At the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO RT2025) in Kuala Lumpur, RBConnect co-founder and board member Manon Wolfkamp joined a panel discussion on “Building Credibility and How Businesses Should Respond.” The session explored how global regulatory developments and rising stakeholder expectations are pushing companies toward more transparent, inclusive, and data-driven approaches to sustainability.
Avoiding a “Ticking-the-Box” Approach
Responding to the question of how companies can move beyond a “ticking-the-box” approach to stakeholder engagement, Manon stated: “It is easy to greenwash – and just as easy to be accused of greenwashing. To stay credible, companies must engage meaningfully with stakeholders, such as independent trade unions. This not only makes your due diligence process more credible but also more effective. Through stakeholder engagement, business can built mutual trust and understanding to identify, address and remediate negative impacts, such as unsafe working conditions or environmental pollution, more effectively. Key stakeholders to consult are trade unions. They represent workers, play a vital role in ensuring their voices are heard through genuine social dialogue. “Companies can avoid ticking boxes by engaging structurally with stakeholders in a sincere and practical way,” Manon said. “Start small, for example with pilot projects where companies and unions identify risks and work together on solutions.”
Credibility Through Data and Collaboration
In the follow-up discussion on credibility and data, Manon emphasized that trustworthy due diligence begins with sincere motivation—across governments, companies, civil society, and trade unions—to prevent and mitigate negative impacts. She pointed to the Fair Work Monitor, developed by Dutch trade union CNV Internationaal, as a positive example of how data and digitalization can strengthen engagement. The tool gathers insights from workers through digital surveys, allowing local unions to own and analyze the data to support constructive dialogue with companies. “Digital tools like the Fair Work Monitor enable trade unions to make credible, data-driven contributions to due diligence processes, strengthening both accountability and collaboration,” she explained.
A Call for Leadership and Transparency
In closing, Manon called on RSPO members and companies to take leadership in human rights due diligence: “It’s been fifteen years since the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were adopted. The palm oil industry at the RSPO should be leading by example—proactively implementing due diligence and engaging meaningfully with stakeholders throughout the value chain.” Being RSPO certified is not the same as complying with HRDD, but it can be an important instrument towards HRDD. Lastly, she emphasized that credibility also means openness about challenges: “Companies are allowed to make mistakes and learn over time. Being transparent about what is not going as planned is what truly builds trust.”
RBConnect thanks the RSPO, moderator Melizel Asuncion, and fellow panelists Renaka Ramachandran, László Máthé, and Joel Brounen for an inspiring and forward-looking discussion.
