Lang
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) successfully convened the 10th China Sustainable Palm Oil Forum (10th RSPO China Forum) in Shanghai on July 3, 2026. The milestone event highlighted strong market expansion, new biodiversity conservation partnerships, and the rapid advancement of China's green trade policies.
This year's forum takes place at a landmark moment, celebrating over a decade of active RSPO engagement in China. The event is set against a shifting domestic policy landscape anchored in nature-positive growth strategies. Crucially, 2026 represents the inaugural year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, which prioritizes the "Beautiful China" developmental initiative, signaling robust support for high-quality, low-carbon, and ecologically sound economic expansion. The year also witnessed the implementation of China's Ecological Environment Code, establishing a firmer legal foundation for environmental protection, alongside the rollout of a new Green Finance-Supported Project Catalogue that extends green financial instruments across the entire palm oil value chain—from initial production through global trade and final consumption.
"China is entering a pivotal stage of its green transition," stated Joseph D'Cruz, Chief Executive Officer of the RSPO, during his opening address. "In this evolving landscape, China's role is more important than ever — both as a key consumer market, and as a potential driver of global sustainable supply chain transformation. RSPO will continue to deepen collaboration in China through stronger engagement with industry leaders and supply chain actors, deeper integration of sustainability into sourcing and investment decisions, expanded partnerships with organisations, and enhanced support for members navigating emerging regulatory and market expectations."
Delivering the policy keynote at the forum, Xu Yingming, Director at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, emphasized the importance of China's evolving green trade strategies. "Green trade cooperation is both an effective response to climate change and an important driver of high-quality economic development and international competitiveness," he noted.
China has become central to the RSPO’s international mission. RSPO membership within the country has climbed to over 540 members, supported by 510 certified supply chain facilities—an infrastructure that has generated measurable, real-world impact. Furthermore, China's consumption of RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) reached approximately 550,000 tonnes in 2024, accounting for nearly 12% of the country's total palm oil usage, representing a significant advancement for a market of this scale.
The past year also brought a notable cross-sector milestone. At RSPO's flagship annual roundtable conference, RT2025, held in November 2025, the RSPO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo. This strategic, long-term partnership aims to advance biodiversity conservation and elevate public awareness of sustainable palm oil across China.
"As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan era, its leadership in responsible sourcing and sustainable consumption will be increasingly important in shaping the future of certified sustainable palm oil and resilient global supply chains," said Lifeng Fang, Head of China, Market Transformation of the RSPO.
Highlighting the industry's role in climate action, Elaine Chan, Head of Climate Change and Reporting (Group Sustainability) at SD Guthrie, remarked: "As China advances towards its 2030 carbon peaking goal, sustainable palm oil can be part of the climate solution by reducing emissions while protecting forests and biodiversity."
She detailed SD Guthrie's "Beyond Zero" corporate framework, demonstrating how strategic climate action, biodiversity protection, regenerative agriculture, and transparent supply chains can collectively accelerate the global transition toward a low-carbon, highly sustainable future.
The 10th China Forum provides RSPO members across the country with a valuable platform to network, foster deep engagement, and build upon the collective progress achieved over the last ten years as the industry navigates a highly dynamic and challenging global trading environment. Sessions at the forum focus on generating actionable solutions to drive the sustainable transformation of the palm oil sector, directly supporting China's broader green development targets.
About RSPO: The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership dedicated to making sustainable palm oil the norm. Established in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder, non-profit organization that brings together members from across the entire palm oil value chain. This includes oil palm growers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, financial institutions and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.
As a collaborative force for positive global change, the RSPO facilitates systemic transformation in the production and consumption of palm oil. To inspire change, the organization communicates the distinct environmental and social benefits of sustainability. To drive progress, it catalyzes strategic collaboration. To provide robust market assurance, it establishes strict certification standards. The RSPO is officially registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with headquarters in Malaysia and Indonesia, and regional offices operating in China, Colombia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Source: Plataforma Media