Studio EB About one-fifth of global palm oil is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, but growth has plateaued. Chief Joseph D’Cruz explains why 100 per cent certification is not the end goal and how it plans to engage China and India.

Studio EB “Homeshoring”, or moving production back to a company’s home country, to counter geopolitical tensions is driving demand for low-cost migrant workers, raising labour risks in markets once deemed “low risk”, says the global assurance firm.

Studio EB The rules will ensure safeguards are in place to strengthen labour conditions and close loopholes to curtail land grabbing incidents, says Leena Ghosh, head of human rights and social standards at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s updated standards aim to improve smallholder inclusion as EUDR kicks in. But decline in credit prices – which growers heavily rely on to recoup certification costs – sparks fears of financial strain.