Press Release: Thailand strengthens shared vision for a sustainable palm oil industry

Palm oil players in Thailand discuss the pathway to drive market transformation and increase uptake of RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil

Bangkok, 29 June 2023: Leading public and private sector entities convened in Bangkok for the first Thailand Sustainable Palm Oil Dialogue (Thai SPOD), held in Pullman Bangkok Hotel G. Themed “Road to Making Sustainable Palm Oil the Norm in Thailand”, the event brought together corporate leaders, NGOs, policy makers and academics who reaffirmed their commitment to drive greater levels of environmental and social sustainability within the sector. Over 100 representatives from across the country’s palm oil supply chain were also in attendance to learn more about RSPO’s latest efforts to prioritise regional uptake of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO).

Organised by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in partnership with the Thailand Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil (TASPO), the one-day event focused its discussions on the roadmap for the industry and realignment of its plans to achieve a globally shared vision to transform the market towards sustainable palm oil. 

“As one of the three primary producers of oil palm in the world, Thailand plays a vital role in the future of a more sustainable industry, not just at a local level but also regionally and globally.  The country has the opportunity to increase the demand and supply of CSPO in line with RSPO standards,” said RSPO Market Transformation Director, Inke van der Sluijis. 

“The partnerships we have forged here during Thai SPOD provide the foundation for the industry to collectively work towards market transformation and to achieve our regional objectives of reaching 6% CSPO uptake in Thailand by 2025,” she added.

As of June 2023, RSPO members in Thailand consists of 84 groups of small-scale and large-scale farmers, of which 21 are RSPO Certified Independent Smallholder groups representing over 6,814 farmers with a certified area of 265,377.56 rai (42,460.40 ha), or 4.36% of the total oil palm plantation area. In addition, 60 groups representing 2,955 smallholder farmers covering 67,782 rai (10,845.12 ha) are in the process of achieving certification, and are expected to be completed by the end of 2023. As a result, Thailand will have 279,406.81 rai (44,705 ha) of RSPO certified sustainable oil palm plantations, accounting for 5.48% of Thailand’s total oil palm plantation area. 

Thailand also has 169 RSPO supply chain members – 11 Consumer Goods Manufacturers, 33 Processors and Traders, 40 Supply Chain Associates and 1 Associated company.

As the first chairman of TASPO, Assanee Malumputh is convinced that there is strong commitment among member organisations to raise production standards to drive the palm oil market towards greater levels of sustainability. 

“This can only happen with the buy-in and cooperation from all sectors,” he said. Assanee is also president of the Palm Oil Industry Club and The Federation of Thai Industries. 

“There is no debate that the world needs sustainable palm oil to supply the increasing demand for palm oil and its derivatives. Our alliance is geared towards influencing policies and the direction of the industry to ensure a production process that does not bring harm to people and the environment.” 

To pave the way for greener practices and greater economic benefit from the palm oil sector, policymakers, businesses and consumers have key roles to play in supporting sustainable palm oil by creating the demand for it. A key solution is to help smallholders adopt more responsible practices, which will make it possible for them to obtain global certification standards and improve access to international markets. 

“Although we are the third largest producer, we have only a very small stake in the world market,” said environment expert at the National Palm Policy Committee, Dr Wijarn Simachaya. He is also Secretary of Thailand Sustainable Palm Oil Network and Director of Thailand Environment Institute. 

“Most of our production is aimed at domestic consumption. This gathering of stakeholders is crucial in building the confidence of palm oil producers in increasing the value of their output.  Together we will be able to build a collaboration that is focused on sustainable practices and entry into premium markets,” he added. 

Thai SPOD has been addressing the current state of the industry as well as efforts by industry players to bolster greater growth in the sustainable palm oil industry.

About TASPO:

Thailand Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil (TASPO) was initiated on October 31, 2022, by the merger of five prominent founding members representing stakeholders in the production and distribution of palm oil and utilising the country’s oil palm, consisting of the National Farmers Council, Palm Oil Mills Association, Palm Oil Refinery Association, Biodiesel Producers Association, and the Oleochemical Producers Trade Association. It is supported by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Thailand Environment Institute.
TASPO intends and is determined to promote and support the parties involved in the oil palm production value chain by joining forces or cooperating in developing the potential and strength of members and networks in producing and utilising palm oil and palm oil for sustainable trade and consumption. To confirm that the Thai palm oil industry is ready to move towards sustainable development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the country’s BCG economic model and in line with global trends. as well as increase economic growth rate by reducing social inequality and creating the balance of the ecosystem and cope with climate change to achieve concrete results. 

About RSPO:

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was formed in 2004 with the objective of promoting the growth and use of sustainable oil palm products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders. RSPO is a not-for-profit, international, membership organisation that unites stakeholders from the different sectors of the palm oil industry including oil palm producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs, and social or developmental NGOs.
This multi-stakeholder representation is mirrored in the governance structure of RSPO such that seats in the Board of Governors, Steering Committees and Working Groups are fairly allocated to each sector. In this way, RSPO lives out the philosophy of the “roundtable” by giving equal rights to each stakeholder group, facilitating traditionally adversarial stakeholders in working together to reach decisions by consensus, and achieving RSPO’s shared vision of making sustainable palm oil the norm.
The headquarters of the association is in Zurich, Switzerland, while the secretariat is currently based in Kuala Lumpur with satellite offices in Jakarta, London, Zoetermeer, Beijing, Bogotá and New York.

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