Critics fear RSPO's stricter palm oil standards will create two-tier system

While some believe the palm oil certifier is taking a significant step forward, others fear the creation of a system that excludes smaller companies

The world's leading body for the certification of sustainable palm oil has created new standards to tackle deforestation, human rights violations and greenhouse gas emissions on certified plantations.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) published the RSPO Next standards on 9 February following rising pressure from industry and campaigners who claim that certified firms are still participating in deforestation, land-grabbing and the destruction of biodiversity, such as the loss of habitat for orangutans.