man walking through forest
Projects

Independent Smallholders Support for Sustainable Palm Oil (Pulang Pisau, Indonesia)

Empowering 250 independent smallholder palm oil farmers in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, to achieve RSPO certification through targeted training, the establishment of an Internal Control System (ICS), and funding for third-party audits, enabling improved yields, sustainable practices, and access to certified markets.

Reduce hunger and poverty, and improve livelihoods

Protect and restore forests and ecosystems

Asia and Pacific

2026-2027

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty
Quality education
Decent work and economic growth
Partnerships for the goals


Objective

To support 250 independent smallholder farmers in Pulang Pisau to achieve RSPO certification, increase income, and access sustainable markets through capacity building, governance structures, and ongoing support. 

The issue

Independent smallholders in Pulang Pisau rely on traditional palm oil cultivation, resulting in suboptimal yields and limited access to premium markets. Barriers include lack of knowledge, resources, and organisational support for sustainable practices and certification. This project addresses these challenges by providing training on good agricultural practices, establishing an ICS for group governance, and supporting the RSPO certification process, enabling smallholders to improve productivity, access RSPO credits, and enhance livelihoods. 

The partner

PT Ecogreen Oleochemicals, in partnership with PT Sawit Sumbermas Sarana (SSMS), is a palm oil supplier to Croda with a strong commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing. Both organisations have a proven track record in supporting smallholder certification and community engagement.

Find out more at www.ecogreenoleo.com

The project

  • At least 10 training sessions for 250 smallholders on good agricultural practices and RSPO requirements
  • Establishment of an Internal Control System (ICS) to manage compliance and certification
  • Funding for third-party audits to achieve RSPO ISH certification for all participating smallholders
  • Ongoing support from Ecogreen and SSMS, with the goal of enabling the cooperative to independently manage certification and expand membership
  • RSPO credit income to be reinvested in certification maintenance, community development, and improved livelihoods 
 
“Our palm supplier Ecogreen has developed a programme to support smallholders achieving RSPO certification. This will support to increase RSPO material worldwide as well as upskilling farmers across Indonesia. Ecogreen hopes that this success will be the first step for growers to achieve greater success in the future and that this partnership will become a role model for other stakeholders to realise sustainable palm oil plantation practices among growers.”
Marie Maisonnette

Marie Maisonnette, Sustainable Sourcing Manager, Cowick Hall

Impact

  • 250 smallholder farmers directly supported, with an estimated 750 indirect beneficiaries (family members)
  • Improved income, farming practices, and access to sustainable markets for all participants
  • Strengthened community infrastructure and resilience
  • Model designed for replication in other regions, amplifying impact across Indonesia’s palm oil supply chain 
 
Our Governance

Croda Foundation, established in 2020, is an independent charitable company set up by FTSE 100 specialty chemicals company, Croda International Plc, and is registered in England and Wales (number: 1196455). The Foundation is solely funded by generous donations from Croda International Plc and led by an independent Board of Trustees.