Socfin Group

Overall approach

6/10
- Overarching commitment on deforestation
  
  3/4
  
  Overall commitment
  
  Zero deforestation/Deforestation-free commitment or, for timber, pulp & paper companies only, commitment to well implemented harvest and no deforestation of HCV & HCS areas
  
  3/4
  
  Do they have a commitment for other non-Forest 500 commodities, if so which?: NA
  
  "We commit to promote biodiversity and to eliminate deforestation; to that aim Socfin Group aims to identify and protect HCS, HCV forests and support the long-term protection of ecosystems"
  
  Open source document
- Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
  
  1/1
  
  Signatory
  
  Yes
  
  1/1
  
  "In November 2015, the company joined the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG), a group of organisations that have developed standards known as the POIG Charter."
  
  Open source document
- Awareness of the value of forests
  
  1/1
  
  Awareness
  
  Yes
  
  1/1
  
  [translation]"We apply the "High Stock" approaches of Carbon ”(HCS / HSC) and“ High Value of Conservation ”(HCV / HVC)Since 2017, and our commitment to eliminate all deforestation, we apply the HSC20 approach: for everything new extension project, HCS study to be carried out to determine HSC areas to keep and plans actions will be put in place to effectively protect these zones."
  
  Open source document
- Deforestation as a business risk
  
  1/1
  
  Business risk
  
  Yes
  
  1/1
  
  What proportion of revenue that comes from relevant industries is exposed to each forest risk commodity?: NA
  
  "Despite this progress, other NPD steers clear of palm oil altogether, driven by brands’ fear of reputational implications."
  
  Open source document
- High-level management of deforestion
  
  0/1
- Executive compensation linked to deforestation
- Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
  
  0/1
- Reporting on emissions from land-use change
  
  0/1
- Disclosure of conservation activity
  
  Conservation disclosure
  
  Yes
  
  0/0
  
  How many hectares of conservation area are being supported or facilitated by the company on land it does not own or manage?: 1614ha
  
  "Initially 1,614 ha, the area of the areas protected has recently been increased for reach 2,212 ha or 6.37% of the area total of the concession. This increase was carried out to give, to several forest blocks already existing and unexploited, internal official status of "protection", which aims to preserve territories that can serve as areas of refuge or transit to animals."
  
  Open source document
- Disclosure of reforestation activity
  
  Reforestation disclosure
  
  Yes
  
  0/0
  
  How many hectares of reforestation or restoration are being or have been conducted or facilitated by the company?: 400 ha
  
  [translation] “We have launched reforestation actions to cover a total of 400 ha. Indeed, these areas - Valley of Shanga, Cathedral, Molokai River - had suffered significant deforestation by communities. So, since the beginning of 2019, these are more 7,000 young rubber trees that have been planted there (we have dedicated our old rubber tree nursery) and, it is planned to continue reforestation with acacia ".
  
  Open source document
- Target to reduce emissions in scope 1/2
Commodity score

50/90
- Palm oil
  
  50/90
  - Commitment Strength
    
    14/17
    - Commitment to protect priority forests
      
      7/9.5
      - Commitment details
        Zero-gross deforestation
        
        4/6
        
        Commitment to protect priority forests
        
        Zero-gross deforestation
        
        4/6
        
        When was this commitment set?: NA
        
        "We commit to promote biodiversity and to eliminate deforestation; to that aim Socfin Group aims to identify and protect HCS, HCV forests and support the long-term protection of ecosystems"[...]"Our objective is to obtain RSPO certification for all our oil palm plantations. Socfindo, Okomu and Safacam are certified already, as well as SOGB since January 2021...We are committed to certifying all our oil palm plantations...Target RSPO CERTIFICATION PLANNING (OIL MILLS) 100% by 2021"
        
        Open source document
      - Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
        Yes
        
        2/2
        
        Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
        
        Yes
        
        2/2
        
        "We commit to promote biodiversity and to eliminate deforestation; to that aim Socfin Group aims to identify and protect HCS, HCV forests and support the long-term protection of ecosystems"[...]"Our objective is to obtain RSPO certification for all our oil palm plantations. Socfindo, Okomu and Safacam are certified already, as well as SOGB since January 2021...We are committed to certifying all our oil palm plantations...Target RSPO CERTIFICATION PLANNING (OIL MILLS) 100% by 2021"
        
        Open source document
      - Target date
        Past target date, not updated or not achieved
        
        0/1
        
        Target date
        
        Past target date, not updated or not achieved
        
        0/1
        
        What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: Obtaining RSPO Certification
        
        "All our Indonesian oil palm plantations have been certified between 2011 and 2015; • Our subsidiary Okomu in Nigeria is certified since January 2020; • Our plantation company Safacam in Cameroon is certified since December 2020; • Our plantation company SOGB in Côte d’Ivoire was audited in October 2020 and is certified since January 2021; • Our plantation company SAC in Sierra Leone was audited in September 2020 and will obtain certification once RSPO has validated its remediation and compensation plan. All other African subsidiaries will be audited for certification in 2021. At the moment, it is however difficult to predict the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our certification planning."[...]"Target RSPO CERTIFICATION PLANNING (OIL MILLS) 100% by 2021" - Unclear whether target has been met
        
        Open source document
      - Interim target date
        Yes
        
        0.5/0.5
        
        Interim target date
        
        Yes
        
        0.5/0.5
        
        What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2021
        
        "All our Indonesian oil palm plantations have been certified between 2011 and 2015; • Our subsidiary Okomu in Nigeria is certified since January 2020; • Our plantation company Safacam in Cameroon is certified since December 2020; • Our plantation company SOGB in Côte d’Ivoire was audited in October 2020 and is certified since January 2021; • Our plantation company SAC in Sierra Leone was audited in September 2020 and will obtain certification once RSPO has validated its remediation and compensation plan. All other African subsidiaries will be audited for certification in 2021. At the moment, it is however difficult to predict the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our certification planning."[...]"Target RSPO CERTIFICATION PLANNING (OIL MILLS) 100% by 2021" - Unclear whether target has been met
        
        Open source document
    - Commitment to a traceable supply chain
      
      7/7.5
      - Commitment details
        Traces to Point of production
        
        4/4
        
        Commitment to a traceable supply chain
        
        Traces to Point of production
        
        4/4
        
        When was this commitment set?: NA
        
        "We commit to obtain traceability for 100% of our raw material supply by 2025" [... ] "We are committed to putting traceability tools in place to make our supply chain more transparent. Our Group ensures that its sustainability and responsible management criteria apply to all its suppliers (including the smallholders from whom we buy wet rubber or FFB (fresh fruit bunches). Currently, we obtained 100% traceability for our “first level” supplies, for both FFB as rubber. We have developed traceability tools to identify and locate the production region of our partner smallholders. This traceability will be extended to include our entire supply chain and its middlemen: cooperatives, traders, etc. This will enable us to advance our traceability from level 1 to level 3."
        
        Open source document
      - Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
        Yes
        
        2/2
        
        Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
        
        Yes
        
        2/2
        
        "We commit to obtain traceability for 100% of our raw material supply by 2025" [... ] "We are committed to putting traceability tools in place to make our supply chain more transparent. Our Group ensures that its sustainability and responsible management criteria apply to all its suppliers (including the smallholders from whom we buy wet rubber or FFB (fresh fruit bunches). Currently, we obtained 100% traceability for our “first level” supplies, for both FFB as rubber. We have developed traceability tools to identify and locate the production region of our partner smallholders. This traceability will be extended to include our entire supply chain and its middlemen: cooperatives, traders, etc. This will enable us to advance our traceability from level 1 to level 3."
        
        Open source document
      - Target date
        2025
        
        0.8/1
        
        Target date
        
        2025
        
        0.8/1
        
        What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: NA
        
        In the 2020 Sustainability Report; they state they have 93% traceability to the level -Identification and location of the entire supply chain and its middlemen. - and aim to reach 100% in this by 2025.
        
        Open source document
      - Interim target date
        NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
        
        0.5/0.5
        
        Interim target date
        
        NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
        
        0.5/0.5
        
        What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2023
        
        In the 2020 Sustainability Report; they state they have 95% traceability to the level -: Identification and localization. - and aim to reach 100% in this by 2023.
        
        Open source document
  - Associated Human Rights Abuses
    
    12/17
    - Labour rights in the supply chain
      Yes
      
      3/3
      
      Labour rights in the supply chain
      
      Yes
      
      3/3
      
      How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: Tier 1
      
      Details of commitment: UNGP; UN Declaration for HR; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association
      
      "this policy is intended to be in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights" ; "We apply a zero tolerance approach to: Child labour [...] Forced or compulsory labour"; "To strengthen and regulate our social commitments, we have based our labour and human rights policies on the standards set out in the SA 8000 guidelines, the RSPO principles and criteria, ILO conventions and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations). When national legislations, standards and conventions refer to the same subject, we apply the provision most favourable to our workers. Furthermore, we strictly commit to freedom of association and non-discrimination and ban forced and child labour. We also guarantee fair pay and decent housing to our employees."
      
      Open source document
      Open source document
    - Inclusion of small-scale farmers
      Yes
      
      2/2
      
      Inclusion of small-scale farmers
      
      Yes
      
      2/2
      
      How many smallholders do they support, and what percentage does this represent in terms of their sourcing from smallholders?: NA
      
      What is the nature of that support?: Technical assistance/support; Education and training, Economic
      
      "The Socfin Group aims to contribute to rural economic develpoment/ performance through continuous transfer of technical and agricultural skills, as well as best management practices for sustainable production: To contribute to local food security and to improve livelihoods: - We ensure and encourage the inclusion of smallholders / farmers in our supply chains; -We fairly and transparently negotiate prices with smallholders/farmers and expect traders to do the same [...] -We offer and support traiing for employees, smallholders/farmers, and suppliers to improve yield, sustainability performance, and quality"
      
      Open source document
    - Gender equality in the supply chain
      No commitment
      
      0/2
    - Commitment to remediation
      Yes
      
      1/1
      
      Commitment to remediation
      
      Yes
      
      0.5/1
      
      What does the commitment cover?: Social harm; Environmental harm
      
      "Regular monitoring to ensure that vegetation on steep slopes are maintained, and appropriate soil conservation measures are implemented for planting on moderate slopes. If infractions are identified, immediate remediation action should be taken. "[...][translation] "Compensation is then provided for these specific situations and paid to the communities that would have planted food crops on these lands in order to compensate them. The amount of these compensations is in most cases set by local law so very precise."
      
      Open source document
      Open source document
    - Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
      Yes, and commits to not proceeding with these operations unless consent has been given by Indigenous peoples and local communities
      
      3/3
      
      Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
      
      Yes, and commits to not proceeding with these operations unless consent has been given by Indigenous peoples and local communities
      
      3/3
      
      How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: Tier 1
      
      "To respect the rights of local communities in all our operations and supply chains: -We respect the right of indigenous populations and local communities to give or withhold their Free, Prior and Informed Conesnt (FPIC) to all operations affecting the land or resources on which they have legal, community or customary rights, using RSPO's FPIC methodology"
      
      Open source document
    - Commitment to resolve land conflicts
      Yes
      
      3/3
      
      Commitment to resolve land conflicts
      
      Yes
      
      3/3
      
      "No new development can be carried out until: [...] - Any on-going dispute for the areas in question has been resolved, unless a mutually agreed process for dispute settlement, freely consented to by the parties concerned, is implemented."
      
      Open source document
    - Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
      No
      
      0/3
  - Implementation and Reporting
    
    25/56
    - Reporting volumes against commitments
      1-49%
      
      2/3
      
      Reporting volumes against commitments
      
      1-49%
      
      2/3
      
      What is the non-certified/non-compliant volume?: NA
      
      What percentage of the commodity purchased or sourced by the company can be traced to the farm level on production units that are not DCF?: NA
      
      What is the volume with unknown deforestation/conversion risk? Disaggregated by product type or use as relevant.: NA
      
      What percentage of the commodity purchased or sourced by the company can be traced to the level of a sourcing area, but not to production unit, in areas with deforestation/conversion risk?: NA
      
      What is the compliant volume?: NA
      
      What is the certified volume?: 93%
      
      Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No
      
      What is the proportion of total commodity volume sourced with known deforestation/conversion risk?: NA
      
      In the 2020 Sustainability Report; they state they have 95% traceability to the level -: Identification and localization; they state they have 93% traceability to the level -Identification and location of the entire supply chain and its middlemen
      
      Open source document
    - Reporting is independently verified
      No
      
      0/2
      
      Reporting is independently verified
      
      No
      
      0/2
      
      "All our Indonesian oil palm plantations have been certified between 2011 and 2015; • Our subsidiary Okomu in Nigeria is certified since January 2020; • Our plantation company Safacam in Cameroon is certified since December 2020; • Our plantation company SOGB in Côte d’Ivoire was audited in October 2020 and is certified since January 2021; • Our plantation company SAC in Sierra Leone was audited in September 2020 and will obtain certification once RSPO has validated its remediation and compensation plan. All other African subsidiaries will be audited for certification in 2021. At the moment, it is however difficult to predict the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our certification planning."
    - Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
      Yes, encouraged
      
      0/3
      
      Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
      
      Yes, encouraged
      
      0/3
      
      "The Socfin Group will support and encourage its suppliers to implement this policy. It will be pro-actively communicated to all suppliers, including within supplier contracts where possible."
      
      Open source document
    - Deforestation cut off date
      No
      
      0/2
    - Collaborative actions
      No
      
      0/2
    - Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
      No
      
      0/2
    - Risk assessments for forest risk
      Yes
      
      2/2
      
      Risk assessments for forest risk
      
      Yes
      
      2/2
      
      For what percentage of material produced or sourced by the company has forest risk been assessed?: NA
      
      How frequently are assessments conducted?: Unclear
      
      "2019 work plan/implementation plan: • Carry out HCV assessments > HCV assessments in all our palm operations will be carried out and relevant management plan will be developed and included in the annual operation plan"
      
      Open source document
    - Operations assessed to comply with law
      Yes
      
      2/2
      
      Operations assessed to comply with law
      
      Yes
      
      2/2
      
      "These commitments we made are not only applicable to our plantations but also to our subcontractors and suppliers [...] We have always been committed to full compliance with the environmental, social and land laws of the host countries. [...] We have implemented monitoring and verification systems of our operations. They intervene at an operational, technical, legal or administrative level to monitor the successful implementation or achievement of our commitments.
      
      Open source document
    - Accessible grievance mechanism
      Yes, and published details of any grievances within the last two years (2019-2021)
      
      4/4
      
      Accessible grievance mechanism
      
      Yes, and published details of any grievances within the last two years (2019-2021)
      
      4/4
      
      What is the nature of the grievance mechanism used by the company?: Own mechanism
      
      Which issues does the grievance mechanism cover?: Social; Environmental
      
      "On this page they have their grievance process and a public list of complaints filed against them :https://www.socfin.com/dashboard/gestion-des-plaintes/ To make a grievance: Socfin S.A. Attn: Grievance coordination team 4, Avenue Guillaume 1650 Luxembourg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg transparency@socfin.com"
      
      Open source document
    - Report volumes of commodity
      Reporting total volume
      
      3/3
      
      Report volumes of commodity
      
      Reporting total volume
      
      3/3
      
      What product types/sectors is this in?: Palm Oil Processing
      
      Reporting non-certified/non-compliant volume: 1103691.04 Tonnes
      
      What is the non-DCF commodity volume sourced from known production areas, and proportion of total supply chain volume this represents?: NA
      
      Total volume: 2039193.33 Tonnes
      
      Reporting certified/compliant volume: 935502.29 Tonnes
      
      In their 2020 RSPO ACOP Report they state they use 2039193.33 Tonnes of palm oil
      
      Open source document
    - Upstream: Monitor compliance with human rights
      No
      
      0/5
    - Compliance of company-owned operations
      No
      
      0/5
    - Upstream: Impact assessments for land development/acquisition
      Yes
      
      4/4
      
      Upstream: Impact assessments for land development/acquisition
      
      Yes
      
      4/4
      
      For what percentage of production units has an ESIA been carried out as part of the land use planning process?: NA
      
      How does the company remedy adverse social and environmental impacts linked to their operations and/or supply chains?: NA
      
      "This report is the outcome of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) (or EIA for short) of the planned oil palm and rubber investment project in the Malen region of southern Sierra Leone, comprising Malen chiefdom in Pujehun district, Bum chiefdom in Both district, Lugbu and Bargbo chiefdoms in Bo district."
      
      Open source document
    - Upstream: Reporting production/processing locations
      Reports location of un-certified land holdings
      
      1/4
      
      Upstream: Reporting production/processing locations
      
      Reports location of un-certified land holdings
      
      1/4
      
      For what percent are boundaries (of holdings under conservation) disclosed?: NA
      
      For what percent are boundaries (of certified land holdings) disclosed?: NA
      
      What is the total area in production (in ha)?: 141631.91ha
      
      What types of ecosystems are these?: 1117.15ha
      
      What type of conservation designation and/or conservation status is used?: HCV/HCS Status
      
      In what country(ies) does the company operate and/or source material?: Cameroon ; Sao Tome and Principe ; Nigeria ; Liberia ; Sierra Leone ; Cote D'Ivoire ; Ghana ; Cambodia ; Indonesia
      
      What is the total area (in ha) of natural ecosystem on land owned, managed, or controlled by the company?: 37147.59ha
      
      From what sub-national jurisdiction(s) does the company source material?: NA
      
      For what percent are point locations (of land holdings and processing facilities) disclosed: NA
      
      For what percent are point locations (of holdings under conservation) disclosed?: NA
      
      For what percent are point locations (of certified land holdings) disclosed?: NA
      
      What is the area, in hectares of production units, on which non-DCF commodities are produced or processed, by country and jurisdiction: NA
      
      In what jurisdiction(s)/subnational region does the company operate and/or source material?: NA
      
      What is the total area of land (in ha) that is available for future production, e.g. concessions?: 81.7ha
      
      What is the volume of each forest risk commodity that the company produced/processed/sourced in the previous year from each national or subnational location?: NA
      
      What is the total land area owned, managed, or controlled by the company for the forest risk commodity?: 182599.66ha
      
      For what percent are boundaries disclosed?: NA
      
      Socfin's subsidiaries publish maps detailing the locations of their palm oil concessions in different countries. For example, Socapalm publishes the boundaries of its palm oil concessions in Cameroon. Data on total area of production is provided by the 2020 RSPO ACOP report.
      
      Open source document
      Open source document
    - Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
      Yes, using a third-party verification system
      
      4/4
      
      Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
      
      Yes, using a third-party verification system
      
      4/4
      
      Does the company use a jurisdictional monitoring mechanism?: No
      
      What tools, processes, bodies carry out monitoring of the company's production or processing operations?: Satellite Imagery + Consultation
      
      If so, what jurisdictions and mechanisms does the company use?: NA
      
      How frequently is compliance assessed?: NA
      
      For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA
      
      Does the company use a certification system?: Yes
      
      For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA
      
      For what percentage of production or primary processing operations that it owns, manages, or otherwise controls does the company use external processes or actors, such as certification, to monitor compliance?: NA
      
      "The Socfin Group will use various third-party verification tools such as satellite imagery, certification and consultation of external stakeholders to assess how effectively its policy is being implemented. The results of these assessments will be used to update the action plan and allow continuous improvement."
      
      Open source document
    - Upstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
      No
      
      0/4
Commitment strength

14/17

Avg. score
Implementation and Reporting

25/56

Avg. score
Associated Human Rights Abuses

12/17

Avg. score

Profile

The Société Financière des Caoutchoucs (SOCFIN) is an agribusiness group active in the cultivation, processing and trading of palm oil. Its business is located in Africa and Asia, with plantations in Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, São Tomé and Indonesia. Socfin Group is selected as a powerbroker for palm oil.

Sector

Industry sector

Agricultural Products

Segments

Producer, Processor

Luxembourg

Company Type

Company type

Collective Commitments

Consumer Goods Forum member

New York Declaration on Forests signatory

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

More companies

DENDE DO TAUA S/A - DENTAUA

C.I.V. Superunie B.A.

Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd

16%

Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.

socfin_logo.jpg

Socfin Group

Total

Score:

Total score:

56%

Profile

How we assess the Forest 500

More companies

Disclaimer

socfin_logo.jpg

Socfin Group

Total

Score:

Total score: 56%

Profile

How we assess the Forest 500

Related articles and press coverage

"PepsiCo asks suppliers to avoid buying palm oil from major producer in Indonesia "

Palm oil major quits no-deforestation initiative HCSA: A commitment to efficiency or a ‘dangerous sign of backsliding’?

"RAN responds to Nestlé’s Land Rights Action Plan; ‘More Major Brands Must Ensure Rights, Forest Protections’ "

"Major palm oil company withdraws from anti-deforestation initiative "

More companies

Disclaimer

Total score:

56%