Sustainability
Our traceability
As a part of our public commitment to increase transparency in our supply chain, since 2017 Lipsa publicly discloses the traceability details of our palm oil and derivatives supply chain.
In H1 2023 we reached 77% traceability to the plantation.
Find below our H1 2023 mill list.
Supply chain schema
Grievances
LIPSA is committed to respond and take action against any violation of its NDPE Policy detected in its supply chain. Our grievance procedure and decision trees allow us, jointly with the collaboration of our suppliers, to correct any bad practices detected.
Public grievance list
LIPSA investigates all grievances received jointly with the commitment of its direct suppliers and its sustainability partner, the Earthworm Foundation. Below are the grievances we are involved in:
Latest update:
12/06/2023
GRUPO HAME
| Data received: | 19/06/2018 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Human Rights violations. Corruption Environment pollution (river contamination). |
| Grievance source: | Various NGO's |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | We are currently monitoring REPSA jointly with the help of Earthoworm Foundation. We conducted a field visit in November 2018 and implemented montly check-in calls with REPSA to monitor their progress. REPSA demonstrated their commitment and have several work streams in place to address all the environmental, governance and social issues. REPSA are periodically publishing the Progress Report about labour, human rights, environment and transparency. We reduced the frequency of our monitoring to punctual check-in. |
GENTING PLANTATION
| Data received: | 26/08/2019 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Orangutans killed in its plantations, recent 2019 deforestation in Genting concessions and labour issues. |
| Grievance source: | Various NGO's: Migthly Earth Reports, Greenpeace |
| Status: | Suspended |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | Lipsa has decided to suspent Genting plantations of our purchase list as there is not alignment with our principles and NDPE Policy. We are enging and monitoring our direct supplier who is currently engaging Genting Plantations. |
SAMLING / GLEANEALY
| Data received: | 26/08/2019 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Samling and their palm oil company Glenealy have been campaigned against by NGOs for years for widespread NDPE violations in multiple countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and PNG, Liberia, and Cambodia. |
| Grievance source: | Various NGO's: Migthly Earth Reports, Greenpeace |
| Status: | Suspended |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | After engaging with our direct supplier and revised the case Lipsa has decided to suspend Samling/Gleanealy plantations of our purchase list as there is not alignment with our principles and NDPE Policy. |
INDUSTRIAS CHIQUIBUL
| Data received: | 29/09/2022 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Violations to labour rights and an ecocide related to the pollution of a local river. |
| Grievance source: | CONDEG (National Council of Displaced Guatemalans) |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | There have been several complaints done by CONDEG to the Guatemalan government: These complaints were mainly related to labour practices of Chiquibul constituted indicators of human trafficking and forced labour and other severe forms of labour exploitation: demanding excessive work goals, excessive use of contractors to avoid giving workers the full protection of permanent contracts, no payment of minimum wage, abusive hiring practices, child labour, right to defend human rights, etc. One complaint about ecocide in July 2019. The pollution of the stream that connects with the San Román River, which feeds into the Salinas River and to remediate the communities affected. Lipsa is indirectly connected with Industrias Chiquibul. We have engaged our direct supplier with this case. Industrias Chiquibul, in their public response to this engagement, states that they are in compliance with laws and regulations established in Guatemalan law. They also stated that the last complaint in relation to the exploitation of indigenous women are dismissed by the labor ministry as it seems the case lacks supporting evidence. Chiquibul also reiterates they will continue complying with current labor regulations and furthermore they have been recently certified by ISCC EU on March 2022. Lipsa still has open the case and will engage directly with Industrias Chiquibul and our tier one supplier to investigate the status of the complaints shared by CONDEG and be able to have all the information needed to make decisions. |
FGV HOLDING BERHARD
| Data received: | 01/10/2020 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Human rights violations and violations of principles and fair labour practices. |
| Grievance source: | Mighty Earth, International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), US border and customs and RSPO |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | Since October 2020 we are engaging FGV through our tier-one supplier: On 30 September 2020, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) of palm oil and palm oil products made by FGV at all U.S ports of entry. In FGV has issued a statement in response on 1 October 2020 that clarifies that the issues raised on 30 September 2020 by the CBP have been the subject of public discourse since 2015 and that the company has taken several steps to correct the situation, which is well-documented in the public domain. On 15th October 2020, FGV issued another statement that an audit from a credible, unbiased, third-party auditing firm will be done shortly, after a suggestion from CBP on the revocation of the WRO. In addition, Fair Labor Association (FLA) issued a progress report on FGV and RSPO published a statement on this issue too. In November 2020, FGV adopted its revised Group Sustainability Policy (GSP) in which provisions on labour were strengthened based on the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct. In February and March 2021, the FLA conducted a second validation exercise to assess FGV’s progress in implementing its action plan. FGV has established a Committee on Gender Equality and Women empowerment in February 2021. These initiatives are part of FGV’s efforts to improve its labour practices and address concerns raised by the US CBP in relation to the 11 International Labor Organisations (ILO) indicators of forced labour. On 22 March 2022, RSPO closed the complaint and proceed to Post Complaint Monitoring. FGV continued to carry out corrective actions on the ground and continued to provide a periodic update to the Complaints Panel via the Risk Unit of the RSPO Secretariat. The complaints Panel also takes note of the audit report that was produced by the Certification Body following a series of verification audits carried out against FGV in 2021. FGV had discussions with their US-based legal counsel and has appointed ELEVATE as the independent auditing firm to conduct an assessment of FGV's operations against the 11 ILO Indicators of forced labour. FGV targeted to submit the assessment result by Q4 2022. Lipsa will continue to monitor the progress of FGV jointly with our tier-one supplier. |
SIME DARBY PLANTATION BERHAD
| Data received: | 04/01/2021 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Alleged human rights and labour abuses: Forced Labour and Child Labour. |
| Grievance source: | Liberty Shared, US border and customs |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: |
On 20th April 2020, Liberty Shared (LS) issued a petition to United States Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) to exclude product from Sime Darby Plantation (SDP). The petition concern allegations of forced labour and child labour by SDP owned and affiliated companies. On 30 December 2020, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) that all U.S. ports of entry will detain palm oil and products containing palm oil produced by SDP and its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliated entities in Malaysia. SDP issued a statement in response to the WRO on 31 December 2020, which reiterated SDP’s commitment to combatting forced labour. The statements also indicated that CBP has not provided sufficient information to allow SDP to meaningfully address the allegations that triggered the issuance of the WRO, and they are looking forward to receiving pertinent information and working with CBP in order to quickly resolve the matter. SDP reiterates its commitment to uphold labour practices and human rights and to implement appropriate corrective actions to eradicate human rights infringements. These efforts include the appointment of PricewatershouseCoopers Consulting Associates on 19 October 2020 to establish effective platforms and channels of communication to address any concerns or issues surrounding their operations in Malaysia. On 28 January 2022 US CBP issued a statement on their finding, determining that certain palm oil and derivate products were made wholly or in part with palm oil produced by SDP, its subsidiary and joint ventures with the use of convict, forced or indentured labour. On the same day SDP issued a response, highlighting that since the initial WRO on 16th December 2020 SDP have fully cooperated with the USCBP, and continue to try and resolve these issues even through progress has been slowed due to Covid-19 restrictions across Malaysia. On 28 January 2022 RSPO also release an statement explaining that following the WRO RSPO Secretariat commenced an independent verification process to identify whether the allegations and/or any non-conformities had occurred on any of SDPs certified units. Due to the numerous Malaysian government-mandated Movement Control Orders (MCOs) caused by the pandemic throughout much of 2021, the RSPO Secretariat and independent assessors have been unable to conduct an on-ground verification to date, and therefore, the inquiry is still ongoing. Lipsa will follow up closely the case jointly with our tier one supplier and will come with a decision once the RSPO investigation will be close. |
LKPP CORPORATION SDN. BHD.
| Data received: | 19/04/2021 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Reports of deforestation |
| Grievance source: | Mighty Earth. Palm Oil Report: 30 |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: |
LKPP was reported in Mighty Earth Rapid Response report for 22ha deforestation at Ladang Cherating (Pahang) in the period of Mar-19 to Oct-20 and 101ha deforestation at Sg. Charu (Pahang) in the period of Feb-19 to May-20. Our trading partner has engaged this supplier. PKPP has agreed to put a stop to all land clearing activity at Ladang Cherating concession (https://ndpe.pkpp.gov.my/bulletin.html). A ‘suspension of work order’ on all future planning involving the new development of palm oil plantations has also been issued to the group. The PKPP management has set aside two land banks located at Lipis, Pahang (426 ha) and Pekan, Pahang (130 ha) for its recovery plan. In Jan 2021, PKPP launched a sustainability dashboard that summarized its sustainabilty commitment and progress on public platform. The PKPP NDPE policy is publicly available at https://ndpe.pkpp.gov.my/. We will continue monitoring progress closely with our supplier. |
SARAWAK OIL PALMS BERHAD
| Data received: | 19/04/2021 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Reports of deforestation |
| Grievance source: | Mighty Earth. Palm Oil Report: 17,18,20 |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: |
According to our trading partner, SOPB launched their NDPE policy in Feb 2019, and suspended all development of forest since 1 July 2018, unless HCV-HCS undertaken. SOPB has its own board of directors and claims to operate independently of Shin Yang. - Mighty Earth Rapid Response report #18 shows 127 ha clearance between June 11, 2019 and August 5, 2019 in the Shin Yang OP Planting area (LPF/0018) concession. According to our trading partner, the alleged clearance had taken place at License for Planted Forest (LPF) area which was outside their oil palm plantation area. - Mighty Earth Rapid Response report #17 shows 548 ha clearance between February 27, 2019 and May 27, 2019 in the Dataran Linau Sdn Bhd concession. According to our trading partner, the alleged clearance has happened outside Sarawak oil's concession. - Mighty Earth Rapid Response report #20 shows 4 ha clearance April 22, 2019 and September 23, 2019 in the Dataran Seping Sdn Bhd concession. According to our trading partner, reported company had confirmed that the alleged clearance had taken place inside its concession area. However, based on ground verification, the clearance reported was found to be due to encroachment by some local communities for the purpose of paddy planting. As the clearance activity is considered as encroachment, the reported company had met the local communities on 10/11/2019 to highlight the issue in order to prevent future encroachment inside its concession area. We will continue monitoring progress closely with our supplier. |
PT PERMATA SAWIT MANDIRI
| Data received: | 15/05/2022 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Deforestation records since 2020 to March 2022 |
| Grievance source: | Rapid Response reports related: 14,15,16,17,19,20,23,24,27 |
| Status: | Closed |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | PT PSM is currently one of the worst deforesters for palm oil having cleared an estimated 1.300 ha of forest in 2022. In 2021, PT PSM cleared around 450 ha of forest and, in 2020, around 2.000 ha. Lipsa is indirectly connected to PT PSM through LDC. Lipsa has engaged LDC and we confirmed that PT PSM is no longer in our purchase list. |
GRUPO OCHO SUR
| Data received: | 18/10/2022 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Violation of social and human rights and deforestation cases. |
| Grievance source: | Business and Human Rights resource center |
| Status: | Monitoring |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | Several accusations of land tenure violations and community conflicts. Accusations of deforestation and operations without environmental permits in place affecting natural forests and ecosystems in Nueva Requena. Lipsa is indirectly connected with Grupo Ocho Sur through our direct supplier LDC. We have engaged with LDC. Our direct supplier has responded to this allegation. You could see their public response to it: Louis Dreyfus' response on alleged supply chain links to harmful palm oil - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (business-humanrights.org). Lipsa have received from LDC a detailed answer of their engagement with Ocho Sur that includes a field visit to the operations and stakeholders review. Lipsa still have the case open as we need further clarifications on specific issues. We are still under engagement with our direct supplier to be able to have all the information needed to make decisions. |
ERASAKTI WIRAFORESTAMA
| Data received: | 25/11/2022 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Child Labour |
| Grievance source: | UNICEF France |
| Status: | Closed |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | In October 2020, UNICEF France initiative uncovered the use of child labour and linked to several companies. There are severe allegations of child labour practices and cases of non-compliance with health and safety principles for workers in palm plantations at the level of the mill EWF. https://actualnewsmagazine.com/english/video-cash-investigation-reveals-that-unicef-france-has-signed-a-partnership-with-loccitane-one-of-whose-suppliers-uses-child-labor/ The report describes allegations of child labour practices: children as young as 9-12 years old working with their parents on EFW's plantation, and non-compliance with health and safety principles for workers: spreading pesticides without protection. Lipsa was indirectly connected with EWF through our direct supplier LDC. Lipsa confirm that this supplier is no longer in our SC in 2022. |
GLOBAL SAWIT SEMESTA
| Data received: | 24/01/2023 |
| Summary of Grievance: | Deforestation events. |
| Grievance source: | Rainforest Action Network |
| Status: | Closed |
| Progress Updates and Resolution: | Subulussalam Mill, Global Sawit Semesta (PO1000007646) is sourcing from an illegal palm oil plantation, controlled by Ibu Nasti, a local businesswoman in the village of Binanga, in the district of Subulusalam, Aceh. She operates an illegal plantation covering 27 acres in the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve. Lipsa is indirectly connected to Global Sawit Semesta through our direct supplier LDC. We received confirmation from LDC that the alleged illegal FFB Mr Mahmudin is not part of the Global Sawit Semesta supply chain. Their direct supplier has carried out an investigation into the allegations. You could find the investigation here: https://www.apicalgroup.com/sustainability/grievances/global-sawit-semesta/ |