Unilever 2006-2007 - Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

RSPO Annual Communication of Progress
1. Profile
Name of organization: <strong>Unilever</strong> Membership type (Ordinary)
Report prepared by : Jan Kees Vis email: jan-kees.vis@unilever.com
Report submitted by : ibid email: ibid
Reporting Period
: ___July <strong>2006</strong>___________ to ____June <strong>2007</strong>_____ (12-month period)
Date of Report : 10 Sept <strong>2007</strong>
2. Details of Progress
A. Current efforts /progress in producing, procuring, utilizing and/or promoting sustainable palm oil
Discussions have been ongoing with all of <strong>Unilever</strong>’s strategic suppliers of palm oil and derivatives,
both in Malaysia, Indonesia and Ghana, on how best to move towards compliance with RSPO P&C.
B. Implementation of projects/initiatives that promote sustainable palm oil (including supporting
activities like sponsorship)
Preparing our sourcing strategy for sustainable palm oil, <strong>Unilever</strong>’s supply management group started
a project to thoroughly study the supply chain alternatives for physical supply of SPO as currently
proposed in RSPO. This project involves a live test of the Mass Balance option with one of <strong>Unilever</strong>’s
major CPO suppliers and will concentrate on the feasibility (operational as well as financially) of this
Chain of Custody option including full traceability (documented). The aim is to match the system as
closely as possible to the current trade practices in the international CPO market. The outcome of the
project including recommendations will be reported extensively at RT5, a.o. to assist RSPO members
in their thinking process on the Chain of Custody options.
1

C. Significant economic, social or environmental problems encountered in production, procurement
None
and/or use of sustainable palm oil and efforts made to mitigate or resolve them
D. Outlook/summary of planned activities to promote sustainable palm oil production, promotion
and/or use in the next reporting period as well as action to address social or environmental
problems encountered (under part C, if relevant).
N.A.
E. Recent publications of environmental / social / sustainability reports or annual reports relating to
N.A.
the objectives and tasks of RSPO
F. Recognition and awards for excellence in promoting sustainable palm oil
N.A.
G. Suggestions on how the RSPO can play an active role in enhancing your organization’s
N.A.
sustainability performance, particularly in relation to promoting sustainable palm oil
2