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 sustainable development 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 ESG Director.

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?

2 (16%) - The company reports that the proportion of management positions held by women is 16%. However, this information is undated.

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?

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

The company states it is working with NGOs including CARITAS, CRAFOP, IGED (Initiation, Gestion d'Environnent Durable et Gestion Defense des Droits Human) and CADAAP.

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

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)?

106500 - The company reports that it controls a total of approximately 106,500 ha of land for oil palm cultivation across three sites. However, this information is undated.

16. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

30000 - The company reports that it has exploited approximately 30,000 ha of land for oil palm cultivation across three sites. However, this information is undated.

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)?

The company does not directly report on total unplanted area.

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

20. Maps of estates/management units?

21. Maps of all scheme smallholders?

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

22. Maps 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?

3 - The company reports that it owns and operates three mills on its website. However, the information reported is undated.

24. Names and locations of company-owned mills?

Each of the company's three mills are located within its three estates. Even though estates are mapped, exact locations of mills cannot be determined. Information is undated.

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

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

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?

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

The company is no longer an RSPO member.

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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 conversion of natural ecosystems applies to all suppliers?

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

57. Commitment to zero deforestation?

The company commits to zero deforestation.

58. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

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

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

60. 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.

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

The company reports using the Global Forest Watch Pro platform with the support of the World Resources Institute to monitor deforestation within its concessions. However, this platform is still in trials and the extent of the area monitored and timeframe is not reported by the company.

62. 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.

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

64. 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.

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

66. 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.

67. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

The company reports that it engages with multiple stakeholders and supports the social development of local communities, regularly undertakes community development projects to support the basic needs of the local population including improving drinking water supply, food security, healthcare and education.

68. Biodiversity policy?

69. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

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

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

The company has identified species of conservation concern in its 2015 HCV Assessment of Mammal and Avifauna Study.

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

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

73. 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.

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

The company commits to no expansion of its plantation without applying the RSPO NPP.

75. 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.

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

[Externally verified] HCV Assessments of Yaligimba, Lokutu and Boteka plantations are available on the company website.

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

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

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

80. 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.

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

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

The company commits to apply the HCS Approach, as defined by the HCS Approach Toolkit as part of RSPO NPP.

83. 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.

84. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

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

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

The company commits to conduct social and environmental impact assessments.

87. 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.

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

[Externally verified] The company's SEIA prepared by Digby Wells Environmental is publicly available.

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

The company only reports a commitment to no planting in peat areas and fragile soils. The depth of peatland is not specified by the company.

90. 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.

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

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

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

The company only reports a commitment to best management practices for soils. A commitment to best management practices for peat is not reported by the company.

94. 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.

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

The company only reports limited examples of best management practices for soil which include the installation of legume ground cover to protect soil from erosion and drought. Evidence of best management practices for peat is not reported by the company.

96. Commitment to zero burning?

The company commits to no burning.

97. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

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

98. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

The company reports using the Global Forest Watch Pro platform with the support of the World Resources Institute to monitor fires within its concessions. However, this platform is still in trials and the evidence for management of fires is not reported by the company.

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

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

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

102. GHG emissions intensity?

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

104. 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.

105. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

106. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

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

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

109. Water use intensity?

110. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

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

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

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

The company reports that it is currently not able to treat the effluents of its factories according to the international standards. However, efforts are being made to limit the quantity of oil and organic matter contained in it via the installation of three phase decanters and sludge tanks.

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

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

115. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

The company only reports a commitment to respect buffer zones around rivers and springs. A clear commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones is not reported by the company.

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

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

The company commits to minimising the use of chemical pesticides (herbicides and insecticides) only.

118. 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.

119. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

The company commits to not use paraquat.

120. 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.

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

The company commits to only use World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides in exceptional circumstances.

122. 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.

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

The company commits to only use Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention chemicals in exceptional circumstances.

124. 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.

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

126. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser use?

The company only reports one example of reducing inorganic fertiliser use which includes windrowing of the remains of vegetation and fronds and putting stalks back into the fields as natural fertilisers.

127. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

The company reports only one example of using an IPM approach which includes installation of nesting boxes and perches to attract predators to fight against rodents.

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

129. Commitment to human rights?

130. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

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

131. Progress on human rights commitment?

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

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

133. Commitment to respect 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.

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

The company commits to respect legal and customary land tenure rights.

135. 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.

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

The company commits to respect FPIC.

137. 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.

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

139. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

The company has community relations managers who attend village meetings, have one on one meetings with community leaders and keep regular communication with communities. In order to implement its stakeholder involvement plan, the company has been working since 2017 with an online information system (IMS) allowing it to record all interactions with its stakeholders. To do this, the company chose Borealis as a partner. The system is used by the social team at each company plantation site. The data is then analysed and reported to define actions to be taken. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

140. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

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

142. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

The company commits to ensure food security for local communities through assisting with community fish and rice farms and encouraging the planting of fruit trees.

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

The company reports multiple examples to mitigate impacts on food security. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

144. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company commits to provide essential community services and facilities.

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

The company is involved in multiple projects to improve schools, healthcare, and water availability. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

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

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

148. 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.

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

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

151. 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.

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

153. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

154. Percentage or number of women employees?

155. Commitment to pay a Living Wage?

156. 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.

157. Progress on commitment to pay a Living Wage?

158. Reporting of salary by gender?

159. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

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

160. 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.

161. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

The company commits to provide collective and individual personal protective equipment and related training.

162. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

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

164. Commitment to support smallholders?

165. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

166. Percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?

167. Programme to support independent smallholders?

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

169. 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.

170. 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.

171. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

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

172. 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.

173. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

180. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

181. 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.

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

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

184. Whistleblowing procedure?

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

186. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?