Plantation Leader Awarded RSPO Certification

To qualify for the RSPO certification, IOI participated in thorough sustainability audits of its Pamol Sabah Mill and the surrounding six estates namely, Meliau Estate, Bayok Estate, Nangoh Estate, Rungus Estate, Tindakon Estate and Ulu Estate to ensure that the plantation fulfilled each of the RSPO’s Principles and Criteria.

12/02/09 IOI Corporation Berhad (IOI) has announced that its Pamol Estates Grouping in Sabah was awarded the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Compliance Certification for its sustainable palm oil production in February 2009.

To qualify for the RSPO certification, IOI participated in thorough sustainability audits of its Pamol Sabah Mill and the surrounding six estates namely, Meliau Estate, Bayok Estate, Nangoh Estate, Rungus Estate, Tindakon Estate and Ulu Estate to ensure that the plantation fulfilled each of the RSPO’s Principles and Criteria.

As a leader in the plantation industry and a responsible organisation, IOI has been committed towards improving the sustainability of its substantial palm oil production from the start. The company has been employing good agricultural practices such as zero burning policy, integrated pest management, land terracing, recycling of biomass, reducing fossil fuel consumption and other measures. This has resulted in IOI achieving much higher than industry-average yields at reasonable costs. Ultimately, IOI’s goal is to show that efficient and successful production of palm oil and social and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

IOI is one of the founding members of the RSPO, an association created by organisations carrying out their activities in and around the entire supply chain for palm oil to promote growth and use of sustainable palm oil though cooperation with the supply chain and open dialogue with its stakeholders. The RSPO has brought together members of this global industry and has set the standards for sustainable production of palm oil engraved in eight key Principles and 39 Criteria.

With the encouragement and impetus from its first RSPO certification, IOI is actively pursuing certification audits on its other estates and mills in Malaysia with a view of obtaining RSPO certification for all its estates and mills in Malaysia by the middle of year 2011.