Achieving 100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil/Palm Kernel Oil (CSPO/CSPKO)supply chains in North America requires bringing all stakeholders on board, including suppliers, consumer goods manufacturers, and even consumers. This can be challenging when many stakeholders are at different stages of their journeys with different levels of understanding of CSPO/CSPKO. The Education and Outreach Working Group works to create tools and resources to simplify information about the RSPO, Supply Chain Certification, and CSPO/CSPKO so that it is easier for stakeholders and consumers to quickly understand and act. This will be achieved by:

1. providing assistance and guidance for the development and dissemination of materials to better address consumers questions about palm oil, certified sustainable palm oil, and how RSPO members and consumers play a part in making sustainable palm oil the norm
2. providing assistance and guidance for the development and dissemination of materials and tools for consumer goods manufacturers to better communicate with their customers and consumers about the importance of the RSPO and certified sustainable palm oil
3. provide assistance and guidance for the development and dissemination of materials for traders and distributers to better understand and communicate the key aspects of the standard in an impactful way
4. provide assistance and guidance for the development and dissemination of materials/trainings for companies looking to achieve Supply Chain Certification

The Standardized Vendor Survey

The first tool created by the Education and Outreach Working Group is a standardized vendor survey, which aids companies in achieving Supply Chain Certification. To achieve Supply Chain Certification, companies must have an understanding of where each of their suppliers are in their sustainable palm oil journey. When many companies send different surveys to similar suppliers, this can lead to confusion and fatigue amongst suppliers as they try to provide information to each of their customers. This survey aims to standardize this process, allowing for easier and more accurate data collection from suppliers.

This vendor survey template was designed as an open-source tool to be adapted and used as needed. The template contains large sample of questions that would likely be helpful to companies seeking to achieve their sustainable palm oil sourcing policies. However, this template is not intended to be prescriptive and it should be adapted based on organizational needs.