“Samsung C&T’s Oversea Subsidiary Found in Violation of RSPO’s Sustainability Standards for Indigenous Rights Violations in Indonesia”, 28 March 2025

On March 11, 2025, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) finalized the decision that PT Inecda, a subsidiary of Samsung C&T operating palm plantations in Riau, Indonesia, had violated sustainability standards by infringing on the customary rights of the Talang Parit Indigenous Community. PT Inecda, along with PT Gandaerah Hendana, is a subsidiary through which Samsung C&T operates palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Samsung C&T manages approximately 24,000 hectares of palm plantations through these subsidiaries, producing around 100,000 tons of crude palm oil (CPO) annually.

…Samsung C&T’s palm oil operations have also been accused of child labor, failure to take responsibility for plantation fires, and indigenous rights violations.

Following an independent investigation, the RSPO Complaint Panel concluded in September 2024 …that PT Inecda should conduct participatory mapping with the direct involvement of the Talang Parit Indigenous community to document their environment and customary lands. PT Inecda is also required to improve internal grievance mechanisms by incorporating local residents’ input. PT Inecda appealed the decision, but it was dismissed, and RSPO’s ruling was finalized in March 2025.