New evidence exposes Singapore-based First Resources’ alleged links to Indonesian deforestation

From the report

The global palm oil industry’s sustainability commitments are facing renewed scrutiny following investigations uncovering alleged corporate, commercial and operational links between Singapore-based palm oil giant First Resources and Indonesian companies accused of extensive deforestation. The findings raise serious questions about corporate transparency, environmental accountability and the effectiveness of voluntary certification systems designed to protect the world’s remaining forests.

An investigation involving the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Indonesian environmental organization Kaoem Telapak has identified apparent operational, personnel, accounting and logistical connections between First Resources, Kalimantan Agro Sejahtera (KAS Group) and another palm oil producer, FAP Agri. The findings challenge previous corporate statements denying certain relationships between these businesses and raise questions about whether their publicly disclosed corporate structures accurately reflect their commercial operations.

First Resources is a major player in the international palm oil market, controlled by Singapore’s billionaire Fangiono family. Its operations and commercial relationships extend across international supply chains serving major commodity traders and food manufacturers. Consequently, questions about its relationships with suppliers accused of forest destruction have implications far beyond Indonesia, potentially affecting international buyers, investors and financial institutions that rely on corporate sustainability commitments.