The world’s largest oil palm planter by area, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, has ranked first on a recent study on business and human rights in ASEAN, reaffirming the company’s focus on sustainability in an industry facing accusations of its implication in deforestation and abuse of human rights. The ‘Human Rights Disclosure in ASEAN’ study is a collaborative project undertaken by the ASEAN CSR Network, the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University and Article 30. A total of 250 listed companies from Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore were assessed in the study which measured the companies’ disclosure through materials made public against the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the Global Reporting Initiative Standards. Although Malaysia requires environmental, social and governance reporting as a rule for listed companies, there are no clear guidelines on disclosure directives in relation to human rights. Nevertheless, Sime Darby has chosen to put these measures in place to achieve sustainable operations throughout its value chain.

Posted by

The Malaysian Reserve