First RSPO IP-Certified Sustainable Palm Oil Shipment to China Led by Yili Group and Yihai Kerry

Asia’s leading dairy brand Yili Group in partnership with China’s largest palm oil trader Yihai Kerry spearheaded the first shipment of RSPO-Identity Preserved (IP) Certified sustainable palm oil to China, marking a milestone in advancing the country’s sustainability agenda.

Shanghai, 22 November 2024 – Representing a significant milestone for the Chinese market, the very first shipment of RSPO-Identity Preserved (IP) arrived at the Shanghai port today. This pioneering effort was spearheaded by Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (Yili Group), Asia’s leading dairy brand and one of the top five globally, in partnership with Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd (Yihai Kerry), the largest palm oil trader in China under the RSPO group membership of Wilmar.

A total of 750 tonnes of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, certified under the Identity Preserved (IP) supply chain model, marks the initial batch of Yili’s palm oil procurement for 2024-2025. The IP model ensures that certified palm oil is kept separate from conventional supplies throughout the supply chain, guaranteeing its traceability and sustainability. This delivery is particularly notable as it follows the August 2024 certification of Shanghai Kerry Food Industries (under Wilmar), making it the first site in China to obtain RSPO-IP certification.

Palm oil is a crucial ingredient in Yili’s ice cream production, with the company having consumed 35,000 tonnes in 2023, of which 360 tonnes (1.03%) were RSPO-certified under the Mass Balance (MB) model. This latest development signifies Yili’s drive to expand its use of RSPO-IP certified palm oil and underscores the group’s commitment to a deforestation-free supply chain by 2030.

“We are very proud of this milestone achievement, not just for Yili Group, but also for the Chinese market as it represents a major step in realising China’s commitment to sustainability,” said the spokesperson from Yili Group. “By sourcing RSPO Certified sustainable palm oil, Yili is demonstrating our dedication to responsible sourcing and combating deforestation within our supply chains.”

Yili’s 2023 Sustainability Report outlines its goal to increase RSPO-IP Certified palm oil by 50 tonnes annually, with a target of purchasing 650 tonnes by 2030. Yili has also committed to eliminating deforestation in its palm oil, soy, and pulp and paper supply chains by 2030.

Zhang Daopeng, Manager of Public Affairs Department from Yihai Kerry commented, “As China’s leading palm oil trader, Yihai Kerry is dedicated to setting an example of best practice. With RSPO IP Certification achieved, we are opening the door to stronger partnerships with industry leaders in pursuit of shared sustainability goals.”


Driving China’s Uptake of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil

Yhai Kerry Group receives China’s first shipment of RSPO Identity Preserved certified sustainable palm oil

The arrival of this shipment signals a positive step forward for China in increasing its uptake of RSPO Certified palm oil. The growing commitment among Chinese companies to sustainability is clear, and this development is expected to accelerate demand for sustainable palm oil in the Chinese market.

China is the world’s second-largest palm oil importer. Currently, RSPO has over 440 members in China, reflecting a steady increase in engagement across the industry. The commitments to sourcing CSPO products into China also featured prominently at the recently concluded RT2024. Yili Group signed an additional sustainable sourcing agreement with Yihai Kerry, demonstrating its ambition to build a global green value chain for palm oil and enhanced partnership.

Joseph D’Cruz, CEO of RSPO, praised the milestone, stating, “The arrival of the first RSPO-IP Certified shipment in China is a significant step forward in advancing China’s sustainability agenda. It reflects the growing leadership and commitment of companies like Yili Group and Yihai Kerry in supporting a responsible and equitable palm oil supply chain. RSPO remains dedicated to working alongside Chinese enterprises as they take bold steps towards achieving their sustainability goals.”

This historic shipment demonstrates the collective efforts of industry leaders to align with China’s evolving sustainability priorities, marking the beginning of a new chapter for sustainable palm oil in the country.

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About RSPO:

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Formed in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that unites members from across the palm oil value chain, including oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.

As a partnership for progress and positive impact, the RSPO facilitates global change to make the production and consumption of palm oil sustainable. To inspire change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To make progress, we catalyse collaboration. To provide assurance, we set the standards of certification.

The RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with main offices in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States.

About Yili Group:

Yili ranks among the Global Dairy Top 5 and has been No. 1 in Asia for 11 consecutive years. Yili is also China’s largest dairy producer, offering the largest number of products. Thanks to its exceptional product quality, leading service capabilities and comprehensive capacity for sustainable development, Yili is well-respected and received among global event organisers, national and local governments and the public. Yili was selected to serve as the exclusive supplier of dairy products and services at major international events, including the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, the G20 2016 China, the 2019 7th CISM Military World Games, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, and the Asian Games Hangzhou 2023. Yili has also become a partner of the World Economic Forum, the Boao Forum for Asia, and the World Internet Conference.

About Yihai Kerry :

Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd.is an important agricultural and food products processing enterprise in China. The Company Founder is Mr Robert Kuok, a well-known patriotic overseas Chinese, and his nephew Mr Kuok Khoon Hong.

Till now, Yihai Kerry has over 30,000 employees, 80 strategic locations in China with several plants under construction in new locations. It is mainly involved in industries such as oilseed crushing, edible oil refining, specialty fats, oleochemicals, processing of corn, wheat and soybean, sustainable multi-stage processing of rice, food and beverage, grain and oil technology R&D.

Famous brands under Yihai Kerry include “Arawana” “Olivoila” “Orchid” “Wonder Farm” “Neptune” “Fengyuan” “Golden Delicious” “Reyland” “Jiejin 100” , etc. Its products cover fields like small package edible oil, rice, flour, fine dried noodles, rice noodles, soymilk, special grains and oils for the catering industry, food raw and supplementary materials, and oleochemicals. The Group has also established a distribution network with wide outlets, point and sphere integration, and unimpeded channels in the country, to serve the consumers comprehensively.

Looking ahead, Yihai Kerry will continue to respond to the industrial and economic policies of the state, exert own advantages in brand, scale, R&D and talent, etc., and adhere to the R&D philosophy of nutrition, health and safety; it will combine the latest research results of food and nutrition and other disciplines in the country and abroad with the dietary characteristics of the Chinese people, provide on an ongoing basis the people with quality grain and oil products that are more nutritional, healthier and safer, serve the country by developing industry, and contribute to the growth of the grain and oil industry in China.

For further information, kindly contact [email protected]

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新闻稿

首单RSPO认证（IP级别）的可持续棕榈油抵达中国，益海嘉里集团携手伊利集团助力绿色供应链转型

上海，2024年11月22日—第一批RSPO认证（IP级别）的可持续棕榈油（CSPO）于11月22日顺利抵达上海港，标志着中国市场迎来一个重要的里程碑。这一开创性的举措由中国最大的食用油和棕榈油贸易商益海嘉里金龙鱼食品集团股份有限公司（以下简称“益海嘉里集团”）和亚洲乳业领军企业、全球乳业五强的内蒙古伊利实业集团股份有限公司（以下简称“伊利集团”）与合作发起。

此次到港的可持续棕榈油总量为750吨，代表着伊利集团在2024-2025年度采购中首批采用身份保持（Identity Preserved, IP）供应链模式认证的可持续棕榈油。这也是中国市场上首单RSPO IP级别认证的可持续棕榈油。

IP模式确保经认证的可持续棕榈油来自于单一认证的棕榈油压榨厂和供应基地，并在整个供应链中严格分离其他压榨厂和供应基地的棕榈油，从而保证其可追溯性和可持续性。这是RSPO供应链认证体系中最高级别、最为严格的认证模式。

棕榈油是伊利集团冰淇淋生产的重要原料，2023年的总消费量达到3.5万吨，其中360吨获得了RSPO混合模式（Mass Balance, MB）的供应链认证。此次最新采购进展标志着伊利集团在持续加大可持续棕榈油消费和提升RSPO认证级别方面的努力，助力实现到2030年零毁林供应链的承诺。

“我们对这一里程碑式的成就感到自豪，这不仅对伊利集团，对整个中国市场的可持续发展承诺都是重要的一步。”伊利集团代表表示，“通过采购RSPO-IP级别认证的可持续棕榈油，伊利展示了我们对负责任采购的承诺，提升了供应链透明度和可追溯性，并有助于遏制供应链的毁林现象。”

伊利集团在2023年度可持续发展报告中提出了其负责任采购的目标，即从2024年开始，每年将RSPO-IP认证棕榈油的采购量增加50吨，计划到2030年达到650吨。伊利还承诺到2030年在其棕榈油、大豆、纸浆和纸张供应链中实现零毁林。

此次交付的卖方——益海嘉里旗下的上海嘉里食品工业有限公司已于2024年8月获得RSPO-IP模式认证，成为中国第一家获得该认证的工厂。首单IP模式认证的棕榈油到港标志着中国在增加对RSPO认证可持续棕榈油的采购方面迈出了积极的一步。越来越多中国企业对可持续发展的承诺将加速市场对可持续棕榈油的需求。

中国是全球第二大棕榈油进口国和第三大消费国，目前，RSPO在中国拥有超过440家成员，反映出市场参与度稳步增长。在最近召开的RSPO全球圆桌会议（RT2024）上，中国市场采购认证可持续棕榈油（CSPO）产品的承诺和积极进展也备受关注。在会上，伊利集团与益海嘉里集团签署了可持续棕榈油战略采购协议，进一步展示了构建全球棕榈油绿色价值链和增强合作伙伴关系的雄心。

益海嘉里张道鹏表示“作为中国领先的棕榈油贸易商和加工商，益海嘉里集团致力于树立负责任采购和可持续贸易的最佳实践榜样。益海嘉里上海工厂获得RSPO-IP认证后，表明集团具备供应IP级别可持续棕榈油的能力。我们将与行业领导者及各相关方建立更紧密的合作关系，以实现共同的可持续发展目标。”

RSPO首席执行官约瑟夫·德克鲁兹（Joseph D’Cruz）对此里程碑式的成就高度认可，他指出：“首批获得RSPO IP认证的可持续棕榈油抵达中国，是推动中国可持续发展议程的重要一步。这反映了伊利集团和益海嘉里等领先企业在支持负责任和公平的棕榈油供应链方面日益增强的领导力和承诺。RSPO将继续深化与中国企业合作，为实现其可持续发展目标贡献力量。”

在绿色发展理念的引领下，首单经RSPO-IP模式认证的棕榈油到港中国彰显了行业领袖们的集体努力，标志着中国可持续棕榈油市场转型迎来了新篇章。