New Britain Palm Oil Ltd

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

The company has a number of sustainability policies, notably its Forest Policy and Environmental Policy, and its parent company Sime Darby has a Responsible Agriculture Charter.

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

The company's forest policy states "This policy is applicable to NBPOL's own estates and external fresh fruit suppliers, including all smallholders and outgrowers." The company is also included within Sime Darby's Responsible Agriculture Charter which covers all of its palm oil operations, both upstream and downstream.

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

Director of Sustainability.

4. Sustainability report published within last two years?

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

The company is a member of TFT and HCS Approach Steering Group. Sime Darby is a member of the UN Global Compact and signatory to New York Declaration on Forests, is also a member of TFA 2020, HCV Resource Network and the Fire Free Alliance. The company was a founding member of POIG but since it is part of the Sime Darby Group it ceased to be a member until Sime Darby joins the initiative.

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

The company was a founding member of POIG and completed a trial assessment.

7. Activities with government, NGOs or academic institutions to improve palm oil sustainability?

The company states "In recent years we have worked closely with Solidaridad, a Dutch social NGO, to establish programmes to enhance conditions and empower smallholders" and "NBPOL is working closely with the PNG Government in the transition to the VCLR (Voluntary Customary Land Registration) system that it feels better protects customary land rights".

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

162334

9. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

91894

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

40732 - The company does not have scheme smallholders, but has associated smallholders.

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

10382

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

19326

13. Area for infrastructure (ha)?

6055

14. Number and names of company owned mills?

11

15. Maps or coordinates of company owned mills?

Mill locations have been made available to the RSPO, and all 12 mills are available on Global Forest Watch.

16. Number and names of supplier mills?

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

17. Maps of estates/management units?

Concession boundaries have been made available to the RSPO in 2015 and the company declares these represent 100% of its concession sites, but not all may not be publicly available due to ongoing legal issues. Maps will become available on GeoRSPO. The maps can also be downloaded from the company's website.

18. Maps of scheme/plasma smallholders?

The company has associated smallholders - maps can be downloaded from the company's website.

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

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

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

2010 (100%) - The company is already fully traceable to plantation as of 2010.

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

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

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

2010 (100%) - The company is already fully traceable to plantation as of 2010.

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.

24. Commitment to zero deforestation?

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

26. Criteria for defining deforestation?

HCV, HCS.

27. Evidence of monitoring deforestation?

The company states a target to implement SMART forest monitoring and satellite monitoring protocols by 2024 but it is unclear what is currently being carried out.

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

The company reports native forest restoration, habitat protection for the Queen Alexandra Birdwing Butterfly, rehabilitation of buffer zones and enhancement of mangroves.

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

The company states its target is "to create protective buffers along riverbanks and form linkages between forest patches and conservation areas within the landscape" and it is part of the High Forest Cover Landscapes Working Group.

30. Commitment to biodiversity conservation?

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

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

The parent company Sime Darby states it has a policy of no hunting within its operations.

33. Examples of species conservation activities?

Species conservation project for the Queen Alexandra Birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera alexandrae), among others.

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

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

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

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

The following HCV assessments are publicly available:
Oro: Higaturu Estate; Morobe: Ramu Agri-Industries Ltd (RAIL), Impu Sagu Estate; New Ireland: Poliamba Ltd, Lamawan and Lamawan Plantations; Ramu Valley: J Estate; West New Britain: Roka Mini Estate and Roka Estate; GPPOL, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Milne Bay estates, PNG.

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

The following HCV assessments are publicly available:
Oro: Higaturu Estate
Ramu Valley: Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. 2016
Morobe: Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. 2018
Guadalcanal: Guadalcanal Plains Oil Palms.

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

The following HCV management and monitoring plans are available:
Oro: Higaturu Estate
Ramu Valley: Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. 2016
Morobe: Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. 2018
Guadalcanal: Guadalcanal Plains Oil Palms.

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

Satisfactory review of all assessments:
Oro: Higaturu Estate
Ramu Valley: Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. 2016
Morobe: Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. 2018
Guadalcanal: Guadalcanal Plains Oil Palms.

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

42. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments?

The company provides HCS assessments for Orangerie Bay, Higaturu and GBPOL.

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

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

The following SEIA assessments are publicly available:
Oro: Higaturu Estate;
New Ireland: Poliamba Ltd, Lamawan and Lamawan Plantations;
Ramu Valley: Ramu Agri-Industries Ltd (RAIL), J Estate;
Morobe: Ramu Agri-Industries Ltd (RAIL), Impu;
West New Britain: Roka Mini Estate and Roka Estate;
GPPOL, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands;
Milne Bay estates, PNG;
Guadalcanal, Guadalcanal Plains Oil Palms.

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

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

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

48. Landbank or planted area on peat?

0 - The company previously reported a figure of 88 ha in its 2013 Sustainability Report, however in its 2015 Sustainability Report it states "...no peat land has been used for oil palm cultivation. Soil studies by NBPOL have shown that planted areas previously reported to be peat land did not actually fall within the definition".

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

50. Commitment to zero burning?

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

52. Evidence of management and monitoring fires?

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

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

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

The company has a commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 30% by 2024 but the target is not based on GHG intensity.

56. GHG emissions from land use change?

Land conversion figures are available for 2016 for individual estates.

57. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

PalmGHG 2.1.1.

58. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

The company reports a decrease in overall palm product carbon footprint (MT CO2e/MT PK/CPO ex-mill) from 2014 to 2017.

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

2 (18.2%)

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

Target to reduce water usage at mill per ton of FFB milled by 5% by 2020.

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

The company has a target to reduce BOD to 50ppm by 2020 and reduce litres of effluent discharged per ton of FFB milled by 5% by 2020, but it does not refer to COD levels.

62. Progress towards commitment on water use?

The company reports that all mills have reduced water usage to less than 1.5 m 3 per tonne of FFB processed since 2013.

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

The company reports BOD levels were maintained below legal limits however no data for COD could be found.

64. Protection of natural waterways through buffer zones?

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

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

67. No use of paraquat?

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

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

70. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

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

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

73. Commitment to human rights applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

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

The company states it recognises the rights to lands that communities customarily own, occupy or otherwise use, and has established a process for identifying legal and customary rights.

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

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

77. FPIC commitment applies to independent suppliers?

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

79. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

80. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

81. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

82. Commitment to respect all workers' rights?

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

84. Total number of employees?

22762

85. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

680 (3%)

86. Percentage or number of women employees?

5022 (22%) - Figure includes employees and management.

87. Commitment to pay minimum wage?

88. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

89. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

26 - Average lost time accident rate.

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

2 - 2014 and 2015. Data more than 2 years old.

91. Provision of personal protective equipment and pesticide training?

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

2004 - The company's RSPO membership has now been incorporated under its parent company, Sime Darby.

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

The company's RSPO membership has now been incorporated under its parent company, Sime Darby, therefore it does not have to submit an ACOP.

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

The company's RSPO membership has now been incorporated under its parent company, Sime Darby, therefore it does not have to submit an ACOP.

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

2013

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?

2013

97. Year expected to achieve 100% RSPO certification of all palm product processing facilities?

100%

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?

2008

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

11 (100%)

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

100%

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

40732 (100%) - The company has associated smallholders.

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

100%

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

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

Segregated; Identity Preserved.

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

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

106. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?

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

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

One of the company's sites is SAN certified and some sites are ISO 14001 certified.

108. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

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

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

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

110. Programme to support independent smallholders?

The company supports its associated (independent) smallholders to gain certification and provides tools and fertilisers and best management support.

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

All of the company's smallholders have achieved RSPO certification. The company states that in 2017, more than 1,000 growers, employees and dependents have received financial literacy training in WNB.

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

113. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

The company states "Criteria for the suspension or exclusion of smallholders have been taken from the National Interpretation of the RSPO Principles and Criteria provided by the PNG National Interpretation Task Force" however no timeframes for action are given.

114. Percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company requirements?

All the company's smallholders are assessed to maintain the company's segregated RSPO supply chain. All the company's smallholders are RSPO certified.

115. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

116. Whistleblowing procedure?

117. Own grievance or complaints system?

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

119. Details of grievances disclosed?

The company only reports the number of grievances and the nature of the grievance.