SSMS and EarthQualizer Discuss Commitment to Realize Sustainable Palm Oil

PT Sawit Sumbermas Sarana Tbk (SSMS) is committed to carrying out sustainable business practices and maintaining and maintaining the condition of the surrounding environment.  This effort is reflected in various sustainability standards and certifications that have been owned by the company, both locally and internationally. This was on the agenda of the meeting between SSMS and Earth Qualizer (EQ).

SSMS Chief Sustainability Officer Henky Satrio W. said that the Company will ensure that the commitment in the Sustainability Policy does not only apply to the company's internal but also includes its FFB suppliers. In addition, several issues confirmed by EQ have also been explained and are already in the stages of being completed such as the Kinipan issue and PT Sawit Mandiri Lestari (SML).

In the second discussion held in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, SSMS and EQ I visited one of the RaCP areas in Masoraian, Kotawaringin Lama to discuss with the management and members of the Masoraian Work Community Hkm. This partnership has entered its third year and several programs have been carried out such as forest fire mitigation, area protection and security, community empowerment, and many other activities.

On the same occasion, the team of EQ Representatives, Carlo, Dafa and Afif welcomed the efforts of SSMS which has made a series of efforts to prove its commitment to sustainability aspects at the level of its operations, especially in encouraging productive partnerships with community communities to maintain and manage forests sustainably, one of which is Hkm Komunitas Karya Masoraian, which has proven to be able to provide economic improvement for the community.

EarthQualizer also sincerely hopes that this commitment can be extended not only to direct subsidiaries but also to suppliers and affiliated third parties transparently to the public by ensuring participatory community involvement so that this sustainability commitment is implemented from upstream to downstream throughout the company's supply chain.

To ensure that suppliers also implement sustainability policies, SSMS provides assistance and supervision to FFB suppliers as part of the FFB supply chain and traceability, as well as ensuring PT Sawit Mandiri Lestari and PT Sapalar Yasa Kartika carry out 

conservation programs for sustainable and environmentally friendly plantation management, by the sustainability program roadmap. Furthermore, Henky is optimistic that the business continuity of oil palm plantations in the long term will be guaranteed, and strives to make SSMS a green industry with sustainable business processes from upstream to downstream while still paying attention to environmental and social aspects, not just economic aspects.

For this reason, 2023 is SSMS's great commitment to environmental conservation efforts, SSMS together with 5 Forest Farmer Groups (KTH) in Central Kalimantan establish partnerships in the field of community forest protection and community empowerment. Through this partnership, SSMS contributes to preserving areas with high conservation value and biodiversity in the area, considering the potential threat of high destruction due to forest burning, encroachment, and illegal logging.

Meanwhile, our synergy with environmental and conservation NGO Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) has successfully released 53 individuals from Salat Island to the National Park. SSMS realizes the importance of an environment with biodiversity that must be maintained properly, this is an important aspect of the Company's Sustainability Policy.

Not only that, SSMS also implements conflict mitigation strategies in all business units and a series of activities based on the pre-requisites of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification including the Grievance Mechanism, Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) and several social responsibility programs that have been implemented at the site level. SMSS's synergy with environmental and conservation NGO Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), has successfully released 49 Salat Island Orangutans into the National Park. We realize the importance of an environment with biodiversity that must be maintained properly, this is an important aspect of the Company's Sustainability Policy.