Jakarta, 24 January 2017 - Today, The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil launched the "Youth Leader in Sustainability" program to find future leaders who will become ambassadors of the Sustainability campaign. The Youth Leader in Sustainability ambassador search program is held in collaboration with WWF-Indonesia, The Body Shop® and SINAR MEADOW. The program will run from January to May 2017 with a series of activities ranging from roadshows to various universities, seminars to the selection stage.

The launch of the "Youth Leader in Sustainability" program targets Indonesian students from all universities in Indonesia and aims to educate Indonesian consumers about socially and environmentally friendly palm oil and environmentally friendly lifestyles. The competition follows the results of a consumer perception study conducted by RSPO in 2015 which showed that Indonesian consumers still have a low understanding of sustainable palm oil, its positive impact on the environment and society, and the power of consumers in making sustainable palm oil practices the norm in Indonesia. This activity is also part of the 'Buy Good' campaign initiated by WWF-Indonesia since 2015 which continues to receive active support from RSPO.

Tiur Rumondang, Director of RSPO Indonesia said "The production of sustainable palm oil that has been certified by RSPO globally currently reaches 12.15 million tons, or 17% of the world's total palm oil production. Indonesia accounts for 58% of sustainable palm oil production from the total volume of RSPO certified palm oil. However, domestic absorption of sustainable palm oil is still relatively minimal due to low consumer demand in Indonesia. Therefore, more educational activities like this are expected to increase consumer awareness supported by increased demand for products based on sustainable palm oil."

Palm oil is a very popular commodity used in many consumer products such as cooking oil, margarine, chocolate, ice cream, soap, cosmetics and fuel for cars and power plants. However, not many consumers are aware of this. These "Youth Leader in Sustainability" ambassadors will work together with RSPO, WWF-Indonesia, The Body Shop®, and SINAR MEADOW to educate the public on the positive environmental, social and economic impacts of sustainable practices in palm oil production.

In his explanation at the press conference, Arnold Sitompul, Conservation Director of WWF-Indonesia said "The condition of global biodiversity (including Indonesia) is already at a very alarming level. One of the factors driving the rate of biodiversity decline is the unsustainable utilization of natural resources (including the palm oil industry). To ensure the preservation of biodiversity, there is a need for a new breakthrough in encouraging a sustainable palm oil industry.

Suzy Hutomo, Executive Chairwoman of The Body Shop® Indonesia emphasized that the company's involvement in the "Youth Leader in Sustainability" program is a form of global commitment entitled "Enrich Not Exploit, It's In Our Hands" which aims to achieve true sustainability and become the most ethical global business in the world. "The Body Shop® believes that it's not just us who have the power to create positive change in the world as a responsible business; it's all of us, including all of our customers and the younger generation who have the power to create positive change in the lives of others."

Melvin Darmadinata, General Manager of SINAR MEADOW said that "SINAR MEADOW's participation in this program is in line with the company's commitment to always provide our customers with sustainably produced products. We hope that through this program not only raise awareness but also increase the demand for products that are environmentally friendly and responsibly produced."

RSPO, WWF-Indonesia, The Body Shop® and SINAR MEADOW will conduct roadshows and seminars to eleven (11) Universities in Jabodetabek, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Jambi. This activity is supported by KampusUpdate.com as one of the supporting media. The students must go through selection stages starting from the competition through the Sustainability Quest app that can be downloaded on Google and Apple stores, creating and presenting socialization campaign ideas related to sustainability. Ten (10) selected students will be invited for judging. Three winners will be selected as "Youth Leader in Sustainability" ambassadors. These young leaders will be given the opportunity to intern for six (6) months at the RSPO office and supporting partners of this program and can realize the sustainability campaign idea during the internship.

For more information regarding the "Youth Leader in Sustainability" program, please access youthleaderindonesia.rspo.org.

About RSPO www.rspo.org
In response to urgent global pressure for sustainable palm oil production, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was formed in 2004 with the aim of promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through credible global standards and by engaging a wide range of stakeholders. RSPO is registered in Zurich, Switzerland, with the secretariat office in Kuala Lumpur and representative offices in Jakarta, London and Beijing.

RSPO is a not-for-profit association that brings together stakeholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry - palm oil producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, and environmental and social conservation NGOs - to develop and implement a global standard for sustainable palm oil.

About WWF-Indonesia & the 'Buy Good' Campaign
WWF-Indonesia is an independent national conservation organization and part of the WWF global network. Starting work in Indonesia in 1962 with the Javan Rhino study in Ujung Kulon, WWF-Indonesia is currently active in 30 fieldwork areas in 17 provinces, ranging from Aceh to Papua. Supported by around 500 staff, WWF-Indonesia works with the government, local communities, the private sector, NGOs, civil society and the public at large. From 2006 to 2013, WWF-Indonesia was supported by around 64,000 supporters in the country.

'Buy Good' is a consumer campaign initiated by WWF-Indonesia since June 2015 with the aim of changing public consumption behavior to be more responsible and sustainable. Through this campaign, WWF-Indonesia encourages consumers to make changes from themselves by practicing the following consumption styles: 1) choosing labeled products that guarantee products come from sustainable and responsible sources and practices, 2) asking retailers and manufacturers to provide labeled products in the market, 3) using the Consumer Guide actively every time before buying a product, 4) choosing products that use environmentally friendly technology that saves energy and produces minimal waste.

For more information about WWF-Indonesia and the 'Buy Good' campaign, please visit www.wwf.or.id.

About The Body Shop®
Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Anita Roddick, The Body Shop® is a global beauty brand. The Body Shop® seeks to make a positive difference in the world by offering skincare, hair care, and make-up that is inspired by nature, high quality, and ethically and sustainably produced. The Body Shop® was first to create the philosophy that business can be a force for good and following its acquisition by L'Oréal in 2006, The Body Shop® expanded its vision. The Body Shop® has more than 3,000 stores in over 60 countries.

In 2016, The Body Shop® launched the Enrich Not Exploit™ Commitment as a new global CSR strategy that underpins all aspects of its operations and supports The Body Shop®'s mission to be the world's most ethical and sustainable global business. The commitment is divided into three pillars of commitment, namely enrich our people, enrich our products, and enrich our planet, and The Body Shop® has specific and measurable targets by 2020 that the business is responsible for achieving.

In Indonesia, The Body Shop® started in 1992 in Jakarta, under PT Monica Hijau Lestari. Currently The Body Shop® has spread throughout Indonesia with the presence of 149 stores and you can also shop online through www.thebodyshop.co.id. Complete information about The Body Shop® can be found on social media Facebook Fan Page: The Body Shop® Indonesia, Twitter and Instagram @thebodyshopindo and Youtube channel The Body Shop Indonesia.

About SINAR MEADOW
SINAR MEADOW is a Joint Venture company between Sinar Mas Group - Indonesia and Goodman Fielder - Australia that has been operating in Indonesia since 1990. From Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, we produce quality and sustainable palm oil-based consumer fats and oils; including Margarine, Shortening, Specialty Fats and a wide range of Cooking Oils for industrial use.

We distribute these products to national and international markets such as Asia, Middle East and other Asia Pacific countries.

We are always committed to building mutually beneficial cooperation with bakery entrepreneurs, national to international food industries/factories (such as biscuits, snacks, & sweets), hotels, restaurants, professional catering services, food ingredient industries (such as cheese, chocolate filling and chocolate compound), and bakery and cake ingredient supply stores.

With more than 25 years of experience and strong understanding in the industry, we prove our credibility as a manufacturer of high quality edible fat and oil products in Indonesia.

Media Contact
RSPO
Dhiny Nedyasari, Indonesia Communication Manager,
T: +62818740121, [email protected]

M. Arief, VaryaCom
T: +62896-3626-6662, [email protected]

WWF-Indonesia
Margareth Meutia, Footprint Campaign Coordinator
T: +62 8158812844; [email protected]

The Body Shop®
Ratu Ommaya, Public Relation Manager
T: +62817-727-071, [email protected]

SINAR MEADOW
http://sinarmeadow.com