A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research

In light of growing social and transnational activism against palm oil, governmental, non-government and private sector organizations have begun to advocate a package of sustainable management practices through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard. Since its adoption involves volun...

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Main Authors: Tey, Yeong Sheng, Brindal, Mark Kennion, Djama, Marcel, Abdul Hadi, Ahmad Hanis Izani, Darham, Suryani
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier 2021
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96017/
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author Tey, Yeong Sheng
Brindal, Mark Kennion
Djama, Marcel
Abdul Hadi, Ahmad Hanis Izani
Darham, Suryani
author_facet Tey, Yeong Sheng
Brindal, Mark Kennion
Djama, Marcel
Abdul Hadi, Ahmad Hanis Izani
Darham, Suryani
author_sort Tey, Yeong Sheng
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In light of growing social and transnational activism against palm oil, governmental, non-government and private sector organizations have begun to advocate a package of sustainable management practices through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard. Since its adoption involves voluntary compliance, understanding the financial costs and benefits is critical. This study reviews the existing literature to identify the financial outcomes associated with RSPO certification. Seventeen analyses qualified. However, only three were considered robust: two revealed positive returns, one negative. While the quality of past research has limited our understanding of the profitability issue, it has provided insights into issues such as incentive and knowledge deficiencies. Comparative research using a standard data template and analytical method is recommended. Given that the standard modifies management practices and that business dynamics affect financial outcomes, it is concluded that research efforts will have to be better tailored for local management.
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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publishDate 2021
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spelling upm-960172023-03-13T03:45:34Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96017/ A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research Tey, Yeong Sheng Brindal, Mark Kennion Djama, Marcel Abdul Hadi, Ahmad Hanis Izani Darham, Suryani In light of growing social and transnational activism against palm oil, governmental, non-government and private sector organizations have begun to advocate a package of sustainable management practices through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard. Since its adoption involves voluntary compliance, understanding the financial costs and benefits is critical. This study reviews the existing literature to identify the financial outcomes associated with RSPO certification. Seventeen analyses qualified. However, only three were considered robust: two revealed positive returns, one negative. While the quality of past research has limited our understanding of the profitability issue, it has provided insights into issues such as incentive and knowledge deficiencies. Comparative research using a standard data template and analytical method is recommended. Given that the standard modifies management practices and that business dynamics affect financial outcomes, it is concluded that research efforts will have to be better tailored for local management. Elsevier 2021 Article PeerReviewed Tey, Yeong Sheng and Brindal, Mark Kennion and Djama, Marcel and Abdul Hadi, Ahmad Hanis Izani and Darham, Suryani (2021) A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26. 824 - 837. ISSN 2352-5509 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550920314391 10.1016/j.spc.2020.12.040
spellingShingle Tey, Yeong Sheng
Brindal, Mark Kennion
Djama, Marcel
Abdul Hadi, Ahmad Hanis Izani
Darham, Suryani
A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research
title A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research
title_full A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research
title_fullStr A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research
title_full_unstemmed A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research
title_short A review of the financial costs and benefits of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification: implications for future research
title_sort review of the financial costs and benefits of the roundtable on sustainable palm oil certification: implications for future research
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96017/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96017/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96017/