Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc (GVL)

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

The company has published a sustainable palm oil policy which covers all palm oil operations, and also commits to adhere to the sustainability policy of Golden Agri Resources.

2. Sustainable palm oil policy or commitment applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

The company reports that it has a general manager for sustainability.

4. One or more members within the board of the company have responsibility for sustainability?

5. Percentage or number of women in senior management team?

6. Percentage or number of women board members?

7. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with palm oil production?

[Externally verified] The company is a member of the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA).

8. Collaboration with stakeholders to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with palm oil production?

The company states that it is working with NGOs and CSOs to implement its action plan, which includes taking measures to improve the sustainability of its palm oil operations. However only limited details are provided and the data is over 2 years old, so only partial points have been awarded.

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

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

This indicator is disabled as the company is not a POIG member.

12. Climate risks assessment available?

13. Lists countries and operations?

The company operates entirely in Liberia (oil palm concessions).

14. Lists countries sourcing from?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

40697 - The company reports the total land area managed for oil palm in its RSPO ACOP 2020.

16. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

19048 - The company reports the total oil palm planted area in its RSPO ACOP 2020. This figure also includes infrastructure area, so only partial points have been awarded.

17. Scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from scheme/plasma smallholders.

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

10167 - The company reports its total unplanted area in its RSPO ACOP 2020.

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

11482 - The figure only includes land designated and managed as HCV areas, as the company reports no other areas of conservation set-aside areas.

20. Maps of estates/management units?

The company reports that it has submitted all concession maps to RSPO and that no new concessions have been added and that no changes in ownership of concessions have been occurred since the submission of maps to RSPO. The company has also pinned the locations of all its concessions on its website.

21. Maps of scheme smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from scheme/plasma smallholders.

22. Names and locations of all third-party supplying plantations?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

23. Number of company-owned mills?

1 - The company reports the number of mills in its RSPO ACOP 2020.

24. Names and locations of company-owned mills?

The company reports the name of the name of the one mill it owns, but does not provide an exact location.

25. Number (or percentage) of company-owned mills that source from company-owned operations and third parties?

The company reports having no suppliers (smallholders, outgrowers, third-parties) in its 2020 ACOP. The company's own mill solely sources from the company's own operations.

26. Reports total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned mills that come from company-owned operations and third-parties?

The company reports having no suppliers (smallholders, outgrowers, third-parties) in its 2020 ACOP. The company's own mill solely sources from the company's own operations.

27. Number of third party supplying mills?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

28. Names and locations of all third-party supplying mills?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

29. Number (or percentage) of third party supplying mills that source from their own plantations and third party plantations?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

30. Reports total volume (or percentages) sourced from third-party supplying mills that come from the supplying mills' own operations and third parties?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

31. Total volume (or percentage) sourced for refineries that comes from intermediary traders and/or refiners rather than directly from mills?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not own refineries.

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

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

33. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

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

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

35. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) supply to own mills traceable to plantation level?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

36. Percentage of supply from third-party mills traceable to plantation level?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from third-party supplying mills.

37. Publishes traceability data at refinery level?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not own refineries.

38. Publishes traceability data at crusher level?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not own palm kernel crushing facilities.

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

[Externally verified] 2011 - The company has been an RSPO member since 2011.

40. 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?

2023 - The company plans to achieve RSPO certification in 2023.

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

The company has submitted its 2021 RSPO ACOP.

42. Percentage of area (ha) RSPO-certified?

43. Percentage of mills RSPO-certified?

44. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of estates and mills within 5 years?

2024 - The company reports a time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of estates and mills by 2024.

45. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of all palm product processing facilities within 5 years?

This indicator is disabled as the company is only a grower or miller.

46. Percentage of scheme smallholders (ha) RSPO-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from scheme/plasma smallholders.

47. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of scheme/associated smallholders and outgrowers within 5 years or target already achieved?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no scheme/plasma/associated smallholders or outgrowers.

48. Percentage of FFB supply (tonnes) from independent smallholders/outgrowers/third-party FFB suppliers that is RSPO-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

49. Percentage of all palm oil and oil palm products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that is RSPO-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company is only a grower or miller.

50. Sells RSPO-certified palm oil through Segregated or Identity Preserved supply chains?

51. Processes/trades RSPO-certified palm oil through Segregated or Identity Preserved supply chains?

This indicator is disabled as the company only reports a Grower ACOP.

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

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate in Indonesia.

53. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate in Malaysia.

54. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme (e.g. ISCC, SAS, RSB)?

55. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

56. Commitment to zero deforestation?

The company commits to adhere to the sustainability policy of GAR, but in a statement on its own website, it only states that it will not develop on HCS areas and peat, without mentioning HCV areas. Because this commitment is not clear, only partial points have been awarded.

57. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

58. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation?

The company defines deforestation as development on HCS areas and peat, however no cut-off date is provided. Partial points have been awarded as a result.

59. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation in supplier operations?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

60. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

61. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

62. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in own operations since cut-off date?

63. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in supplier operations since cut-off date?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

64. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion?

65. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

66. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

67. Biodiversity policy?

The company commits to respect Golden Agri Resources' social and environmental policy, which includes a biodiversity commitment.

68. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

69. Identified species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

Species of conservation concern have been identified in HCV reports using the IUCN framework. These assessments have been conducted with external bodies, including HCV, so are externally verified.

70. Examples of species and/or habitat conservation management?

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

The company only commits to no hunting of endangered, rare, and threatened species as defined by Liberian law. Sustainable hunting is allowed beyond the company's concessions.

72. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

73. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?

The company commits under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

74. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

[Externally verified] HCV assessments for planting undertaken prior to January 2015 are available on the company website, but only one contains a management and monitoring plan.

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

Only one HCV assessment is available for estates planted since January 2015. In the company's 2020 ACOP the company states it has planted 143 ha. However the ACOP also reports that no NPPs were submitted and that NPPs did not cover all new planting, thus only partial points can be awarded.

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

The HCV management and monitoring plan is available for one estate planted since January 2015. This does not cover all new planting, therefore only partial points have been awarded.

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

The company commits under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

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

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

[Externally verified] Only one HCV assessment since January 2015 has been quality reviewed and deemed satisfactory.

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

The company commits under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

82. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

83. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

The company has 13 HCSA assessment reports registered on the HCS website, however, report and summary not publicly available, and therefore no points can be awarded.

84. Peer review of all High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments undertaken since April 2015 by the HCSA Quality Assurance Process?

The company has 13 HCSA assessment reports registered on the HCS website, however none are peer reviewed so no points can be awarded.

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

The company commits under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

86. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

87. Social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) available, and associated management and monitoring plans?

[Externally verified] One social and environmental impact assessment report is publicly available.

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

The company commits under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

89. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

91. Implementation of commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company is only a processor or trader.

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

The company reports its commitment to best management practices for peatland through GAR's Social and Environmental Policy. However, the company does not make a commitment to best management practices for soils, therefore only partial points can be awarded.

93. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

95. Commitment to zero burning?

The company commits to no burning through GAR's Social and Environmental Policy.

96. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

97. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

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

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

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

101. GHG emissions intensity?

102. GHG emissions from land use change?

103. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

104. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

105. Percentage of mills with methane capture (100%)?

106. Time-bound commitment to improve water use intensity?

107. Water use intensity?

108. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

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

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

111. Treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME)?

The company commits to "reduce wastewater and waste as required, prior to discharge or disposal". As the commitment is unclear and does not mention POME directly, only partial points can be rewarded.

112. Treatment of palm oil refinery effluent (PORE)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not own refineries.

113. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

The company commits to protect and conserve high conservation value areas, including riparian zones along rivers and streams, survivable tracts of primary forest, and water sources.

114. Implementation of commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

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

The company commits to minimise the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides through GAR's Social and Environmental Policy.

116. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers, applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

117. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

The company reports a commitment to no use of paraquat.

118. Commitment to no use of paraquat applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

119. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

The company commits to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides except in ""specific situations"". The company makes this commitment through GAR's Social and Environmental Policy.

120. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

121. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

The company commits to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention except in ""specific situations"". The company makes this commitment through GAR's Social and Environmental Policy.

122. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

124. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser use?

125. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

The company reports practicing an integrated pest control approach, including the use of "manual methods, the natural enemies of oil palm pests, and ecologically benign insecticides".

126. Waste management system in place to avoid negative impacts?

127. Commitment to human rights?

The company commits to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

128. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

129. Progress on human rights commitment?

The company reports that it is reviewing the RSPO's Human Rights Defender Protection protocol and developing a policy on human rights, however no details of this are provided. Therefore, only partial points have been awarded.

130. Commitment to respect indigenous and local communities' rights?

The company commits to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

131. Commitment to indigenous and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

The company commits to respect legal and customary land tenure rights through GAR's Social and Environmental Policy.

133. Commitment to respect legal and customary land rights applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

The company commits under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

135. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

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

The RSPO Principles and Criteria 2018 contain guidance and requirements on the process to conduct free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's commitments under the RSPO New Planting Procedures (NPP) as an RSPO member reporting as a grower.

137. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

The company reports that it has engaged in stakeholder mapping, categorisation, and conflict resolution, however details of this are not available. Therefore, only partial points have been awarded.

138. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

The company reports the details of its process for addressing land conflicts in its sustainability progress report.

139. Supports the inclusion of women across palm oil operations, including addressing barriers faced?

140. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

141. Progress on commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

The company has recently launched a sustainable livelihoods programme which aims to improve local agricultural practices for reasons of income generation and food security.

142. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company commits to building infrastructure that will ""benefit the local economies"".

143. Progress on commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company provides various community services, including a community development fund, palm oil education, and transportation services for children and the community. The company has also recently launched a livelihood support programme.

144. Commitment to provide business/work opportunities for local communities?

The company commits to "benefit communities by providing stable incomes through employment". As this commitment is not clear, only partial points have been awarded.

145. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

The company commits to all Fundamental ILO Conventions.

146. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

147. Progress on commitment to respect all workers' rights?

148. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

The company commits to eliminate gender-related discrimination with regards to employment.

149. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

150. Progress on commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

151. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

152. Percentage or number of women employees?

153. Commitment to pay a Decent Living wage?

The company commits to pay at least minimum wage through GAR's Social and Environmental policy. The company also reports that it plans to initiate a living wage study, however there is no evidence that this as started yet. As a result, only partial points have been awarded.

154. Commitment to pay a Decent Living wage applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

155. Progress on commitment to pay a Decent Living wage?

156. Reporting of salary by gender?

157. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

The company commits to address health and safety at work for all workers.

158. Commitment to address occupational health and safety applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

159. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

The company reports that it provides PPE for protection from chemical exposure, but no information is provided on training. Thus, only partial points have been awarded.

160. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

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

162. Commitment to support smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

163. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from scheme/plasma smallholders.

164. Percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not source from scheme/plasma smallholders.

165. Programme to support independent smallholders?

166. Percentage of independent smallholders/outgrowers involved in programme?

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

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

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

168. Number or percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

169. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

170. Time-bound action plans (including Key Performance Indicators) for suppliers to be in compliance with palm oil sourcing commitments?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

171. Proportion of direct and indirect supply that comes from palm oil plantations which are compliant with palm oil sourcing policies?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

172. Time-bound plan to engage with all high risk mills within 3 years?

173. Programme to support high risk mills to become compliant with sourcing policies?

174. Regularly engages with a subset of high risk mills?

175. Procedures in place to assess all own and third party supplying palm oil mills for risk level?

176. Regularly assesses and categorises the risk level of all their own and third party supplying mills?

177. Regularly reports the risk level of all own and third party supplying mills identified in its supply chain?

178. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company commits to ethical conduct and the prohibition of corruption.

179. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption applies to all suppliers?

This indicator is disabled as the company has no suppliers including scheme smallholders and independent suppliers.

180. Progress on commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

181. Disclosure of the company's management approach to tax and payments to governments?

182. Whistleblowing procedure?

The company allows for whistleblowing and states that whistleblowers are protected, but does any not provide details of the relevant procedures. Therefore, only partial points can be awarded.

183. Own grievance or complaints system open to all stakeholders?

The company has published a Grievance, Dispute and Conflict Management SOP on its website. This includes a flow chart of the process and an example grievance request form.

184. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?