Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd

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.

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

The company has published a sustainable palm oil policy which applies to all suppliers.

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

The company has a Group Sustainability Committee (GSC), led by the Group Chief Executive Officer.

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

The company states "The Sustainability Governance structure comprises of the Board of Directors (BOD), Group Management Committee (GMC) and Group Sustainability Committee (GSC).".

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

0 (0%) - The company reports the gender of each senior management team member. 100% are male.

6. Percentage or number of women board members?

3 (25%) - The company reports a total of three female board members as of 2021.

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

[Externally verified] Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA).

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

The company takes part in various meetings and training sessions to support MSPO certification processes and uptake, as well as collaborates with both governmental bodies and universities in various research projects relating to palm oil sustainability, such as the company collaborating with Native Customary Rights (NCR) to elevate living standards.

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

Integrated Annual and Sustainability Report 2021.

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

The company's annual and sustainability report for 2021 is prepared in accordance with GRI standards Core option.

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

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

12. Climate risks assessment available?

13. Lists countries and operations?

122,827 - The company owns palm oil estates, mills and refineries in Malaysia (Sarawak).

14. Lists countries sourcing from?

The company provides a map showing the location of third party mills.

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

122,827 - The company's total land area managed for oil palm is 122,827 ha.

16. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

86,982 - The company's total oil palm planted area is 86,982 ha.

17. Scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?

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

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

30 - The company's total land held for future development is 30 ha.

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

210 - A peat swamp forest of 210 ha located in Tinbarap Estate had been designated for conservation since 2015. However, data is between two to five years old.

20. Maps of estates/management units?

Some of the company's concessions are available on GFW. A company webpage lists the addresses of its estates, but these do not allow the exact locations or boundaries of the estates to be determined.

21. Maps of scheme smallholders?

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

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

23. Number of company-owned mills?

7 - The company operates seven mills.

24. Names and locations of company-owned mills?

The company has reported the names and locations of owned mills in its annual report and GFW.

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

The company reports that all mills source from company-owned and third-party operations.

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

The company reports that 61% of FFB is sourced from company-owned estates and the remaining from third-party operations.

27. Number of third party supplying mills?

36 - The company has 36 supplying mills as shown on the map available on the company's website.

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

The company provides a map showing all 36 third-party supplying mills.

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

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

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 it is not applicable to this company.

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

The company has already achieved 100% traceability to mill level.

33. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level?

The company has already achieved 100% traceability to mill level.

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

The company has already achieved 100% traceability to plantation level.

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

The company reports all SOPB palm oil mills are 100% traceable to the plantation level.

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

The company reports that it is working with third-party mills in collaboration with an independent body to help its suppliers to achieve full Traceability to Plantation (TTP) complemented by the MSPO Trace System. The company reports 41% TTP for the Group's entire palm oil supply chain is traceable to plantation level but does not provide a separate figure for third-party supplying mills.

37. Publishes traceability data at refinery level?

The company only publishes percentage of FFB supply traceable to mill level.

38. Publishes traceability data at crusher level?

The company only publishes percentage of FFB supply traceable to mill level.

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

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 it is not applicable to this company.

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 it is not applicable to this company.

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

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 it is not applicable to this company.

53. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?

[Externally verified] The company has achieved 100% MSPO certification of its estates, mills, and processing facilities.

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

[Externally verified] ISCC.

55. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

56. Commitment to zero deforestation?

The company commits to zero deforestation.

57. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to zero deforestation.

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

The company defines deforestation as no development of HCV, HCS areas, and specifies any deforestation/conversion past January 2019 will not be accepted.

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

The company defines deforestation for suppliers as no development of HCV, HCS areas and specifies any deforestation/conversion past January 2019 will not be accepted in supplier operations.

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

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

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?

The company investigates grievances pertaining to deforestation reported via its grievance system and reports figures for these instances individually, however, a total figure for non-compliant deforestation could not be reliably calculated.

64. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion?

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

66. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

67. Biodiversity policy?

The company commits to environmental preservation through biodiversity conservation. No target found. Hence only partial points.

68. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

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

The company reports biodiversity studies on woody trees, birds, mammals, and fishes have been conducted in Tinbarap Conservation Area (TCA). However, the information is self-reported.

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

The company reports an ongoing project in collaboration with Sarawak Forestry Corporation, to rehabilitate its Tinbarap Conservation Forest. However, the information is self-reported.

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

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

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

The company commits to conduct HCV assessments.

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

The company commits all suppliers to conduct HCV assessment.

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

The company reports it has conducted HCV assessments for all its post-2005 planting but they are not publicly available.

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

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

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 to only use licensed HCV assessors but does not refer to the ALS specifically.

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?

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

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

The company commits to apply the HCS Approach, as defined by the HCS Approach Toolkit.

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

The company commits all suppliers to apply the HCS Approach, as defined by the HCS Approach Toolkit.

83. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

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

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

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

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

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

The company commits to no planting on peat of any depth.

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

The company commits all suppliers to no planting on peat of any depth.

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

44.3% - The company has reported 44.3% of its plantations are on peatland.

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

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

The company commits to good agricultural practices for soils and peat.

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

The company commits all suppliers to good agricultural practices for soils and peat.

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

The company provides examples on its website and in MSPO audit reports.

95. Commitment to zero burning?

The company commits to zero burning.

96. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to zero burning.

97. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

The company states that firefighting sessions are conducted on an annual basis but does not provide any additional examples of management and monitoring activities.

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?

The company commits to reduce GHG emissions by 35% by the year 2023, however the target is not based on intensity.

101. GHG emissions intensity?

The company reports GHG emission intensity for plantation (0.08), Mill (0.19), SOP Edible Oils (0.04), and SOP Green Energy (0.26) in T CO2 eq/MT product.

102. GHG emissions from land use change?

103. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

The company reports progress in GHG intensity but figures have not improved across all operating units.

104. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

ISCC 205 according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

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

The company reports only one mill has biogas capture. The installations at the remaining four POMs are expected to be completed by 2023.

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

107. Water use intensity?

538,398 - The company reports the ratio of water consumption/FFB processed as 1.62 in 2021 however the units of measurement are not clear.

108. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

The company reports the ratio of water consumption/FFB processed from 2019 to 2021 however the units of measurement are not clear and the figures are increasing over time.

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

The company reports that its water quality was within legal limits for both BOD and COD in 2020 and 2021.

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

The company reports the average BOD levels of its mills, refineries, and bio-diesel plants however, it does not specify the required legal limits for BOD.

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

The company states that POME is treated before discharge.

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

113. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

The company states it has a Protection of Riparian Buffer Zone and Slope Policy (2016) for the plantations to maintain buffer zones, however, it only specifies along "main rivers", and not all waterways.

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

The company provides photographs of its buffer zones with relevant signage in its annual report and further evidence is available in the company's MSPO audit report.

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

The company has a general commitment to the reduction of chemical use, but does not refer to pesticides and fertilisers specifically.

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

117. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

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

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

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

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

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

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

124. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser use?

The company states that "residues such as pruned fronds, empty fruit bunches (EFB) and mill by-products were recycled as topsoil enrichment and organic fertilizer to reduce the use of chemicals, fertilizer, greenhouse gaseous (GHG) emissions and to improve soil fertility". The information is not externally verified.

125. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

The company reports that it implements IPM such as planting beneficial plants like Antigonon Leptopus, also known as Mexican creepers which helps to attract predators and also plays an important role in regulating and keeping control of the bagworm population in oil palm plantations.

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

[Externally verified] Evidence can be found in MSPO audit reports.

127. Commitment to human rights?

The company commits to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

128. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

129. Progress on human rights commitment?

The company reports that "internal and external trainings were conducted at all operational units, non-operational units' as well as for security staff. The scope of training included company policies such as Social and Community Policies relevant to Human Rights". No further details are given.

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

The company recognises the rights of indigenous and local communities but does not refer to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or to the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (no. 169).

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

The company recognises the rights of indigenous and local communities in relation to FPIC only and does not refer to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or to the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (no. 169). The company's policy applies to suppliers.

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

The company commits to respect legal and customary land rights but only in relation to FPIC.

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

The company commits to respect legal and customary land rights but only in relation to FPIC. The company's policy applies to suppliers.

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

The company commits to respect FPIC.

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

The company commits all suppliers to respect FPIC.

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

The company's FPIC process is publicly available.

137. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

The company mentions conducting workshops, meetings, seminars, and dialogue sessions with smallholders, outgrowers, and local communities in order to strengthen relationships with the Group, but no further details were given.

138. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

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?

142. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company commits to provide essential community services and facilities.

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

The company's Vision Care Project involves eye checks for local communities that did not have access to eye care services, and the company has provided disaster relief to local communities affected by floods and fire.

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

The company commits to provide work opportunities for local communities.

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?

The company only refers to no child labour, no forced labour, freedom of association, and collective bargaining in its Oil Palms Sustainability Policy which applies to suppliers, but this does not cover all of the ILO conventions.

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

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

The company commits to prevent employment-related discrimination based on gender.

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

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

The company reports it gives training on an annual basis on its sexual harassment policy and has also established a sexual/gender committee at each operational unit to address issues but no further details are given.

151. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

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

152. Percentage or number of women employees?

2,514 (33.46%) - The company has a total of 2,514 female employees.

153. Commitment to pay a Decent Living wage?

The company only commits to paying the minimum wage.

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

159. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

[Externally verified] The company provides PPE and states training on protective equipment is reinforced following fatal accidents. The provision of PPE can be found in externally verified MSPO reports.

160. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

For 2021, the company reports a lost-time injury rate (number of lost-time injuries per one million man-hours worked) for its plantations (3.65), milling (4.50), and downstream operations (1.67).

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

0 - The company reports no fatalities in 2021.

162. Commitment to support smallholders?

The company commits to supporting smallholders however the types of smallholders are not specified.

163. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

164. Percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?

165. Programme to support independent smallholders?

The company provided training to 350 participants on the application of technology in oil palm plantations. However, it is unclear if this is an ongoing program or a one-off engagement. Hence only partial points.

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

350 - The company provided training to 350 participants in 2021.

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

The company has a Supplier Engagement Procedure.

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

62 - The company states that 134 senior representatives from 71 major plantation companies, refiners and suppliers attended the Inaugural Dialogue on SOPB Oil Palms Sustainability Policy 2019. The company also held a workshop on traceability and supply chain monitoring with suppliers in 2020 which was attended by 62 sustainability personnel and operational heads from 25 palm product suppliers.

169. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

The company reports in its Supplier Engagement Procedure that if a supplier fails to comply with the Sustainability Policy, the engagement process will be initiated and a follow-up assessment will be carried out within six months to track progress.

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

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

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?

The company reports a one-off workshop for suppliers relating to compliance 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 has a Code of Business Conduct & Ethics policy.

179. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption applies to all 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 has a whistleblowing policy.

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

The company reports that grievances can be lodged through a whistleblowing mechanism.

184. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?

The company has a grievance list including details of complaints and grievances disclosed.