Sustainability

Watawala Plantations becomes South Asia’s first RSPO certified palm oil plantation

Watawala Plantations PLC (CSE: WATA), Sri Lanka’s leading diversified agribusiness company, has reached the next milestone in its development of sustainable oil palm plantations, achieving the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification for the palm oil mill and concessions in Galle District. The momentous recognition makes WATA the first plantations company in South Asia and Sri Lanka to be certified with this coveted accreditation.

The palm oil plantations of WATA—a joint venture between the diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings and Pyramid Wilmar—are located in Udugama, Galle. The certification strengthens Watawala Plantations’ leadership as the largest certified producer in Sri Lanka with a production capacity of 14,000 MT of palm oil (CPO) and 1,350 MT of palm kernel oil (PKO). WATA also supports local communities where 7% of the total fresh fruit bunches (FFB)

Sustainability By Watawala Plantations PLC

We Watawala Plantations PLC are committed to manufacturing of Sustainable Palm Oil which comprises of legal economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations.

Sustainable production of Palm Oil are critical to safeguarding the future of our company.

We ensure the credibility of the sustainability claim at the end of the supply chain, and physically handle certified sustainable oil palm. Transparency and credibility are assured through RSPO Supply Chain Certification and RSPO Principles and Criteria Certification.

Our Sustainable palm oil manufacturing comprises of legal and economically viable and environmentally appropriateness’ there by we assure to Behave ethically and transparently, Operate legally and respect rights, Optimize productivity, efficiency, positive impacts and resilience, Respect community and human rights and deliver benefits, Support smallholder inclusion, Respect workers’ rights and conditions, Protect, conserve and enhance ecosystems and the environment which are the 7 principles of RSPO 2018 Guidelines.

Apart from RSPO certification, WPL’s manufacturing facility Nakiyadeniya Palm Oil Mill is committed to conduct its operations in a sustainable manner and initiates innovations to improve the sustainable development at the mill. In this process Mill has identified the need of acquiring certifications which gives recognition in global level.

ISO 45001

ISO 45001 is the International Standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S) and Nakiyadeniya Palm Oil Mill is ISO 45001 certified from 2019. The system provides a safe and healthy workplace by preventing work-related injury and ill health, as well as by proactively improving its OH&S performance of the manufacturing process.

ISO 14001

Nakiyadeniya Palm Oil Mill is in the process of getting the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), which provides a framework to follow to improve environmental performance requirements and minimize how the operations negatively affect the environment; comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements for continual improvement.

ISO 50001

ISO 50001 is a management system to integrate energy management of overall efforts to improve quality of the energy usage. Nakiyadeniya Palm Oil Mill is in the process of getting ISO 50001 certified.

Sustainability Team

Ashen Fernando
Manager – Sustainability, Watawala Plantations PLC

Apart from that followings are the Sustainability Initiatives which has been undertaken by Watwala Plantations PLC covers Social, Environment and Economic Aspects. Followings are initiatives taken or monitored by the Sustainability Team Watawala Plantations PLC.

Geographic Information System (GIS) used in Field mapping and Surveying
Buffer Zone and Riparian Zone demarcation along the stream
Pesticide Free zone establishment
Best Management practices and Continuous Improvement in Agricultural Activities
Mini jungle maintaining in areas where not suitable oil palm cultivation
Enrichment of forest in riparian zones
Planting other crops in areas where oil palm is not suitable
Tree planting programs
Removing of Volunteer Palms
Awareness and Training for Environment Conservation
Green House Gas Emission Calculations
Collaborative programs with Government Universities
Biodiversity Assessment (Flora and Fauna)
Fresh water species identification and Protection
High Conservation Value Assessment by International parties
Social Impact Assessment by International parties
Soil Assessments/ Soil Survey
Soil Erosion Assessment
Sustainability New Clearing Report prior to Oil Palm Planting
Compost Project
Providing Personnel Protective Equipment

Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Control
Training (First aid, Fire, PPE, Waste Management, .. etc)
Occupational , Health and Safety Management
Public Consultation and Stakeholder Consultation Programs
Water Sample Testing according to the Government Standard
Compliances to the National Regulations and Ratified International Conventions
Developing of Company Policies related to Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Written Standard Operating Procedures for Agricultural Activities
Working Instructions for the Workers
Annual Medical Surveillance for the workers
Improvements in effluent water management through new technology implementation(DAFF machine)
Improvements in in house laboratory for water testing
Energy review audits
Energy loss minimization by insulation
Noise level mapping
New machinery replacement/ installation
Investigations for accidents/ investigations
VFD installation for energy optimization
OSHA audits for continual improvements
Policy formulation