Celebrating Palm Done Right Month: Our Commitment to Deforestation-Free Palm Oil

Published on: September 18, 2024

This Palm Done Right Month, we proudly highlight one of our core promises: our commitment to deforestation-free palm oil.  

At Palm Done Right, we know that sustainable, ethical palm oil is not only crucial for the environment, wildlife, and local communities, but also essential for retaining palm oil’s use for the long-term. Our deforestation-free promise ensures that every step of our palm oil production process respects and preserves biodiversity and wildlife habitats while bringing suppliers and consumers high-quality products.  

What Does “Deforestation-Free” Mean?

Deforestation-free palm oil means that we spearhead a movement that not only doesn’t contribute to the burning and destruction of forests, but actively works to plant native trees and preserve ecosystems. This commitment is crucial in preventing habitat loss, preserving biodiversity, and combating climate change.  

Here’s what our deforestation-free promise means to us:  

• No New Land Clearing: The farmers we work with use existing agricultural land for palm oil cultivation, avoiding any new land clearing that would lead to deforestation. 
• Preservation of Ecosystems: We maintain and protect forests and habitats within and around our plantations, ensuring that wildlife can thrive. 
• Reforestation: We actively participate in reforestation projects, planting native trees to restore and enhance ecosystems. The replanting of native trees helps prevent contamination and supports local ecosystems.
  

The Importance of Deforestation-Free Palm Oil

Deforestation caused by conventional palm oil production has led to numerous environmental and social issues. Also known as “conflict” palm oil, these practices produce palm oil through harmful practices that cause deforestation, wildlife displacement, worker exploitation, and more. The impact on these harmful practices on the environment includes: 

• Habitat Destruction: The deforestation caused by conflict palm oil destroys the habitats of endangered species like orangutans, tigers, and elephants. 
• Deforestation: Palm oil plantations using harmful practices cause the destruction of forests and rainforests, which contributes to climate change, habitat destruction, and more.  
• Climate Change: Forests act as carbon sinks, and their destruction releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This contributes to global warming and harms the immediate environment around them. 
• Loss of Biodiversity: Forests are home to diverse flora and fauna. Deforestation leads to the loss of this biodiversity, which is vital for ecological balance. 
• Social Impact: Deforestation often displaces local communities and disrupts their traditional ways of life.
  

Our Deforestation-Free Promise

Our dedication to deforestation-free palm oil involves rigorous adherence to standards and best practices to ensure that our production methods help the environment instead of hurt it. We work directly with small, independent farmers who are trained to use sustainable, deforestation-free practices that help the environment and wildlife, while promoting long-term production of palm oil.  

• Land Use Policies: We enforce strict land use policies that prohibit the clearing of forests for palm oil production. 
• Relationships with Independent Farmers: Palm Done Right trains farmers to manage their plantations in ways that preserve biodiversity, allowing forests and wildlife to thrive. 
• Sustainable Practices: Our farmers use sustainable practices that maintain soil health, prevent erosion, and promote long-term productivity without the need for new land. This not only contributes to the health of the land long-term, but also allows for long-term production of palm oil instead of conventional short-term methods.  
• Transparent Supply Chains: Our fully traceable supply chains allow us to monitor every step of the production process, ensuring compliance with our deforestation-free standards. 
• Third-Party Audits: We conduct regular internal and third-party audits to verify that our practices are truly deforestation-free.
  

The Benefits of Choosing Deforestation-Free Palm Oil

By choosing sustainable, deforestation-free palm oil, consumers, manufacturers, and suppliers can make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying high-quality products. Choosing deforestation-free palm oil brings the following benefits: 

• Environmental Protection: Preventing deforestation helps protect vital ecosystems and combat climate change. 
• Preservation of Wildlife: Protecting forests ensures that wildlife can continue to thrive in their natural habitats without destruction or displacement. 
• Support for Ethical Practices: Choosing deforestation-free products supports ethical and responsible business practices in the palm oil industry. Choosing these products shows those using conventional methods that sustainability is a priority, and that moving toward sustainability will be not only the ethical choice, but financially smart choice as well for the future of their businesses.  
• Consumer Trust: Transparency and ethical practices build consumer trust and show that your products are part of a sustainable and fully-traceable supply chain. 
• Prioritizing Sustainability: Consumers patronize establishments who share their own common beliefs more than ever. In addition to building consumer trust through a fully-traceable supply chain, using deforestation-free palm oil shows that you prioritize conservation, sustainability, and the betterment of the environment. 
  

Join the Palm Done Right Movement

This Palm Done Right Month, we invite you to join us in our mission to transform the palm oil industry and make sustainable palm oil the standard. Our five promises, 100% organic, fully-traceable, deforestation-free, wildlife-friendly, and fair & social, lie at the core of our mission to affect change in the palm oil industry and make sustainability a priority industry-wide.  

With palm oil making up products in half of the average grocery haul, using sustainable practices is more important than ever to conserve and protect the environment while ensuring everyone has the palm oil they need long-term.  

By supporting deforestation-free palm oil, you are contributing to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference. 

Learn more about our deforestation-free promise and how you can get involved in our initiative to promote sustainable palm oil production. Partnering or getting involved in our movement helps change to come and standards to change in the palm oil industry. Together, we can ensure that palm oil is produced in a way that respects the environment, supports local communities, and preserves the rich biodiversity of our planet. Get involved now during Palm Done Right Month!