Investors, buyers and other key influencers can use SPOTT assessments to inform stakeholder engagement, manage ESG risk, and increase transparency across multiple industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SPOTT is an initiative developed by ZSL (Zoological Society of London)<\/a>.Palm oil companies assessed on SPOTT<\/a>Timber and pulp companies assessed on SPOTT<\/a>Natural rubber companies assessed on SPOTT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n SPOTT supports constructive industry engagement by investors, ESG analysts, buyers and other supply chain stakeholders \u2013 those with the power to influence companies to increase disclosures and improve their practices on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Users of SPOTT can identify areas where a company is making continuous improvement and other areas where engagement may be needed. SPOTT indicators and assessment data can inform policies and procedures for due diligence, screening and sourcing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Companies do not report directly to ZSL to inform their SPOTT assessments. Instead, we conduct thorough reviews of their publicly available reports and publications, before contacting each company with its draft assessment. This engagement process means that companies have the opportunity to respond to ZSL, make further public disclosures, and provide feedback ahead of the final review and publication on SPOTT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We select companies using a methodology<\/a> that considers the needs of SPOTT users and identifies companies of the greatest interest and impact given their operations, geographies, and supply chain positions. Specifically, we have selected companies for assessment based on the following factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We encourage all companies \u2013 not just those assessed on SPOTT \u2013 to report regularly and accurately on their progress towards meeting commitments. ZSL accepts ongoing nominations of additional palm oil,<\/a> timber and pulp<\/a>, and natural rubber<\/a> companies for future SPOTT assessment.Meet the SPOTT team at ZSL<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n SPOTT assessments follow three comprehensive frameworks of best practice indicators for palm oil,<\/a> timber and pulp<\/a> and natural rubber<\/a> companies. Each framework consists of detailed research protocols for more than 100 indicators divided across 10 categories. ZSL has developed the SPOTT indicators in collaboration with technical advisors<\/a> to ensure they are closely aligned with related initiatives<\/a> including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ZSL has published five SPOTT annual reports<\/a> since launching in November 2014. These reports demonstrate the impacts of SPOTT on the palm oil industry, tracking notable increases in corporate ESG transparency scores, demonstated on the SPOTT Dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.spott.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/SPOTT-assessment-cycle.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAssessments and engagement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Indicators of best practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.spott.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/10\/SPOTT-indicator-categories-vertical-119x300.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSPOTT annual reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.spott.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/AR2019-cover-300x167.png\")
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