Considering new developments

Sipef is studying all possibilities of expansion with great care, to ensure that the areas meet exacting legal, environmental and social requirements. Preference is given to areas clearly identified as "degraded", where the vegetation is no longer in its original state, and cannot support significant biodiversity.

For all potential developments, the legal status of the areas considered is thoroughly checked. Only areas with undisputable status are considered for further assessment.

In the case of potential oil palm developments, the RSPO Principal and Criteria, and the New Planting Procedure, impose a rigorous process, subject to review by a third-party certifying body and posted for public comments on the RSPO website. Careful "First, Prior and Informed Consent" (FPIC) sessions, High Conservation Values survey and Social Impact Assessment are carried out, and their conclusions are included in the management plans.

Areas of primary tropical forest and other areas containing High Conservation Values are excluded from development, but whenever possible, we will request that they be included in our concession areas to allow for their conservation.
The FPIC sessions allow communities impacted by the project to make informed decisions for their future. This process is the first step towards harmonious relations between the project and the impacted communities.

Sipef was the first member of the RSPO to follow the New Planting Procedure (NPP) and to submit a file for the expansion of HOPL in PNG, in January 2010. After successfully completing the requirements of the NPP, this project is now underway, and has incorporated significant conservation areas that will be protected by HOPL.

Consistent with Sipef‘s global commitment to sustainability, potential new developments for crops other than oil palm follow a similar process, carried out internally.