On November 6 2017, the "Sustainable Palm Oil Conference" organized by the Executive Committee of JaSPOC (Japan Sustainable Palm Oil Conference) was held in Tokyo. 

The conference aimed at considering the way of procuring palm oil toward 2020. Approximately 370 people including companies, organizations, NGOs, and media-related persons participated in the conference in which reports on 'sustainable palm oil procurement' by companies, human rights/environmental NGOs, investors, etc. were given followed by a panel discussion.

The keynote lecture was given on the theme "Business and SDGs" by Professor OKI Taikan Senior Vice-Reactor of United Nations University/ a Professor of Graduate School and a special advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo. Professor OKI mentioned that efforts to SDGs is not a philanthropic project or a contribution but a core business. Although it does not always work out, but it is important to keep on walking.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion with the theme "Procurement of Palm Oil aiming for 2020" was held. Eight speakers from different organizations including Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) reported their respective practical cases and exchanged opinions on the subjects.   

FUTAMURA Chikako Director of JCCU Member Relations Division (middle) 

FUTAMURA Chikako, Director of JCCU Member Relations Division who participated as one of the speakers, reported that CO-OP CLEAN CO., Ltd, a subsidiary of JCCU joined RSPO in 2006 followed by JCCU in October 2017. She mentioned that with the strong wish of JCCU to realize a sustainable society, the organization as a retailer continues to think what they can do at the job site of retailing and try to change the society through production and consumption.

Also, an opinion was expressed and welcomed by the speakers as a common recognition, that “procurement of sustainable palm oil is not a problem that one company (one organization) can solve. 

Efforts to expand sustainable palm oil to society is not a competitive field. The whole supply chain should expand consumer and society's recognition and cooperate with each other to execute it."