Billionaire businessman Sukanto Tanoto’s Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) comprises a world-class group of companies at the forefront of resource-based industries. As such, they are all committed to sustainable development in all of their respective operation areas.
Their commitment is demonstrated by their implementation of ‘best practices’ in economic, environmental, and social spheres. Their business philosophy follows the model of the 5 C’s—that which is ‘Good for the Community, Good for the Country, Good for the Climate, Good for the Customer, and Good for the Company’.
While providing stable employment for over 60,000 employees, Sukanto Tanoto’s RGE is also committed to eliminating deforestation and conserving natural habitats in which they operate as well as implementing effective management practices in countries that supply their timber.
Working with local communities
As part of their dedication to the 5 C’s, RGE is constantly on the lookout to align its business and corporate social responsibility (CSR) interests with those of local communities and collaborate as much as possible in fulfilling those interests. Some of their activities to this end include:
- Working to alleviate poverty among rural communities in and around operation areas by providing jobs, access to quality education, improving rural livelihood, and facilitating community empowerment
- Proactive CSR initiatives, such as integrated farming systems and village entrepreneurship incubations
- Inclusion of SMEs and smallholders into their supply chains
Upholding the rights of indigenous people
The work of RGE companies sometimes brings them into contact with rural indigenous communities. As such, the Group has taken steps to ensure that all encounters with these communities are respectful, peaceful, and friendly. Some of RGE’s activities to ensure this include:
- Upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Respecting the tenure rights of indigenous rural communities
- Respecting the rights of indigenous communities to afford their ‘Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)’ to operate on their lands
- Zero tolerance of violence towards indigenous people
Responsible Practices in the workplace
Each RGE company upholds a daily commitment to provide “a safe, productive, and conducive work environment” throughout their supply chains while also allowing employees to contribute and advance that commitment. Some of their steps taken to ensure this include:
- Allowing diversity and freedom of association within the workforce
- Provision of safe and hygienic accommodation as part of their employment package
- Zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse, or harassment
- Zero tolerance for child labour, bonded labour, or forced labour
- Protecting the health and safety of workers, including equipping them for protection against various occupational health and safety hazards
Conservation under RGE’s Sustainable Forestry Business Model
As a resource-based group of companies, RGE is committed to conservation and responsible use of environmental resources under its Sustainable Forestry Business Model. Some of their main conservation efforts include:
- Supporting the conservation of environmentally significant forests, deep forested peatlands, and other habitats that are ecologically and culturally significant and located within the landscapes of operation areas
- Establishing partnerships with other stakeholders, such as NGOs, government bodies, and companies, to conserve and manage forests in operation areas
- Supporting biodiversity and carbon conservation initiatives and focusing on effective landscape management
