The first RSPO certification seminar in China was held in the southern city of Guangzhou on 22 October. The seminar, organized in conjunction with SGS, brought together around 30 domestic Chinese companies. Peter Headden and Jill Peng (pictured), from Hill+Knowlton Strategies, gave an overview of the global development of the palm oil sector. Participants heard about the need for sustainable palm oil in China, the progress RSPO has made in the country so far, and how Chinese companies can contribute. Following this presentation, Ms. Jelly Yu, National Wood Segment Product Manager at SGS, gave a detailed outline of the RSPO certification process. The talks were followed by a Q&A. The event helped to further educate domestic companies about the importance of sustainable palm oil, while at the same time addressing their questions and concerns. Based on the success of the seminar both parties agreed to explore opportunities to hold similar events in other Chinese cities.
