Summary
This paper analyses the delivery of sustainability policies through hybrid public-private governance, focusing on ‘No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation’ (NDPE) policies in the oil palm industry. The researchers use interview data from producers in Sumatra and European retailers, to explore the views of commodity chain actors on the limitations of private regulation and prospects for more effective supply-chain governance. Actors in both sections of the supply chain recognise shortcomings in existing predominantly private regulations, and identify the need for stronger state influence. The authors discuss potential hybrid governance measures that would involve not only cooperation between civil society, business and government, but also thorough democratisation of all such institutions, giving greater voice to the interests of Indonesian smallholders and indigenous communities.