The North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network Closes 2019 with Continued Growth and Exciting 2020 Goals

The North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network (NASPON) held an all-day meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to discuss how to continue influencing the North American market to achieve the goal of 100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil by the end of 2020. Held on December 11, 2019, the meeting was monumental for NASPON as it welcomed its 40th member to the network and was instrumental in setting big goals for 2020.

Formed in late 2017, after the 15th Annual Roundtable conference in Bali, Indonesia, NASPON has worked to educate, build momentum, and accelerate collaboration within the market for the uptake of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil. Its aim is also to assist North American companies in delivering on their sourcing commitments.

In addition to sessions focused on learning opportunities, sharing successes and challenges, and collaborating on solutions, the meeting attendees continued their work in the three established working groups to further their ability to impact sustainable palm oil uptake in North America. The three working groups focus on CSPO/CSPKO derivatives supply and uptake, segregated material supply and uptake, and education and outreach for suppliers and stakeholders. 

As a result of the meeting, NASPON will work this year to release a toolkit for all RSPO members to help with internal and supplier education, palm oil volume mapping, and other materials to help companies through their sustainable palm oil journey. The toolkit is being designed based on input from companies with NASPON members’ supply chains, NGOs, the RSPO Secretariat, and other stakeholders.

During the meeting, NASPON members also discussed how to support in the planning and implementation of the first public RSPO event in the United States, The North American Sustainable Palm Oil Dialogue, which will take place on 30 April, 2020 at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

After the meeting, Edwin van der Hoek, Strategic Sourcing Manager for Fuji Vegetable Oil Inc., a NASPON member, said, "NASPON has provided a great platform for stakeholders with common goals and challenges to come together, discuss and collaborate on solutions for North America and beyond. We are hopeful that we can welcome more stakeholders to these discussions during future meetings."

NASPON is aiming to release the first draft of the toolkit at the United States Sustainable Palm Oil Dialogue event and will continue to improve and adapt the toolkit. This toolkit will help NASPON to continue engaging with the North American market to increase uptake of sustainable palm oil.

For more information on NASPON, please contact Cameron Plese at [email protected]