Global Compact International Yearbook 2009

Best Practice
Environment
weight of approximately 21 percent of
the mass of fruit processed. The empty
fruit bunches are applied directly to the
oil palm estates at a specific dosage. As
the nutritional content quickly declines,
empty fruit bunches should be applied
within six days in order to maximize
the benefit. As organic mulch, empty
fruit bunches provide natural nourishment
to the oil palm trees and soil; provide
a growth medium for beneficial
RSPO Principles
effluent to the estates, ponds should be
established to store the digested effluent,
which is channeled directly from the
mills to the estates.
SMART uses the shells and fiber of husks
from the fresh fruit bunches, which are
the solid waste from the mills.
Reduce Dust from Boilers
To promote cleaner air, SMART has
initiated the usage of boilers that are
equipped with "dust collectors" or "multicyclones",
as some would call them. The
main function of dust collectors is to remove
the smallest-sized particulates from
the boiler flue gas so the exhaust released
to the atmosphere is clean. In addition,
most of the mills are also equipped with
automatic fuel and draft controls that
can improve the burning or combustion
efficiency of the palm fuel (shell and
fiber) and ultimately avoid dust.
1. Commitment to transparency
2. Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
3. Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability
4. Use of appropriate best practices by growers and millers
5. Environmental responsibility and conservation of natural resources and
biodiversity
6. Responsible consideration of employees and individuals and communities
affected by growers and mills
7. Responsible development of new plantings
8. Commitment to continuous improvement in key areas of activity
Bio-gas Generator Initiatives
SMART is continually pursuing other
initiatives to reduce or prevent negative
environmental impact, such as methane
gas release, waste water and production
residue that can pollute and endanger
the environment. Advanced options are
being reviewed to further reduce the usage
of diesel by replacing it with bio-gas.
Currently, an alternative is being worked
on to reduce the use of diesel by capturing
methane gas from mill effluent.
micro-organisms; stimulate the growth
of new roots; promote soil conservation
to prevent erosion and intensify the soil’s
water-holding capacity.
The POME from the mill, generally representing
55 percent of the mass of fruit
processed, can also be used as organic fertilizer,
after being digested in the waste
water treatment plant to decrease several
parameters in accordance with the
Decree of the Minister of Environment
of the Republic of Indonesia Number
29, Year 2003. Digested palm oil mill
effluent contains natural nutrients and
water for the oil palm trees and soil and
provides a growth medium for beneficial
micro-organisms. To apply the digested
As an alternative to direct application
of the digested effluent and empty fruit
bunches to the estates, organic compost
can also be generated by spraying
the digested effluent onto the shredded
empty fruit bunches. After the decomposition
process, empty fruit bunches will
lose half their weight and 80% of their
volume, but the nutrient content will
remain the same. This alternative allows
efficient transportation and application
of the composted empty fruit bunches to
estates located far from the mills.
Use of Shell and Fiber as
Fuel in Boilers
Minimizing usage of diesel means reducing
the consumption of fossil fuels and
emissions released into the air, as the
exhaust from diesel generators contains
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide (NOx),
which increase pollution. Instead of using
diesel to fuel the boilers in the mills,
Conventionally, mill effluent is treated
in open lagoons, where it undergoes an
anaerobic process that releases methane
gas to the atmosphere. The methane
gas released could be captured by biodigesters
and burnt in gas engines to
generate electricity for the mill. In this
way, emission of methane gas to the atmosphere
is eliminated. At the same time,
the usage of gas in generators to produce
electricity, as a replacement for diesel
generators, greatly reduces the exhaust
gases from fossil fuel. SMART will constantly
embrace technological innovation
to work on more advanced alternatives
that constructively contribute to lessening
the impact on the environment and
ultimately preserving nature.
Contact: Ismu Zulfikar
Global Compact International Yearbook 2009 71