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  • Landbank (oil palm)
    132,024 hectares
  • Bloomberg ticker:
    3091Z US Equity
  • LEI:
  • RSPO member?
    Yes
  • Website:
  • 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: Cargill Inc – November 2017

Assessment date:

Total: 69.9% 89.5 / 128
  • Sustainability policy and leadership Sustainability policy and leadership
    5.5 / 6 91.7%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      1. Sustainable palm oil policy or commitment for all its operations?

      The company has a Policy on Sustainable Palm Oil.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      2. Policy or commitment applies to direct and third-party suppliers?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

      The company refers to an assistant vice president of corporate responsibility and sustainability at Cargill, but unclear who has high-level responsibility for sustainability.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      4. Sustainability report published within last two years?

      The company publishes regular sustainability updates.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      5. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to improve sustainability in relation to palm oil?

      Member of TFA 2020, TFT, WBSCD and UNGC.

    • N

      6. Verification report on compliance with POIG Charter, if a POIG member?

      This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      7. Activities with government and/or NGOs to improve palm oil sustainability?

  • Landbank, maps and traceability Landbank, maps and traceability
    16 / 19 84.2%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      8. Total land area managed/controlled for oil palm (ha)?

      169032 - Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".

    • Y
      1 / 1

      9. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

      100193 - Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".

    • Y
      1 / 1

      10. Plasma/scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?

      44598 - Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016." The company also states on an undated webpage that smallholders own 42,000 ha.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      11. Unplanted (areas designated for future planting)(ha)?

      6683.72 - Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".

    • Y
      1 / 1

      12. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?

      17558 - Sum of HCV areas and other conservation areas of both Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".

    • N
      0 / 1

      13. Area for infrastructure (ha)?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      14. Number of company owned mills?

      9 - Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016." 9 mills are also reported in its 2016 Sustainable Palm Oil Progress Update.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      15. Maps or coordinates of company owned mills?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      16. Number and names of supplier mills?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      17. Maps of estates/management units?

      The company states that is has submitted concession boundaries to the RSPO and the company declares these represent 100% of its concession sites, but they may not all be available due to ongoing legal issues. Maps will become available on GeoRSPO.

    • N
      0 / 1

      18. Maps of scheme/plasma smallholders?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      19. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to mill level?

      2020 - "All palm oil volumes we produce, trade (ship and physically handle) and process will be traceable to sustainable mills and plantations by 2020.".

    • Y
      1 / 1

      20. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to plantation level?

      2020 - "All palm oil volumes we produce, trade (ship and physically handle) and process will be traceable to sustainable mills and plantations by 2020.".

    • Y
      2 / 2

      21. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level (above 80%)?

      94% - Cargill achieved a global combined average traceability to mill of 94 percent (100 percent of the kernel and 93 percent of palm) at the second quarter of 2017.

    • Y
      2 / 2

      22. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from own mills traceable to plantation level (is above 75%)?

      The company states "Our own plantations and mills in Indonesia are fully traceable".

    • P
      1 / 2

      23. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from supplier mills traceable to plantation level (is above 75%)?

      42% - The company states it achieved 42 percent traceability to plantation (23 percent of kernel and 46 percent of palm) at the second quarter of 2017.

  • Deforestation and biodiversity Deforestation and biodiversity
    7 / 12 58.3%
    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      24. Commitment to address deforestation?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      25. Commitment to zero deforestation?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      26. Deforestation commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      27. Criteria for defining deforestation?

      Old growth forest, primary forests, HCV, HCS, peat.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      28. Evidence of monitoring deforestation?

      The company partnered with World Resources Institute's Global Forest Watch to build a decision-support system and spatial monitoring platform to help track progress and real-time challenges associated with deforestation commitments.

      .

    • Y
      1 / 1

      29. Commitment to set aside areas for conservation?

    • N
      0 / 1

      30. Evidence of habitat management and/or habitat restoration?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      31. A landscape-level approach?

      The company states "Cargill is actively engaged with IDH-The Sustainable Trade Initiative as a member of the Sustainable Landscapes Working Group (formerly the Traceability Working Group).".

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      32. Commitment to biodiversity conservation?

    • N
      0 / 1

      33. Commitment to not endanger species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

    • N
      0 / 1

      34. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?

    • N
      0 / 1

      35. Commitment not to operate within internationally and nationally designated protected areas?

      The company only mentions protected areas in relation to risk monitoring of mills.

    • N
      0 / 1

      36. Evidence of species conservation activities?

  • HCV, HCS and impact assessments HCV, HCS and impact assessments
    9.5 / 11 86.4%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      37. Commitment to High Conservation Value (HCV) approach?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      38. HCV commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

      The company's HCV commitment applies to suppliers, but it is unclear if it applies to scheme smallholders.

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      39. Commitment to only use licensed High Conservation Value (HCV) assessors accredited by the HCV Resource Network's Assessor Licensing Scheme (ALS)?

      The company is an RSPO member and commits to use the HCVRN ALS under the RSPO NPP, but does not state this commitment explicitly itself.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      40. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for planting undertaken prior to January 2015, and associated management and monitoring plans?

      There is public availability of the following HCV assessments:
      West Kalimantan: PT Indo Sawit Kekal
      South Sumatra: PT Hindoli Mukut-Penuguan; PT Sumber Terang Agro Lestari.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      41. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for all estates planted since January 2015?

      There is public availability of the following HCV assessments:
      Alpha Capital Limited - PT Andes Sawit Mas; PT Andes Agro Investama (AAI) and PT Andes Sawit Lestari (ASL); Cargill Incorporated - PT Harapan Sawit Lestari; PT Andes Sawit Mas; PT Poliplant Sejahtera and PT Maya Agro Investama
      .

    • Y
      1 / 1

      42. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans for all estates planted since January 2015?

      The following HCV management and monitoring plans are available:
      Alpha Capital Limited - PT Andes Sawit Mas; PT Andes Agro Investama (AAI) and PT Andes Sawit Lestari (ASL); Cargill Incorporated - PT Harapan Sawit Lestari; PT Andes Sawit Mas; PT Poliplant Sejahtera and PT Maya Agro Investama
      .

    • Y
      1 / 1

      43. Satisfactory review of all High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments undertaken since January 2015 by the HCV ALS Quality Panel?

      All three HCV assessments have been reviewed as satisfactory.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      44. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) approach?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      45. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      46. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?

      The company is an RSPO member and commits to use the SEIAs under the RSPO NPP, but does not state this commitment explicitly itself.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      47. Social and environmental impact assessment (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?

      There is public availability of the following SEIA assessments:
      West Kalimantan: PT Indo Sawit Kekal; PT Harapan Sawit Lestari; Alpha Capital Limited - PT Andes Sawit Mas
      South Sumatra: PT Hindoli Mukut-Penuguan; PT Sumber Terang Agro Lestari.

  • Peat, fire and GHG emissions Peat, fire and GHG emissions
    10 / 17 58.8%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      48. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      49. Peat commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

      The company's commitment applies to suppliers but it is unclear if it applies to smallholders.

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      50. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?

      The company commits to best management practices for existing plantations on peat, but does not have a commitment to soils.

    • N
      0 / 1

      51. Landbank or planted area on peat (ha)?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      52. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?

      The company only states that they sponsored and participated in a workshop on peatland conservation. The workshop was designed to kick off the “Smallholder Protocol for Sustainable Management of Peat Areas
      and Responsible Replanting of Oil Palm.”.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      53. Commitment to zero burning?

      The company commits to a no-burn policy and states it condones burning of land for any means.

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      54. Zero burning commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

      The company's commitment applies to suppliers but it is unclear if it applies to smallholders.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      55. Evidence of management and monitoring fires?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      56. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates?

      Cargill reported in December 2015 45 fires identified on and around its plantations in Indonesia. It also has a hotspot update webpage.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      57. Details/number of hotspots/fires within surrounding landscape/smallholders?

      The company has a hotspot update webpage that includes monitoring areas up to 1km away.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      58. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

      2020 (5%) - Cargill has a commitment to "improve greenhouse gas intensity by 5 percent against a fiscal 2015 baseline, achieving a 2.2 percent improvement this year." The commitment applies across the company's entire operations.

    • N
      0 / 1

      59. GHG commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

    • N
      0 / 1

      60. GHG emissions?

    • N
      0 / 1

      61. GHG emissions from land use change?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      62. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

      ISCC 205 GHG Emissions Calculation Methodology and GHG Audit.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      63. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions?

      The company reports a 3.2% improvement in GHG intensity.

    • N
      0 / 1

      64. Percentage of mills with methane capture (is above 75%)?

      The company is currently working on completing methane capture facilities at two of its mills by 2020.

  • Water, chemical and pest management Water, chemical and pest management
    2 / 12 16.7%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      65. Time-bound commitment to improve water use?

      2020 (5%) - The company has a target to achieve a 5% improvement in water efficiency against a fiscal 2015 baseline by 2020.

    • N
      0 / 1

      66. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      67. Progress towards commitment on water use?

      The company reports a 2.9% improvement in freshwater efficiency improvement.

    • N
      0 / 1

      68. Progress towards commitment on water quality?

    • N
      0 / 1

      69. Protection of natural waterways through buffer zones?

    • N
      0 / 1

      70. Evidence of treating palm oil mill effluent (POME)?

    • N
      0 / 1

      71. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?

      The company only states it has identified the need for safer storage and management of dangerous chemicals.

    • N
      0 / 1

      72. No use of paraquat?

    • N
      0 / 1

      73. No use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

    • N
      0 / 1

      74. No use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

    • N
      0 / 1

      75. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

    • N
      0 / 1

      76. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?

  • Community, land and labour rights Community, land and labour rights
    10 / 18 55.6%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      77. Commitment to human rights, referencing the UN Declaration of Human Rights or UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      78. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      79. Commitment to respect indigenous and local communities' rights, referencing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or ILO 169?

      The company commits to "No exploitation of rights of indigenous peoples and local communities" but does not mention the UNDRIP/ILO.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      80. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      81. FPIC commitment applies to independent suppliers?

    • N
      0 / 1

      82. Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process?

    • N
      0 / 1

      83. Process for addressing land conflicts?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      84. Commitment to ensure food security for local communities?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      85. Commitment to respect all workers' rights?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      86. Reference to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

      The company does not refer to the minimum age convention.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      87. Total number of employees?

      150000 - The company reports 150,000 as the total number of employees for all its operations.

    • N
      0 / 1

      88. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

    • N
      0 / 1

      89. Percentage or number of women employees?

    • N
      0 / 1

      90. Minimum wage that the company pays?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      91. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      92. Lost time accident rate?

      1.34 - The company states a Reportable Injury Frequency Rate (RIFR) of 1.34 in 2016, but it is unclear how this figure relates to its palm oil operations.

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      93. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?

      9 - The company reports 9 work fatalities in 2016, but it is unclear how this figure relates to its palm oil operations.

    • N
      0 / 1

      94. Provision of personal protective equipment and pesticide training?

  • Certification standards Certification standards
    13.5 / 17 79.4%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      95. Member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?

      2004

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      96. Submitted most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?

      Both Cargill and Alpha Capital. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      97. Listed all countries and regions in which operates in most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?

      Cargill states all the countries and regions in which it operates as a palm oil grower: Indonesia (West Kalimantan and South Sumatra).

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      98. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of estates within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of estates?

      2020 - Time-bound plan for Cargill Inc has been extended from 2016 to 2020. Alpha Capital Limited gives a target of 2018.

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      99. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of scheme/associated smallholders within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of scheme/associated smallholders?

      2020 - Cargill Inc reports a target of 2020 for associated smallholders. Alpha Capital Limited gives a target of 2018.

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      100. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of all supply chains?

      2020

    • Y
      0.5 / 0.5

      101. 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?

      2009 - Cargill Inc became a member of the RSPO in 2004 and certified its first estate in 2009. Alpha Capital became a member of the RSPO in 2016 and achieved its first certification in 2016.

    • Y
      2 / 2

      102. Percentage of mills RSPO-certified (is above 75%)?

      7 (78%) - Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states it in ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".

    • P
      1 / 2

      103. Percentage of area (ha) RSPO-certified (is above 75%)?

      53468.5 (32%) - Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported a total figure of 53468.5 ha. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016".
      .

    • Y
      2 / 2

      104. Percentage of scheme/associated smallholders (ha) RSPO-certified (is above 75%)?

      522390 (75%) - FFB volume certified that is supplied by scheme smallholders divided by total FFB volume supplied by scheme smallholders (tonnes). Sum of Cargill and Alpha Capital Limited reported figures. Cargill states in its ACOP 2016 that "Cargill acquired Alpha Capital Limited (Poliplant group) in Dec 2015. Alpha Capital progress shall be reported under separate RSPO membership in the ACOP report for 2016". 100% of Cargill's scheme smallholders are certified, but Alpha Capital does not report how much is certified.

    • Y
      2 / 2

      105. Percentage of FFB supply (tonnes) from independent FFB suppliers that is RSPO-certified (is above 75%)?

      17094 (100%) - FFB volume certified that is supplied by independent smallholders divided by total FFB volume supplied by independent smallholders (tonnes).

    • N
      0 / 2

      106. Percentage of all palm oil and oil palm products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that are RSPO-certified (is above 75%)?

      685576 - The company does not report data on the total volume traded/processed in the year, only the volume RSPO-certified.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      107. Sells or processes/trades RSPO-certified palm oil through Segregated or Identity Preserved supply chains?

      Book & Claim; Mass Balance; Segregated; Identity Preserved.

    • P
      0.5 / 1

      108. Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certified (100%)?

      PT Hindoli has been ISPO-certified, but it is unclear if Cargill's other plantations are certified.

    • N

      109. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified (100%)?

      This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      110. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme (e.g. ISCC, SAN, RSB, etc.)?

      Some of Cargill's plantations are ISCC-certified.

  • Smallholders and suppliers Smallholders and suppliers
    9 / 9 100%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      111. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      112. Details of support programme for scheme smallholders?

      Best practice guidelines, help in achieving RSPO certification.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      113. Number or percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?

      7200 - The company is supporting 7,200 plasma smallholders in PT Poliplant towards RSPO certification. It has helped its others plasma smallholders achieve RSPO certification.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      114. Programme to support independent smallholders?

      The company has an independent oil palm smallholder sustainability support program in Malaysia and Colombia.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      115. Details of support programme for independent smallholders?

      Help in achieving certification; best practice guidelines for replanting; alternative livelihood development on peat areas.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      116. Number or percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?

      The company states "In Malaysia , we have certified 175 independent smallholders for RSPO in Air Kuning Perak, as part of the Wild Asia Group Scheme (WAGS) .In Colombia , we signed off on a project that will support the RSPO certification of 487 independent smallholders".

    • Y
      1 / 1

      117. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

      The company has conducted supplier assessments and workshops and engage with suppliers to ensure no deforestation of HCV and HCS areas.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      118. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

      The company states it will "Evaluate, and will suspend, business with suppliers who are confirmed, through a credible source, audit or verification, to be in violation of our forest policy, and unwilling to remediate non-compliance issues or concerns".

    • Y
      1 / 1

      119. Number or percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged?

      The company details the percentage of the PKO volumes and CPO volumes covered by a supplier engagement program.

  • Governance and grievances Governance and grievances
    7 / 7 100%
    • Y
      1 / 1

      120. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      121. Whistleblowing procedure?

      The company has an "Ethics Open Line" for reporting any misconduct.

    • Y
      1 / 1

      122. Own grievance or complaints system?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      123. Grievance system accessible to internal stakeholders (i.e. employees)?

    • Y
      1 / 1

      124. Grievance system accessible to external stakeholders?

    • Y
      2 / 2

      125. Details of grievances disclosed?

Media monitor: Cargill Inc

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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