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Palm oil assessments

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

Score:  44.4%

Latest update: 06 Nov 2018
Next scheduled: Nov 2019
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  • Landbank (oil palm):
    107,000 hectares
  • Thomson Reuters ticker:
    Private company
  • Bloomberg ticker:
    Private company
  • RSPO member?
    Yes
  • Website:
    http://www.feronia.com/
    Sustainability report (2017)

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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Assessment date:

Total: 44.4% 41.5 / 93.5
  • Sustainability policy and leadership Sustainability policy and leadership 4.5 / 6 75%

    • 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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      2. 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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

      ESG Director leads the ESG Board Committee which reports directly to the Board of Directors

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      4. Sustainability report published within last two years?

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

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

      TFA 2020

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

  • Landbank, maps and traceability Landbank, maps and traceability 8.5 / 11 77.3%

    • 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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      9. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

      24,183

    • n/a
      -
      No source

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

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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      14. Number and names of company owned mills?

      The company is building a new mill: Lokumete mill

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      15. Maps or coordinates of company owned mills?

    • n/a
      -
      No source

      16. Number and names of supplier mills?

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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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."

    • n/a
      -
      No source

      18. Maps of scheme/plasma smallholders?

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

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      No 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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

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

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

    • Yes
      2 / 2
      Source

      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

    • n/a
      -
      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.

  • Deforestation and biodiversity Deforestation and biodiversity 3 / 9 33.3%
    • 2 media reports

      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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      24. Commitment to zero deforestation?

    • n/a
      -
      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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      26. Criteria for defining deforestation?

      HCV, land not previously developed for oil palm plantations

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      27. Evidence of monitoring deforestation?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      28. Examples of habitat management and/or habitat restoration?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      29. Implementing a landscape-level approach to biodiversity conservation?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      30. Commitment to biodiversity conservation?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      33. Examples of species conservation activities?

  • HCV, HCS and impact assessments HCV, HCS and impact assessments 4.5 / 10 45%

    • 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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      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

    • n/a
      -
      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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      41. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      42. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments?

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      44. Social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?

  • Peat, fire and GHG emissions Peat, fire and GHG emissions 1.5 / 13 11.5%
    • 1 media report

      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.

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • n/a
      -
      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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

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

      The company commits to best practices on soil but not for peat

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      48. Landbank or planted area on peat?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      50. Commitment to zero burning?

    • n/a
      -
      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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      52. Evidence of management and monitoring fires?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      Source

      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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      56. GHG emissions from land use change?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      57. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      58. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

    • No
      0 / 1
      Source

      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

  • Water, chemical and pest management Water, chemical and pest management 1.5 / 12 12.5%

    • 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).

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      60. Time-bound commitment to improve water use per tonne of FFB Processed?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      61. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD and COD)?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      62. Progress towards commitment on water use?

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      63. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD and COD)?

      BOD and COD figures are available for the three mills from 2015 only

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • No
      0 / 1
      Source

      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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      67. No use of paraquat?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

  • Community, land and labour rights Community, land and labour rights 13.5 / 17.5 77.1%
    • 7 media reports

      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.

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • n/a
      -
      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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      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

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

      77. FPIC commitment applies to independent suppliers?

      This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from smallholders or independent suppliers

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      78. Details of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      79. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      80. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      81. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      82. Commitment to respect all workers' rights?

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

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

      The company does not refer to equal remuneration or freedom of association

    • Yes
      0.5 / 0.5
      Source

      84. tal number of employees?

      8,401 - Figure includes permanent staff, seasonal workers and day labourers

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      85. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

      4,341 (51.7%)

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      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."

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      87. Commitment to pay minimum wage?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      88. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      89. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

      The company reports 50 accidents per million hours worked in 2017

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

      0

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      91. Provision of personal protective equipment and pesticide training?

      The company provides PPE but does not mention pesticide training

  • Certification standards Certification standards 1 / 8 12.5%

    • 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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

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

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

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • No
      0 / 0.5
      Source

      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

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • No
      0 / 0.5
      Source

      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

    • No
      0 / 2
      No source

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

    • No
      0 / 2
      No source

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

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

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

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

      106. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?

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

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

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

  • Smallholders and suppliers Smallholders and suppliers 0 / 1 0%

    • 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.

    • n/a
      -
      No source

      108. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

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

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

      110. Programme to support independent smallholders?

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

    • n/a
      -
      No source

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

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

    • n/a
      -
      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.

    • No
      0 / 1
      No source

      113. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

    • n/a
      -
      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.

  • Governance and grievances Governance and grievances 3.5 / 6 58.3%
    • 4 media reports

      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.

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      115. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

    • Partial
      0.5 / 1
      Source

      116. Whistleblowing procedure?

      The company has a Whistleblowing Policy. However, the extent to which it will offer protection to whistleblowers is not clear

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      117. Own grievance or complaints system?

    • Yes
      1 / 1
      Source

      118. Grievance or complaints system is accessible to internal and external stakeholders?

    • No
      0 / 2
      Source

      119. Details of grievances disclosed?

      The company only gives the number of engagements relating to grievance management

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.

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November 2018

9 DRC communities fight a century-old land conflict with a palm oil firm

Visit external site

July 2018

Online mapping tool tracks land-use changes down to the farm

Visit external site

October 2017

Opinion: Investing in conflict-affected countries is challenging but necessary

Visit external site

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)

Visit external site

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)

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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)

Visit external site

November 2016

LAND CONFLICTS AND SHADY FINANCES PLAGUE DR CONGO PALM OIL COMPANY BACKED BY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

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June 2015

AGRO-COLONIALISME AU CONGO

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June 2015

UK development finance arm accused of bankrolling 'agro-colonialism' in Congo

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Research protocols: Feronia Inc

Research protocols 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.

Download research protocols
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