27/09/2010 (Zia View) - In a remarkable turn of events, the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil the RSPO, is policing its own ranks to be sure that those who are part of the group are working in the best interests of the environment in a big way.

Unlike many other business groups and initiatives the RSPO has sent standards for the production of eco-friendly palm oil and they insist that their members adhere to those standards. In fact, they actually watch them to be sure that they do. Profit does not come first.
   
On Thursday they said that the palm oil products of the Indonesian producing company  Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART)  had been in breach of the criteria for sustainability and they were considering expelling them from the group.

“The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil takes all infringements of its Code of Conduct and Principles and Criteria very seriously,” was a statement released on the website by the group.

The response by the SMART company has been to launch a massive PR campaign and to send in the lobbying clowns, which isn’t impressing the RSPO in the slightest.They are lobbying not only against the ruling, but also in such a way that environmental groups are denigrated along the way.  RSPO is standing their ground on the issues.

SMART is being accused of failing to get cal permits before they cleared forested areas and of even draining some swamp areas. It looks as though RSP is not backing down and will assure the compliance of their group members–an attitude that could use some emulation around the globe.