Exclusive The certifier says discharging palm oil waste could be incorporated in its supply chain standard, due for a revision next year. Recent incidences of palm oil dumping in the South China Sea have raised questions around the legality of the practice.

Although it is legally permissible, critics say the discharge of waste by palm oil vessels flushing out their tanks off the coast of Malaysia is an overlooked problem.

Oil was spotted in waters off Changi on Singapore's east coast, four days after a tanker collision near the island state's southern waters. Authorities will assess if habitat restoration efforts are needed.

Recent research has indicated that modifications to aspects of the water cycle are now causing Earth system destabilisation at a scale that modern civilisation might not have ever faced.