As the landscape of environmental restoration evolves, recovery work has emerged as a critical yet challenging component of sustainability. Initiatives like Earthqualizer Foundation’s Recovery and Re-Entry Program, developed in collaboration with industry leaders like Unilever, demonstrate the transformative potential of structured recovery efforts. However, to fully realize the benefits of such programs, the industry must overcome persistent challenges, foster greater collaboration, and commit to standardizing benchmarks for sustainable growth.
Despite significant progress, recovery work has many challenges. A major hurdle lies in defining liability for past harm. This process requires balancing additionality—ensuring recovery efforts go beyond standard practices—with practical considerations like costs, logistics, and stakeholder buy-in.
Land rights disputes further complicate recovery projects. Conflicting claims over land ownership or usage create delays and legal challenges, particularly in areas where restoration efforts are needed most. Additionally, recovery work often incurs substantial costs, especially for activities like reforestation, social forestry, and community engagement, leaving many growers struggling to shoulder the financial burden.
Ethical and regulatory obstacles also persist. In some regions, restoration is constrained by laws or political resistance, making compliance difficult. The use of ex-situ restoration—replacing forests in one area by planting in another—raises ethical concerns about equivalency and ecological impact.
Another pressing issue is the lack of standardized NDPE (No Deforestation, Peat, and Exploitation) re-entry protocols across the industry. Inconsistent definitions and requirements leave suppliers uncertain about what is needed to regain market access and discourage broader adoption of recovery practices.
Collaboration and transparency are essential for overcoming these challenges. Transparent recovery processes build confidence and trust among stakeholders, including suppliers, downstream actors, NGOs, and consumers. For suppliers, this includes self-reporting on recovery commitments and progress. Independent third-party audits and external oversight ensure that recovery efforts are both credible and verifiable.
Unilever’s recovery model highlights the importance of transparency and collaboration. By combining self-reporting with external audits and robust internal assurance systems, the company demonstrates accountability while supporting its suppliers. This approach not only drives results but also sets an example for other industry players to follow.
Industry-wide collaboration is equally important. Standardizing NDPE re-entry protocols can eliminate confusion and create a level playing field for suppliers. Shared responsibility for recovery costs is another critical factor. Currently, the financial burden falls on growers, even though downstream actors also benefit from enhanced supply chain resilience and market access. By sharing recovery costs, stakeholders can achieve greater impact and foster long-term sustainability.
Recovery programs offer far-reaching benefits for both the environment and the industry. By addressing past harm, these initiatives enable suppliers to regain market access while adhering to NDPE principles.
The alignment of recovery programs with broader sustainability frameworks, such as the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s (RSPO) Remediation and Compensation Procedure (RaCP), further underscores their value. Harmonizing NDPE policies with these frameworks can streamline processes, reduce redundancies, and encourage wider adoption of recovery practices.
Unified protocols also have the potential to bridge gaps between NDPE initiatives and other sustainability commitments. For instance, integrating RSPO’s RaCP principles into NDPE recovery programs could create a consistent standard for assessing liability, planning remediation work, and tracking progress. This alignment would bolster the credibility of recovery efforts and reinforce the industry’s sustainability commitments.
The journey to sustainability is complex but achievable. Recovery programs like Earthqualizer’s offer a blueprint for addressing environmental harm while driving systemic change. However, their success hinges on tackling core challenges, fostering transparency, and embracing collaboration.
The benefits of recovery programs extend beyond environmental restoration. They empower communities, support local economies, and create resilient supply chains. These initiatives also align with the growing demand for corporate accountability, offering a pathway for companies to meet both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations.
To unlock the full potential of recovery programs, stakeholders must rise to the challenge. This includes growers, who must implement recovery work; downstream actors, who must share responsibility for funding; and policymakers, who must create supportive frameworks. Standardizing benchmarks, clarifying protocols, and ensuring shared accountability will be critical steps toward broader adoption and effectiveness.
In this shared endeavour, every stakeholder has a role to play. Through innovation, transparency, and collective action, the vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable supply chain is within reach. The road ahead may be challenging, but with determination and unity, the promise of lasting change can become a reality.
Established in 2019, Earthqualizer Foundation is a non-profit organization with international experience, rooted in the interests of local communities and dedicated to the sustainable management of natural resources. We are committed to transforming commodity supply chains for the benefit of people and nature. Our work blends environmental recovery with government and corporate responsibility, and social justice.
Earthqualizer operates at the nexus of government, industry and civil society in Southeast Asia, weaving these threads together to achieve tangible and lasting results that strengthen sustainability. To know more and find our latest news or publications, please visit https://earthqualizer.org/news-and-publications
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