Uptake Targets for Shared Responsibility for 2024 (Year 5) and Shared Responsibility Verification Manual

As a global partnership, all RSPO members share the responsibility and commitment to make palm sustainable. 

In line with this collective commitment, the RSPO Shared Responsibility Requirements and Implementation document was endorsed by the RSPO Board of Governors (BoG) on 31 October 2019. Upon this endorsement, the Shared Responsibility Working Group (SRWG) was created and mandated to work on the practical implementation of the SR requirements. 

Shared Responsibility (SR) for downstream actors translates into a sustainable supply chain by adopting sustainable policies and plans, demonstrating accountability, allocating resources for implementation, and a collective effort to create a higher demand for certified sustainable oil palm products. 

Shared Responsibility Uptake Targets

Annually, the SRWG makes a recommendation to the Market Development Standing Committee (MDSC) and BoG for the percentage point increase of certified uptake by supply chain members as per the SR requirement on uptake. Consequently, the RSPO BoG has recently endorsed the following uptake targets for Year 2024 (Year 5):

These percentages represent the increase in certified palm oil products uptake that the members (P&Ts, CGMs and Retailers) have to show in order to comply with the SR uptake performance. This performance is included in the average score that is shown and updated yearly (every September) in the SR Scorecard website. 

Given the current tightness of the CSPKO market, there will not be any uptake targets for CSPKO in 2024. However, members are encouraged to continue increasing their sourcing of CSPKO volumes.

The percentage point uptake targets are applicable to existing members and new Ordinary members (joining from 5 September 2023 onwards) from the starting point of membership. Supply chain actors should meet their uptake targets by means of physical RSPO Certified volumes (Identity Preserved, Segregated or Mass Balance) or by buying RSPO Credits when it is not possible to buy physical certified products. 

The RSPO Factsheet on calculation for yearly Shared Responsibility Uptake Target volume includes an example of how to calculate the baseline and the uptake targets in volumes. New members from 5 September 2023 will be assessed on their uptake target performance upon the submission of their first mandatory Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP), whereby their reported volumes in their membership application will be used to calculate their baseline.

Shared Responsibility Verification Manual 

In addition, the RSPO BoG has recently endorsed the Shared Responsibility Verification Manual. The SR Verification Manual was created with the goal of providing information and guidance to RSPO Members who are eligible and accountable to comply with SR on the reporting and verification process, incentives and sanctions related to SR performance. 

There are no normative requirements for RSPO Members in this document. The SR requirements are included in the Annex 1 of the Shared Responsibility Requirements and Implementation document. 

Through this SR Verification Manual, members are made aware and informed on the platforms where they shall report their SR implementation (i.e., ACOP and MyRSPO) as well as the verification methodology. The SR Unit annually monitors the SR performance of the eligible RSPO Members and updates the SR Scorecard every September. 

The SR Verification manual also includes the incentives and sanctions to be implemented as the result of the SR performance. These are focused on shifting behaviour with an emphasis on positive reinforcement rather than responding to infractions. Sanctions are implemented using a stepwise approach and members have the chance to implement corrective measures before the hardest sanction is implemented.

What’s next?

The Market Transformation Division (i.e., SR Unit and MT regional teams) is planning a series of regional webinars to socialise and discuss the topics presented above, among other relevant SR matters. We will be reaching out to all the members regarding this initiative shortly. We strongly encourage you to join us in your respective regional webinar to address any doubts you may have. 
If you have any questions on the Verification Manual and/or uptake targets, or would like  to have support with calculating your uptake target volume, please contact us at [email protected]