The seat of the association is in Zürich, Switzerland, while the secretariat is currently based in Kuala Lumpur, with a satellite office in Jakarta.

[1] The RSPO was established following concerns raised by non-governmental organizations about environmental impacts resulting from palm oil production.

[14] Meanwhile, Greenpeace claims that, whilst RSPO has finally banned deforestation after 14 years, this isn't enforced and its members continue to destroy forests.

[15] In July 2020, scientists used 30-year time series of satellite images to reveal that palm oil producing areas certified as sustainable had replaced tropical forests of Sumatra and Borneo, including important habitat for endangered mammals.

Counterfactual evaluations also reveal subtle differences in oil palm impacts between regions, and important trade-offs between environment and development.

[23] The website stated in 2010:[24] Clearing for oil palm plantations threatens some of the world’s greatest forests, endangered species such as orangutans, and puts forest-dwelling people at risk.

But with better management practices, the palm oil industry could provide benefits without threatening our some of our most breathtaking natural treasures...

In 2018, the WWF updated its position to support the RSPO Updated Principles and Criteria, the outcome of an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process on achieving sustainable palm oil production, stating that the RSPO "represents an essential tool that can help companies achieve their commitments to palm oil that is free of deforestation, expansion on peat, exploitation and the use of fire.