PhD Research 3: Ahmad Dermawan

Navigating across regulatory systems: corporate self-regulation on zero deforestation commitment in the palm oil sector in Indonesia

In spite of the presence of both global private and national public standards to promote sustainable palm oil in Indonesia, the six biggest palm oil companies of Indonesia have committed themselves to zero-deforestation through self-regulation. This research tries to understand how they navigate in a plural order of sustainability standards and regulatory authorities. Particular issues are about the drivers of these companies to establish self-regulation, their definitions of forests and deforestation, and the consequences of their commitments for smallholders who want to expand their palm oil production. The research draws from theoretical debates and insights on transnational business governance interactions, global legal pluralism and corporate social responsibility. The research applies a case study approach. Data will be collected through in-depth key informant interviews, document reviews, household surveys and focus group discussions.