GAR Unites Suppliers and Stakeholders to Accelerate Sustainability Action at SMART SEED XI

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Posted: Nov 14, 2025 • 3 minute read • GAR • 2 Likes

Ian Suwarganda opened the SMART SEED XI event, themed “GAR’s Sustainability Journey: Collective for Impact, Together in Action,” emphasising industry transformation through tangible action across the supply chain

Medan, Indonesia (14 November 2025): Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) convened over 100 supplier companies, alongside buyers, NGOs, academics and internal company representatives, at the 11^th SMART SEED supplier engagement forum on Tuesday (11/11) in Medan, North Sumatra.

Themed GAR’s Sustainability Journey: Collective for Impact, Together in Action, the event affirmed the company’s dedication to advancing industry transformation by moving beyond commitments and towards tangible action across the supply chain.

The forum served multiple purposes: to share updates on GAR’s sustainability achievements and progress on its Collective for Impact sustainability framework targets; to strengthen supplier alignment with the company’s No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) commitments; to recognise suppliers who have demonstrated strong sustainability performance; and to secure a renewed commitment towards shared action in building a responsible, traceable and inclusive palm oil supply chain.

Shared Responsibility Driving Transformation

Speaking at the event, Ian Suwarganda, Director of Sustainable Supply and Production at GAR, reinforced the company’s focus on shared responsibility and practical action.

“We cannot achieve a sustainable palm oil supply chain on our own. Change happens only when all actors are moving in the same direction,” he said. “Our focus goes beyond commitments to focus on real transformation on the ground. This means full traceability, no deforestation, lower emissions, and ensuring smallholders are not left behind. We invite our suppliers and partners to walk this journey with us, because meaningful impact can only be realised when we act together.”

The event featured two sessions reflecting the pillars of GAR’s sustainability framework. The first focused on the progress of the NDPE Implementation Reporting Framework (NDPE IRF), including transition to the new NDPE IRF 6.0 model. In addition to measuring progress on responsible practices such as no deforestation and peatland protection, GAR also aims to enhance measurement of emissions across its supply chain. Suppliers were encouraged to take an active role in emissions reduction and data disclosure, reinforcing collective accountability towards a lower carbon palm oil industry.

As of 2024, GAR had already achieved 99% NDPE IRF implementation (Version 5.8) under the Delivering category. The company will establish a baseline for NDPE IRF Version 6.0 by the end of 2025, expanding assessments to three key supply-base categories: direct management areas, independent plantations and independent smallholders.

The second session addressed smallholder empowerment and human rights, highlighting GAR’s ongoing support through capacity-building initiatives such as the Sawit Terampil programme, human rights training and updates to its Human Rights Due Diligence system. Both sessions strengthen the central message: sustainable transformation depends on collaboration, accountability and action from all actors.

*Advancing human rights in the palm oil supply chain through stronger training, improved due diligence, and collaboration with all stakeholders.*

To reinforce this shared journey towards sustainability, GAR recognised 13 suppliers and partners for their progress and collaboration. Six companies received the Human Rights Transformation Award for demonstrating notable progress following human rights due diligence (HRDD) verification. Another six companies received the Carbon Data Collaboration Award for their proactive efforts in sharing carbon-related data and contributing to greater emissions transparency across the supply chain. GAR also extended appreciation to the Sawit Terampil cooperative, Koperasi Jasa Sawit Lepan Jaya (KJSLJ), for its ongoing commitment to empowering smallholders to adopt sustainable practices and pursue certification.

“We are grateful for this recognition. It is not only an acknowledgement of our performance in human rights, but also a reminder that human rights responsibilities go beyond meeting indicators. They are about people, and they require consistency and care,” said Lesmana, one of the participants from Inecda Plantation.

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