Climate

The RSPO closed the case on First Resources. Indonesian forests kept falling for palm oil (commentary)

Read full article at source ↗

Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 03/11/2026, 10:39:23 UTC.

Briefings

A new investigation reveals the RSPO failed to enforce its sustainability rules against First Resources, an Indonesian palm oil producer. In December 2025, the RSPO Complaints Panel issued its final ruling after a four-year case, confirming that First Resources used 'shadow companies' to bypass environmental restrictions despite its 2015 'zero deforestation' pledge. The Fangiono family, owners of First Resources, allegedly controlled Ciliandry Angki Abadi and FAP Agri to expand into rainforests while maintaining market access through RSPO membership.

Key points

• The RSPO Complaints Panel issued its final ruling in December 2025 after a four-year case involving First Resources.
• First Resources allegedly used 'shadow companies' to bypass environmental restrictions while maintaining market access through RSPO membership.

Context

The RSPO is the arbiter of sustainable palm oil, requiring both rules and enforcement. This finding is significant as it confirms the organization failed to police its members, allowing a major producer to continue deforestation despite pledges.

Limitations

Evidence relies on newly unearthed court records and NGO reports from 2017-2025. Specific details about the shadow companies' operations and the Fangiono family's direct control remain unverified by the source.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 03/11/2026, 10:42:37 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeiadmm4tx5mpsae6rqgepgs7dfmfihxendohneai3s4652nkpvk3j4