ASIA – Wilmar has partnered with Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) to help Wilmar’s suppliers in Malaysia obtain certification by the end of 2019, aimed to benefit 260 mill suppliers covering more than 55% of the entirety of mills in Malaysia.

This drives Wilmar’s approach to sustainability, which seeks to develop quality products not only in Asia but also the world while ensuring safe and sustainable production.

It comes at the interest of the companies’ sustainability endeavour, with a two-year timeframe collaboration in three years.

The two will engage, share knowledge and lend support to the suppliers in preparing them for MSPO certification.

Wilmar owns 42 mills, 26 of them being RSPO-Certified together with 846 suppliers mills in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The program will be initiated through a supplier reporting tool developed by Wilmar to enable suppliers measure their performance against the MSPO requirements and Wilmar’s No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) Policy.

Then, Wilmar and MPOCC will step in to identify gaps, provide audit assistance and train especially small and medium growers facing challenges in meeting the requirements.

“We have always believed that working together with the different actors across the supply chain is crucial in transforming the palm oil industry,” said Jeremy Goon, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wilmar.

“With MPOCC, our collective effort will hopefully pave the way forward for a sustainable palm oil industry in Malaysia that includes smallholders benefiting from higher productivity, yields and income.”

The program aims at meeting demand for certified sustainable palm oil not only in Malaysia but also around the globe.

Wilmar is targeting not only Asia through a range of sustainability initiatives, but also the world market by enhancing the positive image of certified sustainable palm oil from Malaysia.

Through its subsidiary, Wilmar International Ltd acquired a Malaysia-based edible oils facility from Cargill in a bid to boost its presence in the southeast Asian country.