Consumer demands for sustainability in palm oil are shifting. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the world’s leading certification system for sustainable palm oil, commissioned Daemeter to conduct an independent study to define key market demands and describe how RSPO is addressing them. 

 

Daemeter surveyed hundreds of articles related to palm oil sustainability published in the past year in eight leading online media and found that deforestation, GHG emissions, and biodiversity topped the list of issues most frequently. Social issues, including safeguards for Indigenous People and human rights, were also highlighted, alongside certification processes and traceability. 

 

The study found the RSPO standard and supporting systems speak to all six issues, and the approach meets market demands for some issues but not all. The RSPO is aware of issues on which delivery lags behind demands, and has committed to continue strengthening systems and improving performance. Most urgently needed are published studies to demonstrate and monitor effectiveness and impact of the RSPO. 

 

To read and download the summary results of the study, see here. Daemeter also prepared a 5-minute video to highlight the study, which you can watch here.