What is Shared Responsibility?
Shared Responsibility (SR) is the set of responsibilities adopted by RSPO Members to achieve RSPO’s vision, “a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable.”
The process for change at RSPO is characterised by interconnected pathways that identify the key actions needed to deliver lasting, measurable impacts for people, planet and prosperity, while spearheading the next phase of transformation in sustainable palm oil. This approach forms the backbone of the RSPO roadmap, the Theory of Change (ToC) and is underpinned by the principle of Shared Responsibility (SR) and collaboration for change.
Why is Shared Responsibility needed?
Environmental and social issues throughout the palm oil supply chain are systemic issues which cannot be resolved by one stakeholder in the value chain. It requires collaboration and commitment from all stakeholders.
RSPO Certified supply of sustainable palm oil remains at approximately 19% of global volumes. Stimulating demand and increasing the production of sustainable palm oil to make it the norm requires every member of RSPO, including supply chain actors, investors and NGOs to play a role.
- Grower members do their part by having to implement the RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C).
- Ordinary, non-grower members do their part by having to implement Shared Responsibility requirements and becoming RSPO Supply Chain Certified (where applicable).
What responsibilities do RSPO Members commit to under Shared Responsibility?
Ordinary, non-grower RSPO Members are subject to the Shared Responsibility requirements. All members share sustainability requirements that are the same across all stakeholder groups: palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social or developmental NGOs. Specific requirements may vary from one member category to another, reflecting the unique roles of different member categories to help make palm oil sustainable.
Shared Responsibility Requirements Overview
There are 29 requirements covering different thematic areas and a summary of the requirements can be found below.
The SR requirements can be found in the Annex 1 of the ‘RSPO Shared Responsibility Requirements and Implementation‘ document endorsed by the RSPO Board of Governors (BoG) on 31 October 2019.
SR Requirements Overview – Policies and plans
Uptake and resourcing
Scope expansion means downstream operations also meet their sector’s uptake targets.
*P&Ts member with CGMs operations need to declare those volumes in the Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP) 2026 and comply with the uptake target for those specific operations.
** CGMs member with (P&Ts or Retailers) operations need to declare those volumes in the Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP) 2026 and comply with the uptake target for those specific operations.
**Retailers member with (P&Ts or CGMs) operations need to declare those volumes in the Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP) 2026 and comply with the uptake target for those specific operations.
As an RSPO Member, how can I uphold my commitment to Shared Responsibility?
Develop
If you are a downstream RSPO Member, develop policies and plans and upload to the MyRSPO portal. View our guides here.
Are you a member and do not have policies? Email our Shared Responsibility Team and we’ll help you get started.
Ask
If you are a user of palm oil, ask your suppliers for RSPO Certified sustainable materials. If unavailable, purchase RSPO Credits, preferably from smallholders, to cover the volumes.
Learn how to purchase RSPO Credits and Independent Smallholder Credits here.
Engage
Encourage your peers, clients, suppliers and investors to become a certified member of the RSPO and adopt sustainable sourcing policies.
Learn how to become an RSPO Member here.
Interested to learn more? See our FAQs or email our Shared Responsibility Team.