100% Organic Palm Oil: The Importance of Sustainability

Published on: September 3, 2024

This Palm Done Right month, Palm Done Right is excited to highlight our five promises, which are at the core of our mission to promote responsible and ethical palm oil production. These promises include a commitment to being 100% organic, fully traceable, deforestation-free, wildlife-friendly, and fair & social. In this article, we’ll be highlighting our dedication to organic, sustainable practices and what that means for manufacturers, distributors, and consumers alike. 

What Does it Mean to be 100% Organic?

This Palm Done Right month, we’re excited to spotlight one of our core promises: our commitment to 100% organic palm oil production and spreading awareness about the importance of organic practices. At Palm Done Right, we believe that sustainability is not just good for business or for bringing consumers high-quality products—it’s essential for the current and future health of our planet.  

So what does it mean to be 100% organic? Organic palm oil is a sustainably produced alternative to conventional palm oil, cultivated using methods that prioritize the health of the environment and wildlife. Being 100% organic goes beyond simply avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It’s an approach to palm oil production that prioritizes the ecosystem and actively works against harmful industry practices. For us, this means: 

• Natural compost and pest control: We replace chemical inputs with organic alternatives, ensuring that our palm oil is free from harmful residues. 
• Non-GMO: We use only non-genetically modified oil palm varieties, preserving the natural genetic diversity of palm trees and palm fruit. 
• Cover crops: The farmers we work with use cover crops to maintain soil health, prevent erosion, and enhance biodiversity. 
• Soil-friendly: Our organic practices focus on building and maintaining healthy soil. We use cover crops, crop rotation, and natural compost to enhance soil fertility and structure and promote the land’s long-term sustainability. 
• Water-conscious: The independent farmers we work with use organic farming methods which typically require less irrigation and help prevent water pollution. This also prevents the runoff of synthetic chemicals into local water sources. 
• Native tree reforestation: We create buffer zones by replanting native trees, which helps prevent contamination, supports local ecosystems, and fights deforestation. 
• Biodiversity-supporting: By avoiding harmful chemicals, replanting native trees, and maintaining diverse plantations with buffer zones, we create an environment where local flora and fauna can thrive. 
• RSPO Certified: Our palm oil is certified by the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Production), which is a certification program dedicated to setting environmental and social standards for palm oil production.  
• Organic Certified: Our organic palm oil is recognized by organic standards, ensuring that it meets strict criteria for organic production.  

Organic Palm Oil vs. Conflict Palm Oil

If you’re researching palm oil production, you might run across the term ‘conflict’ palm oil, or conventional palm oil produced using harmful methods that cause deforestation, wildlife displacement, and more. This conflict palm oil has given palm oil a poor reputation, and its harmful methods have been the topic of many controversies over the years.  

It’s part of Palm Done Right’s mission to set new standards in the palm oil industry and put pressure on conventional palm oil producers to change their methods of production and make the change to organic, sustainable palm oil best practices.  

You might wonder how different organic palm oil production could be from conflict palm oil or how one can cause so much harm while the other actively contributes to and promotes reforestation and the conservation of wildlife and the environment at large.  

The following are just some of the ways organic palm oil stands out from its harmful alternatives:  

Environmental Impact:

• Conflict Palm Oil: Often associated with widespread deforestation, destruction of peatlands, and loss of wildlife displacement. 
• Organic Palm Oil: Produced using methods that protect forests, preserve biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.
  

Labor Practices:

• Conflict Palm Oil: Frequently linked to exploitative labor practices, including child labor and unfair treatment of workers. 
• Organic Palm Oil: At Palm Done Right, we ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for workers’ rights. We also invest in community development projects supporting education, healthcare, and cultural activities.
  

Traceability:

• Conflict Palm Oil: Lacks transparency, making it difficult to trace the origin of the oil or verify production practices. 
• Organic Palm Oil: Palm Done Right maintains a fully traceable supply chain. We know our farmers and conduct regular internal and third-party audits to ensure compliance with our standards.
  

Use of Chemicals:

• Conflict Palm Oil: May involve heavy use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, potentially harming local ecosystems and human health. 
• Organic Palm Oil: Relies on natural methods for pest control and soil fertility, protecting both the environment and the health of workers and communities.
  

Sustainability:

• Conflict Palm Oil: Focuses on short-term yields, often at the expense of long-term land productivity and ecosystem health. 
• Organic Palm Oil: Emphasizes the importance of long-term sustainability and uses practices that maintain soil health and ecosystem balance.
  

Wildlife Conservation:

• Conflict Palm Oil: Often leads to habitat destruction and threatens endangered species like orangutans, tigers, and elephants. 
• Organic Palm Oil: Palm Done Right trains farmers to manage their plantations in ways that allow wildlife to thrive, ensuring the preservation of species diversity.
  

Why is Organic Palm Oil Important?

Organic palm oil is important for so many reasons, from environmental preservation to protecting farmers and workers from exploitative conditions. Organic practices also ensure quality, which is imperative when palm oil makes up the ingredients of over half of the average person’s groceries.  

At a glance, organic practices help preserve biodiversity, fight deforestation, combat climate change, and promote the long-term health of soil and ecosystems. Choosing organic, fair-trade products also means prioritizing workers’ rights, fair labor practices, and community development. On top of that, it means choosing palm oil free from chemicals, making the products it’s used in, or foods made with it healthier and more beneficial to consumers.  

The Palm Done Right Promise

Palm Done Right’s commitment to 100% organic palm oil is just one of the five promises we make to our partners, consumers, and suppliers, but its importance cannot be overstated. As one of the most used oils in the world, palm oil is here to stay. With that comes the paramount importance of improving standards of palm oil production to conserve the environment and combat the forest and habitat destruction that comes with poor production practices.  

This Palm Done Right month, we invite you to join us in our mission to transform the palm oil industry. By supporting organic, sustainable practices, we can all contribute to a healthier planet and a more equitable world. Learn how you can get involved today!