Feronia Inc https://www.spott.org/palm-oil/feronia-inc/
Operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Feronia is has oil palm cultivation and processing... Read more.
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Landbank (oil palm):107,000 hectares
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Thomson Reuters ticker:Private company
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Bloomberg ticker:Private company
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RSPO member?Yes
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Website:
Company assessment: Feronia Inc – November 2018
SPOTT assesses companies against over 100 indicators across ten categories. Click on the icons or bars below to expand each category for further details, scoring and links to reports and sources.
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Sustainability policy and leadership
4.5 / 6
75%
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Companies should publish sustainability policies or similar covering their entire supply chain — including third party suppliers — implemented and enforced through high-level leadership that engages with wider industry schemes.
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1 / 1Source1. Sustainable palm oil policy or commitment for all its operations?
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0.5 / 1Source2. Policy or commitment applies to direct and third-party suppliers?
The company states in its Environmental and Social Policy that it "require its customers, partners and suppliers within the supply chain to adopt the same level of environmental and social practice" and the company's Land Policy states it applies to "the Corporation and its employees, officers, directors and contractors" but it is unclear if the policy applies to all suppliers
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1 / 1Source
3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?
ESG Director leads the ESG Board Committee which reports directly to the Board of Directors
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1 / 1Source
4. Sustainability report published within last two years?
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0.5 / 1Source
5. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to improve sustainability in relation to palm oil?
TFA 2020
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-No source
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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0.5 / 1Source
7. Activities with government, NGOs or academic institutions to improve palm oil sustainability?
The company states it is working with NGOs including CARITAS, CRAFOP, IGED (Initiation, Gestion d'Environnent Durable et Gestion D?fense des Droits Human) and CADAAP but limited details are given
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Landbank, maps and traceability
8.5 / 11
77.3%
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Companies should publicly report figures on their total landbank and details of different areas under their management. They should also disclose maps of their management areas and provide details on traceability of their products, both to mill and plantation level.
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1 / 1Source
8. Total land area managed/controlled for oil palm (ha)?
107,000 - Figure includes planted area, wildlife buffer zones, roads, villages and areas of high conservation value
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1 / 1Source
9. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?
24,183
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-No source
10. Plasma/scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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1 / 1Source
11. Unplanted (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?
6,626 - The company reports a total replantable land area of 6,626 ha.The company has committed to only replant oil palm on land that has previously been used for oil palm plantations
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0.5 / 1Source
12. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?
The company only reports a combined figure of 72,804 ha for infrastructure, villages, high conservation value land, forest, roads and land unsuitable for planting
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0.5 / 1Source
13. Area for infrastructure (ha)?
The company only reports a combined figure of 72,804 ha for infrastructure, villages, high conservation value land, forest, roads and land unsuitable for planting
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1 / 1Source
14. Number and names of company owned mills?
The company is building a new mill: Lokumete mill
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0 / 1No source15. Maps or coordinates of company owned mills?
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-No source
16. Number and names of supplier mills?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0.5 / 1Source
17. Maps of estates/management units?
The company only gives coordinates of its three plantations, no concession boundaries are provided. The company states "Land titles and maps which are completed to date are publicly available at Feronia?s London office and PHC?s Kinshasa office."
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-No source
18. Maps of scheme/plasma smallholders?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
19. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to mill level?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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1 / 1No source
20. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to plantation level?
100% - The company does not source from smallholder or independent suppliers. Each of its concessions has its own mill for processing the FFB
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-No source
21. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level (above 80%)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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2 / 2Source
22. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from own mills traceable to plantation level (above 75%)?
100% - The company does not source from smallholder or independent suppliers. Each of its concessions has its own mill for processing the FFB
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-No source
23. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from supplier mills traceable to plantation level (above 75%)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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Deforestation and biodiversity
3 / 9
33.3%
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Companies should commit to address deforestation and to set aside areas for conservation. They should report on any activities to manage or restore habitat in their conservation areas, or monitor deforestation in their supply chains. They should also provide evidence of species conservation and biodiversity protection.
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1 / 1Source
24. Commitment to zero deforestation?
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-No source
25. Deforestation commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers
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1 / 1Source
26. Criteria for defining deforestation?
HCV, land not previously developed for oil palm plantations
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0 / 1No source
27. Evidence of monitoring deforestation?
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0 / 1No source
28. Examples of habitat management and/or habitat restoration?
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0 / 1No source
29. Implementing a landscape-level approach to biodiversity conservation?
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1 / 1Source
30. Commitment to biodiversity conservation?
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0 / 1No source
31. Commitment to not endanger species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?
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0 / 1No source
32. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?
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0 / 1No source
33. Examples of species conservation activities?
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HCV, HCS and impact assessments
4.5 / 10
45%
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Companies should commit to the High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) approaches, and to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIA). They should develop and publish monitoring and management plans, and provide evidence through SEIA, HCV and HCS assessments, typically published in summary form due to the sensitive nature of certain sites.
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1 / 1Source
34. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?
The company commits to protect HCV areas but does not have a clear commitment to conduct HCV assessments in the case of any new development
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-No source
35. HCV commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers
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0 / 1No source
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 / 1No source
37. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for planting undertaken prior to January 2015, and associated management and monitoring plans?
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1 / 1Source
38. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for all estates planted since January 2015?
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1 / 1Source
39. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans for all estates planted since January 2015?
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0 / 1No source
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 / 1No source
41. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?
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0 / 1No source
42. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments?
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0.5 / 1Source
43. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?
The company states a commitment to "assess the environmental and social impacts of all its business activities using robust and internationally recognised standards" but does not have a clear commitment to conduct SEIAs before all new development
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1 / 1Source
44. Social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?
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Peat, fire and GHG emissions
1.5 / 13
11.5%
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Companies should commit to protect peatland and undertake best management practices for soils and peat. They should also have policies on zero burning and to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Companies should report their GHG emissions, as well as any fires that occurred in or around their estates, along with plans for managing and monitoring fires.
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0 / 1No source
45. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?
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-No source
46. Peat commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers
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0.5 / 1Source
47. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?
The company commits to best practices on soil but not for peat
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0 / 1No source
48. Landbank or planted area on peat?
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0 / 1No source
49. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?
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1 / 1Source
50. Commitment to zero burning?
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-No source
51. Zero burning commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers
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0 / 1No source
52. Evidence of management and monitoring fires?
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0 / 1No source
53. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates?
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0 / 1No source
54. Details/number of hotspots/fires within surrounding landscape/smallholders?
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0 / 1Source
55. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity?
The company states a general commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and states it will begin to measure and report GHG emissions in 2018
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0 / 1No source
56. GHG emissions from land use change?
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0 / 1No source
57. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?
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0 / 1No source
58. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?
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0 / 1Source
59. Percentage of mills with methane capture (100%)?
The company states it plans to build methane capture facilities but does not currently have any in place
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Water, chemical and pest management
1.5 / 12
12.5%
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Companies should commit to managing water use and water quality, providing evidence through time-bound reduction plans, policies on toxic chemical use and treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME).
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0 / 1No source
60. Time-bound commitment to improve water use per tonne of FFB Processed?
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0 / 1Source
61. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD and COD)?
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0 / 1No source
62. Progress towards commitment on water use?
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0.5 / 1Source
63. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD and COD)?
BOD and COD figures are available for the three mills from 2015 only
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0.5 / 1Source
64. Protection of natural waterways through buffer zones?
The company has buffer zones in place but does not have a clear commitment to maintain buffer zones across all its operations
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0 / 1Source
65. Evidence of treating palm oil mill effluent (POME)?
The company states it is developing a plan for the treatment and disposal of palm oil mill effluent as part of the process to achieve RSPO certification
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0 / 1No source
66. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?
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0 / 1No source
67. No use of paraquat?
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0 / 1No source
68. No use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?
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0 / 1No source
69. No use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?
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0.5 / 1Source
70. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?
The company only states that it promotes plantation management practices such as integrated pest management, but no further details were given. The company states its Integrated Pest Management Strategy is publicly available at Feronia's London office, PHC's Kinshasa office and at PHC's plantations
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0 / 1No source
71. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?
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Community, land and labour rights
13.5 / 17.5
77.1%
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Companies should commit to respect human rights, including those of indigenous peoples and local communities, consulted with free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Companies should respect the rights of workers, report relevant workforce data, and comply with health and safety legislation.
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0.5 / 1Source
72. Commitment to human rights, referencing the UN Declaration of Human Rights or UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights?
The company only mentions human rights in relation to security, it does not have an overarching commitment
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-No source
73. Commitment to human rights applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?
This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers
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1 / 1Source
74. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?
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0.5 / 1Source
75. Commitment to respect indigenous and local communities' rights, referencing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or ILO 169?
The company respects community rights but does not mention the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
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1 / 1Source
76. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?
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-No source
77. FPIC commitment applies to independent suppliers?
This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers
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0 / 1No source
78. Details of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?
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0 / 1No source
79. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?
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1 / 1Source
80. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?
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1 / 1Source
81. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?
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1 / 1Source
82. Commitment to respect all workers' rights?
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0.5 / 1Source
83. Reference to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?
The company does not refer to equal remuneration or freedom of association
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0.5 / 0.5Source
84. Total number of employees?
8,401 - Figure includes permanent staff, seasonal workers and day labourers
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1 / 1Source
85. Percentage or number of temporary employees?
4,341 (51.7%)
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1 / 1Source
86. Percentage or number of women employees?
191 - The company states "of the permanent staff 191 are women, representing 4.7% of the full time labour force. The proportion of management positions held by women is 16% at Feronia."
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1 / 1Source
87. Commitment to pay minimum wage?
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1 / 1Source
88. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?
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1 / 1Source
89. Time lost due to work-based injuries?
The company reports 50 accidents per million hours worked in 2017
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1 / 1Source
90. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?
0
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0.5 / 1Source
91. Provision of personal protective equipment and pesticide training?
The company provides PPE but does not mention pesticide training
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Certification standards
1 / 8
12.5%
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Companies should become members of credible certification standards and report in accordance with all appropriate categories of membership. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) requires members registered as growers to submit data relating to certification targets for their estates, scheme smallholders and independent fresh fruit bunch (FFB) suppliers, via an annual communications of progress (ACOP) report.
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1 / 1Source
92. Member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?
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-No source
93. Submitted most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
94. Listed all countries and regions in which operates in most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 0.5Source
95. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of estates within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of estates?
2,025 - The target is over 5 years away
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-No source
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?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
97. Year expected to achieve 100% RSPO certification of all palm product processing facilities?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 0.5Source
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?
The company only became an RSPO member in 2017
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0 / 2No source
99. Percentage of mills RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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0 / 2No source
100. Percentage of area (ha) RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
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-No source
101. Percentage of scheme/associated smallholders (ha) RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
102. Percentage of FFB supply (tonnes) from independent FFB suppliers that is RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
103. Percentage of all palm oil and oil palm products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that are RSPO-certified (above 75%)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 1No source
104. Sells or processes/trades RSPO-certified palm oil through Segregated or Identity Preserved supply chains?
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-No source
105. Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certified (100%)?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
106. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 1No source
107. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme (e.g. ISCC, SAN, RSB, etc.)?
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Smallholders and suppliers
0 / 1
0%
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Companies should report details of any programmes or schemes to support both schemed and independent smallholders, as well as criteria to assess suppliers on compliance with company policies, and in what cases suppliers should be suspended or excluded due to non-compliance.
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-No source
108. Programme to support scheme smallholders?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
109. Number or percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
110. Programme to support independent smallholders?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
111. Number or percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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-No source
112. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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0 / 1No source
113. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?
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-No source
114. Percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company requirements?
This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.
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Governance and grievances
3.5 / 6
58.3%
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Companies should operate in an ethical manner at all levels, providing accessible channels and clear procedures for both employees and external stakeholders to raise any grievance or complaint with the company, as well as allowing for whistleblowing.
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1 / 1Source
115. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?
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0.5 / 1Source
116. Whistleblowing procedure?
The company has a Whistleblowing Policy. However, the extent to which it will offer protection to whistleblowers is not clear
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1 / 1Source
117. Own grievance or complaints system?
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1 / 1Source
118. Grievance or complaints system is accessible to internal and external stakeholders?
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0 / 2Source
119. Details of grievances disclosed?
The company only gives the number of engagements relating to grievance management
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Media monitor: Feronia 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 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.
November 2018
9 DRC communities fight a century-old land conflict with a palm oil firm
October 2017
Opinion: Investing in conflict-affected countries is challenging but necessary
September 2017
Bulletin 233 WRM: Lutter pour la terre, les for?ts et la vie: Non aux monocultures foresti?res industrielles ( Bulletin 233 WRM: Fight for the land, forests and life: No to industrial monocultures)
November 2016
RD Congo: la proximit? de Kikaya Bin Karubi et du canadien Feronia ? nouveau ?pingl?e (DR Congo: proximity of Kikaya Bin Karubi and Canadian Feronia pinned again)
November 2016
RDC : Bernab? Kikaya Bin Karubi et le groupe canadien Feronia r?pondent aux accusations d?ONG (DRC: Bernab? Kikaya Bin Karubi and the Canadian group Feronia respond to NGO accusations)
November 2016
LAND CONFLICTS AND SHADY FINANCES PLAGUE DR CONGO PALM OIL COMPANY BACKED BY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
June 2015
UK development finance arm accused of bankrolling 'agro-colonialism' in Congo
Scoring criteria: Feronia Inc
Scoring criteria guide how ZSL conducts SPOTT assessments and allocates scores to ensure a fair and consistent approach, setting the expectations for companies on how they should publish ESG data. The full palm oil indicator framework contains 119 indicators across 10 categories, aligned with corporate reporting initiatives.
