Preferred by Nature now offers RSPO Principles and Criteria certification
Preferred by Nature has been approved to conduct Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Principles and Criteria (RSPO P&C) audits, expanding our services to support sustainable palm oil sourcing. This certification addresses critical environmental and social impacts, making it the global benchmark for responsible palm oil production.
This milestone enables us to directly assess palm oil producers against the stringent RSPO P&C requirements. Prior to this, we have already certified businesses against RSPO’s Supply Chain Standard, and now, we can offer comprehensive support throughout the entire production process.
Recently, Preferred by Nature conducted an RSPO P&C assessment for a palm oil producer, Tubtim & Chaiyo Palm Oil Community Enterprise Network, in Thailand. Established in October 2022, Tubtim & Chaiyo is a group of smallholders focused on solving issues related to oil palm productivity and production costs. The group has been an RSPO member since August 2023.
The assessment was witnessed by Assurance Services International (ASI), which evaluated Preferred by Nature’s performance in implementing our certification system according to all relevant RSPO and accreditation requirements. ASI observed the audit team to ensure that their methods, findings and conclusions were adequate and competent. Following this successful assessment and completion of our accreditation, Preferred by Nature issued the first RSPO P&C certificate to Tubtim & Chaiyo.
The RSPO P&C certification is a set of principles, criteria, indicators and guidance, applicable before, during and after any land is developed for oil palm plantings for palm oil growers and millers to achieve sustainable production practices. This certification addresses pressing issues such as deforestation, societal injustices, and the environmental and social impacts of palm oil production, making it a cornerstone for responsible palm oil production.
Diving deeper into the certification
The RSPO P&C certification applies to all production-level companies, including mills and growers, except those defined as independent mills under specific RSPO standards. It also covers immediate inputs for production, such as seeds, chemicals and water, and social impacts related to on-farm labour and community relations.
Highly sought after by conscientious consumers and businesses dedicated to responsible sourcing, the RSPO P&C certification ensures compliance with both RSPO standards and applicable local laws, with the higher or stricter standard always prevailing.
In October 2022, the RSPO initiated its five-year review cycle of the 2018 RSPO P&C and the 2019 RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard, as required by the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL). The objective of this process is to review and streamline the production standard to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness in demonstrating that palm oil produced and sold as RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) is credible and inclusive.
This review process involved public consultations, with the first round held in November 2022 and the second in June 2023. Stakeholders from all seven RSPO membership sectors participated through in-person and virtual workshops conducted globally. These sectors include growers, processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental NGOs, and social NGOs.
A major focus for this latest review cycle has been improving the auditability and implementability of the RSPO Standards across all grower categories. Highlights of the latest revisions include equity, living wages and living conditions, forced labour, and occupational health and safety.
The RSPO Secretariat has now redrafted the RSPO P&C and ISH Standards and proposed the initial draft of RSPO Certification Systems. These drafts were made available for Stakeholder Consultation over a 45-day period from 5 July to 20 August 2024.
Work with us
As an RSPO Certification Body, Preferred by Nature is prepared to support companies and organisations on their RSPO certification journey. With 30 years of experience in responsible sourcing, including outsourced processes and multi-site and group certification, we help businesses find the right type of certification they need.
Our involvement with the palm oil industry extends beyond certification to include risk assessments. We operate globally, including in Asia, Africa and Latin America, where oil palm is mostly grown today.
Ready to join the movement for sustainable palm oil? Partner with us to ensure your palm oil production aligns with globally recognised standards of sustainability.
For more information:
- Visit our RSPO service page
- Download our info sheet
