We are strong believers in continuous improvement and we hold a mirror to ourselves to always do better.
Sustainability should be intentional and is integrated in all what we do. Through its design, the decisions and policies we make every day, our business has become a means to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and ultimately building a better world for all.
The Siat Group was one of the first RSPO members, since 2004. We participated in the development of national RSPO interpretations for Ghana, Gabon and Nigeria ; the latter of which was recently approved and we have ensured timely RSPO certification of our subsidiaries in Nigeria, to join our operations in Ghana, RSPO certified since 2015 and the one of the first African companies able to produce and trade RSPO-certified products since 2016.
At top level, the Siat Group validated several policies clearly defining its strategy and commitments towards the environment, social development, employee protection and respect of the quality demanded by our customers. This resulted in the appointment of an ESG Board Committee.
The creation of the Sustainability Department in 2014 has enabled us to move forward, more specifically by formalising and validating various social, environmental and quality commitments.
Each year Siat allocates an important budget to maintain good relations with the communities and to environmental studies. Hence, we enhance our knowledge and environmental protection by preserving new zones within our concessions each year.We consider the needs of our clients by modernising and certifying our production units on a regular basis. We believe in transparency, and therefore our Sustainability report outlines the results and situation as objectively as possible, revealing the challenges, progress made and discussing future developments.
Siat firmly believes in environmentally friendly production. For instance, all factory waste of the oil mills is recycled into the plantation or used as fuel to generate process steam and electricity. CIRAD assists our plantation managers with an integrated pest control and soil fertility management system.
As a major actor in the oil palm and rubber industry, Siat Group is aware of the impact of its activities on the people and on the environment. The Company is committed to undertake all its activities, from the resources to the transformation, in a sustainable manner, thus guaranteeing its partners and customers a responsible production which respects environmental and social values.
Siat is committed through its policies not to cultivate on fragile soils. This includes conservation areas (such as HCV, HCS, swamp, marshy and riparian areas), peat soils and high organic soils (such as Histosols), fragile and marginal soils (such as sandy soils), and slopes above 20° (to prevent soil erosion).
Siat installs cover plants on all its oil palm plantations to limit erosion and improve the soil fertility.
Siat is committed to restoring areas that could have been degraded in the past and to maintaining or increasing the fertility of cultivated soils (for example by returning to the fields organic matter taken during harvesting).
Siat conducts regular surface water, soil and leaves analyses and has contracts with international experts to establish its fertilization programs.
Siat has developed and applies integrated Pest Management (IPM) on all its plantations to rationalize the use of chemicals and avoid soil pollution. No product covered by the Rotterdam or Stockholm conventions, nor any class Ia or Ib product on the WHO list are used.
Siat aims to have at least 10% of its surfaces in conservation areas (see the sustainable development report).
Besides Siat’s firm ecological commitment, the Group also cares about its social responsibilities. In the catchment areas of its operations, the company assists communities with education and social infrastructure development such as roads, potable water, electricity and dispensaries. These actions aim at creating commitment and stability, which in turn provide security for the Group’s investments. Siat’s objective is to invest each year in community development projects.
Siat values its Human Resources and is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency and consistent treatment of all categories of workers. The company has developed the following policies to communicate its values and expectations to all workers. The company expects all its employees, business partners and associates to adhere to these policies. We provide mechanisms that respect anonymity, to identify, prevent, mitigate and address human rights issues and impacts.
For a favorable and fulfilling work environment, the Siat Group issues a code of conduct with values oriented towards the respect and the integrity of people. Consequently, Siat Group commits to:
These goals are only achievable with the involvement and commitment of all workers and stakeholders of Siat Group of Companies.
Siat is committed to preventing any form of human rights abuse as enshrined in the constitutions of the countries it operates in and the international human rights guidance [1]. The group’s key compliance focuses are:
[1] UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work [2] UN declaration on the right of indigenous people
Siat aims to promote and protect the reproductive rights [1] of all its workers, especially women by:
[1] Reproductive rights are defined as legal rights and freedom relating to reproduction and reproductive health, for couples and individuals, as well as freedom to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of children.
Siat is committed to ensuring that any form of discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, age or any other social condition, is prohibited [1].
In the conduct of its business the company endeavors to:[1] ILO conventions on remuneration and discrimination[2] ILO Convention Migrant workers
Siat prohibits all forms of workplace violence and harassment, particularly sexual harassment [1], whether engaged by workers or other stakeholders operating within SIAT Estates. Harassment is defined as unwelcome words, conduct or actions that are offensive, embarrassing, humiliating or demeaning to a worker or group of workers. Workplace violence is the exercise or attempt of physical force by a person against another.
The company will ensure that:
Siat is committed to investigating reported incidents of violence and harassment in an objective and timely manner, taking necessary action; and providing appropriate support for victims.
[1] Guide on Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Siat respects and supports the right of all categories of workers to freedom of association and to collective bargaining. The company commits to implementing this policy by:
[1] ILO convention Freedom of Association and protection of right to Organize
Siat subscribes to a zero tolerance policy of child labour or exploitation of children in any of its operations.
The company commits to securing a better future for children by:
Siat Group has committed to assess all its estates using different tools and creating action plans based on the results of assessments like: High Conservation Value and High Carbon Stock Approach (based on HVC RN methodologies), Land Use Change Analysis, New Planting Procedure, GreenHouse Gas calculation (based on RSPO Methods), Social and Environmental assessment (based on RSPO and national regulation when mandatory).
Our future is turned towards energy mixes and the use of renewable energies. In recent years, the Siat Group has invested heavily in these fields. In 2018, the group was awarded the prize of: “Best International Agricultural Plant – Siat, First Large Scale AD & Biogas Plants in West Africa: A Hope for the Palm Oil Sector”, awarded jointly by the World Biogas Association and the United Kingdom’s Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA).
This award recognizes the two biogas plants installed at GOPDC (Ghana) and Presco (Nigeria) to recover, by anaerobic fermentation, methane from organic sludge contained in oil mill effluents. This very strong greenhouse gas is captured, and while used as energy, effluent and sludge are treated.
In 2019, GOPDC and CHC was awarded the prize of: “Energy Globe Award”, respectively for Biomethanation and Cogeneration. It is awarded annually to projects focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energies and the conservation of resources.
We publish our Sustainability Reports since 2014 and GHG Emission Reports since 2016. These are easy to read and transparent while communicating as many quantified results as possible.
Policies, codes and various documents are available in the respective sections of this website, usually in English and in French.