Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC) (previously assessed as Feronia Inc)

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

The company has developed a ""Shared Prosperity and Sustainability Strategy"" that covers commitment to elements of sustainable palm oil production.

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 having an Acting ESG Director, however, this information is undated.

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

5. Reports gender balance of senior management team?

2 (16.67%) - The company's staffs' pictures on the website show that the proportion of senior management positions held by women is 16.67%.

6. Reports gender balance of board members?

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

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

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

11. Climate risks assessment available?

12. Lists countries and operations?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (palm oil plantations and mills).

13. Lists countries sourcing from?

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

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

99000 - The company reports that it controls a total of approximately 99,000 ha of land for oil palm cultivation across three sites.

15. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

25700 - The company reports that it has 25,700 ha of land for oil palm cultivation across three sites.

16. Scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?

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

17. Unplanted area (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?

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

19. Maps of estates/management units?

20. Maps of all scheme smallholders?

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

21. Maps of all third-party supplying plantations?

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

22. Number of company-owned mills?

3 - The company reports that it owns and operates three mills on its website.

23. Names and locations of company-owned mills?

Each of the company's three mills are located within its three estates. Exact locations of mills cannot be determined.

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

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

26. Number of third party supplying mills?

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

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

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

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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 sources only directly from mills.

31. 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.

32. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level?

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

33. 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.

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

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

35. 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.

36. Publishes traceability data at refinery level?

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

37. Publishes traceability data at crusher level?

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

39. 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?

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

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

42. Percentage of mills RSPO-certified?

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

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

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

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

46. 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 is only a processor or trader.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

52. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?

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

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

54. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

The company commits to zero conversion of natural ecosystems.

55. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems applies to all suppliers?

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

56. Commitment to zero deforestation?

The company commits to zero deforestation.

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 and/or ecosystem conversion?

The company reports that since 2003 it has maintained a strict policy against converting new land for plantations and focused exclusively on previously exploited sites.

59. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

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

60. Cross-commodity zero deforestation commitment?

This indicator has been disabled as the company does not have operations in any other forest-risk commodities besides palm.

61. Cross-commodity zero deforestation commitment applies to all suppliers?

This indicator has been disabled as company does not source or purchase any other forest-risk commodities besides palm oil.

62. Target date to achieve zero deforestation?

Company has already achieved zero deforestation.

63. Target date to achieve zero deforestation in supplier operations?

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

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

65. 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.

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

0 - The company reports that it has not deforested or converted managed land since 2003.

67. 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.

68. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion in own operations since cut-off date?

The company states that it focuses exclusively on previously exploited sites and allowing it to restore degraded land, but unclear if this means restoring ecosystems and their values to their prior condition.

69. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion in supplier operations since cut-off date?

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

70. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

71. Biodiversity policy?

The company only has a general statement committing to biodiversity protection with no detail given on scope.

72. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

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

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

The company has only named one critically endangered species.

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

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

76. 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.

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

78. 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.

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

80. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for all estates planted/planned planting since January 2015?

81. High Conservation Value (HCV) or combined HCV/HCS management and monitoring plans for all estates planted/planned planting since January 2015?

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

83. 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.

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

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

86. 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.

87. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

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

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

90. 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.

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

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

93. 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.

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

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

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

The company states that it applies good agricultural practices to help preserve soil but only mentions a limited selection of practices for soil.

97. 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.

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

99. Commitment to zero burning?

100. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

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

101. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

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

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

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

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

106. Absolute GHG emissions?

107. GHG emissions intensity?

108. GHG emissions from land use change in company's own operations (scope 1)?

109. GHG emissions from land use change in supplier operations (scope 3)?

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

110. Progress towards commitment to reduce absolute GHG emissions?

111. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

112. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

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

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

115. Water use intensity?

116. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

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

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

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

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

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

121. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

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

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

124. 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.

125. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

126. 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.

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

128. 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.

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

130. 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.

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

132. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser use?

The company only reports one example of returning EFBs back to the soil of its plantations.

133. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

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

135. Commitment to human rights?

136. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

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

137. Progress on human rights commitment?

138. Commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights?

The company has voluntarily participated in a mediation organised by the Independent Complaints Mechanism of two European development banks with two local communities over issues related to the legitimacy of the company's land titles, alleged human rights abuses, and a lack of information and legal support for communities in negotiations in its implementation of social projects. However, there is no clear commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights.

139. Commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

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

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

The company has voluntarily participated in a mediation organised by the Independent Complaints Mechanism of two European development banks with two local communities over issues related to the legitimacy of the company's land titles, alleged human rights abuses, and a lack of information and legal support for communities in negotiations in its implementation of social projects. However, there is no clear commitment to respect Indigenous People's and local communities rights.

141. 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.

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

143. 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.

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

145. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

The company reports that it has established a Social Clauses Monitoring Committee and a Conflict Management Committee, both chaired by community members, which facilitate exchange of information on the company's social actions and the resolution of conflict situations that may arise.

146. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

The company has published a complaint handling mechanism on its website.

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

The company has made significant progress by tripling the number of women employees from 4.5% in 2021 to 14.1% in 2024 and established a Women Empowerment Unit to enhance working conditions and expand career opportunities for women within the company.

148. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

The company commits to ensure food security for local communities through assisting with boosting local agriculture and cutting food imports.

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

[Externally verified] The company has committed to using 76 hectares of land to produce quality seeds of rice, maize, cassava, and soybeans which would be made available to farmers in the DRC. It has also established one laboratory for the rapid multiplication of cassava.

150. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company commits to provide essential community services and facilities.

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

The company has published data on the number of healthcare facilities, boreholes, schools and housings constructed and maintained by the company for its surrounding communities.

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

The company commits to provide work opportunities for local communities. As the most significant private sector employer in the country, the company has increased its workforce from 7,500 to 10,000 employees in 2024.

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

154. 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.

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

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

157. 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.

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

159. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

160. Reports gender balance of employees?

0 (14.1%) - As of 2024, 14.1% of its employees are women. The company does not directly report on the number of female employees.

161. Commitment to pay a living wage?

162. Commitment to pay a living wage applies to all suppliers?

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

163. Progress on commitment to pay a living wage?

164. Reporting of salary by gender?

165. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

166. 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.

167. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

168. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

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

170. Commitment to support smallholders?

171. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

172. Percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?

173. Programme to support independent smallholders?

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

175. 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.

176. 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.

177. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

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

178. 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.

179. Proportion of supply from suppliers that is verified as deforestation- and/or conversion-free (DCF)?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

186. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

187. 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.

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

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

190. Whistleblowing procedure?

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

The company reports having a grievance mechanism for all of its stakeholders, including company workers, local communities and associations, to raise their concerns.

192. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?