Bloomberg: Palm Oil Giant’s Industry-Beating ESG Score Hides Razed Forests

Earlier this year, Golden Agri Resources Ltd. acknowledged that its Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) unit failed to compensate local residents for its business practices including the destruction of forests and violating the rights of indigenous people. However, the parent company, Golden Agri Resources Ltd. boasts one of the highest investor ratings for environmental and social policies. Some experts believe that the heavy focus on ESG scores, has the potential to hide misdeeds.