
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0 / 1
74. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?
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0 / 1
75. Commitment to respect indigenous and local communities' rights, referencing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or ILO 169?
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0 / 1
76. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?
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0 / 1
77. FPIC commitment applies to independent suppliers?
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0 / 1
78. Details of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?
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0 / 1
79. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?
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0 / 1
80. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?
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81. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?
The company committed "to conduct regional infrastructure developments" and reports having built health care facilities providing free health care, places of worship, housing (with electricity and water), and recreation facilities.
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0 / 1
82. Commitment to respect all workers' rights?
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0 / 1
83. Reference to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?
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0 / 0.5
84. Total number of employees?
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0 / 1
85. Percentage or number of temporary employees?
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0 / 1
86. Percentage or number of women employees?
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0 / 1
87. Commitment to pay minimum wage?
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0 / 1
88. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?
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0 / 1
89. Time lost due to work-based injuries?
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0 / 1
90. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?
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0 / 1
91. Provision of personal protective equipment and pesticide training?
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Certification standards
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0 / 1
92. Member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?
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0 / 0.5
93. Submitted most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?
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0 / 0.5
94. Listed all countries and regions in which operates in most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?
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0 / 0.5
95. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of estates within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of estates?
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0 / 0.5
96. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of scheme/associated smallholders within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of scheme/associated smallholders?
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0 / 0.5
97. Year expected to achieve 100% RSPO certification of all palm product processing facilities?
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0 / 0.5
98. RSPO-certified within three years of joining the RSPO or by November 2010, for companies joining prior to finalisation of the RSPO certification systems in November 2007?
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0 / 2
99. Percentage of mills RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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0 / 2
100. Percentage of area (ha) RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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0 / 2
101. Percentage of scheme/associated smallholders (ha) RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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0 / 2
102. Percentage of FFB supply (tonnes) from independent FFB suppliers that is RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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0 / 2
103. Percentage of all palm oil and oil palm products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that are RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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0 / 1
104. Sells or processes/trades RSPO-certified palm oil through Segregated or Identity Preserved supply chains?
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0 / 1
105. Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certified (100%)?
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106. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 1
107. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme (e.g. ISCC, SAN, RSB, etc.)?
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Smallholders and suppliers
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0 / 1
108. Programme to support scheme smallholders?
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0 / 1
109. Number or percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?
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0 / 1
110. Programme to support independent smallholders?
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0 / 1
111. Number or percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?
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0 / 1
112. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?
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0 / 1
113. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?
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0 / 1
114. Percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company requirements?
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Governance and grievances
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0 / 1
115. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?
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0 / 1
116. Whistleblowing procedure?
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0 / 1
117. Own grievance or complaints system?
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0 / 1
118. Grievance or complaints system is accessible to internal and external stakeholders?
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0 / 2
119. Details of grievances disclosed?
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SPOTT scores are based on the presence of external evidence made available by the company or third-parties.
Media monitor: Best Group
SPOTT monitors global media sources for coverage of assessed companies. The media monitor gathers reports about specific activities related to the assessment indicator categories. ZSL does not assess or score the validity of media coverage, but users can explore the media monitor to provide context on implementation, and infer risks associated with reported operations on the ground. The media monitor undergoes a full update at the time of publishing an assessment round, with ad-hoc updates throughout the year. This is not an exhaustive list of all media reports relevant to the company.
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May 2025
Diduga Langgar Izin Kawasan Hutan, Kejagung Didesak Usut Perusahaan Sawit Best Group (Attorney General's Office Urged to Investigate Best Group Palm Oil Company for Alleged Forest Area Permit Violation)
February 2025
317.253 Hektare Izin Kebun Sawit dalam Kawasan Hutan Ditolak Kemenhut (317,253 Hectares of Oil Palm Plantation Permits in Forest Areas Rejected by Ministry of Forestry)
January 2025
NGOs raise concerns over Borneo pilot of ‘jurisdictional’ certification for palm oil
January 2025
Boycott Sinar Mas Products in Europe: 27 Companies Implicated in Indonesia's Cooking Oil Scandal
November 2024
Konflik Sawit Seruyan Sarat Pelanggaran HAM(Seruyan Palm Oil Conflict Full of Human Rights Violations)
October 2024
Best Group Terbidik dalam Penggeledahan Kantor KLHK? (Best Group Targeted in KLHK Office Raid?)
October 2024
Walhi Desak Kejagung Segera Periksa Swasta Termasuk Best Group soal Korupsi Tata Kelola Sawit (Walhi Urges Attorney General to Immediately Examine Private Sector Including Best Group Regarding Palm Oil Management Corruption)
June 2024
«Hanno preso le nostre terre e distrutto la foresta». Lolio di palma del Borneo per il mercato europeo ("They took our lands and destroyed the forest." Borneo palm oil for the European market)
March 2024
211.408 Ha Sawit Penerima Subsidi Biodiesel Ada di Kawasan Hutan (211,408 Ha of Palm Oil Receiving Biodiesel Subsidies Are in Forest Areas)
January 2024
Jokowi's land reform agenda stalls as conflicts nearly double, report shows
December 2023
Akar Konflik, Hutan Adat Jadi Lahan Sawit (The Root of Conflict, Customary Forest Becomes Palm Oil Land)
November 2023
Why has it taken the killing of a Dayak villager for these palm oil sourcing companies to act?
April 2020
Farmer dies in custody after being charged in dispute with palm oil firm, prompting COVID-19 fears
March 2020
Palm oil firm has farmers jailed for harvesting from land it stole from them
February 2020
The Chain: Repeat Offenders Continue to Clear Forests for Oil Palm in Southeast Asia
January 2020
Warga Empat Desa di Seruyan Mengadu ke Dewan (Residents of Four Villages in Seruyan Complained to the Council)
December 2019
Orangutan Sekarat di Kebun Sawit (Orangutans are dying in the Oil Palm Plantation)
October 2019
Tagih Hasil Pansus, Warga Blokade Jalan Perusahaan (Bill on Special Committee Results, Residents of Company Road Blockade)
August 2019
The Chain: Main Southeast Asian Deforesters of 2019 Supplying NDPE Market
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Media monitor: Best Group
SPOTT monitors global media sources for coverage of assessed companies. The media monitor gathers reports about specific activities related to the assessment indicator categories. ZSL does not assess or score the validity of media coverage, but users can explore the media monitor to provide context on implementation, and infer risks associated with reported operations on the ground.
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