The importance of sustainable palm oil

What’s the Difference Between Sustainable and Conflict Palm Oil?

Palm oil is such a versatile oil that it makes it highly in demand for use in not only cooking oils, desserts, and nutritional supplements but also in cosmetics and household cleaning products. Due to its demand, a lot of producers sourced this naturally sustainable oil through non-sustainable methods that have resulted in deforestation, rainforest destruction, forest fires, displaced communities and animals, as well as unethical labor practices, and the massive release of greenhouse gases.

Palm oil sourced in this harmful manner is referred to as conflict palm oil, due to the harm it causes to both the environment and communities. However, sustainable palm oil production exists and seeks to correct the destruction caused by unethical practices.

The Importance of Sourcing Palm Oil Sustainably

When palm oil is sourced organically, and in a way that promotes biodiversity, protects forests, and empowers small farmers, palm oil can continue to be a huge part of our household items and foods while its production benefits its surroundings.

By using sustainable practices for producing palm oil, conscious consumers can receive the benefits of red palm oil, while knowing they’re contributing to small communities and protecting the environment. As the industry receives pressure to turn away from harmful practices, we seek to be a leader in paving the way for the wide use of organic practices that empower communities.

Our Approach to Sustainable Palm Oil

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

Founded in 2004, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created to address and respond to the rampant deforestation and destruction being caused by the palm oil industry. To correct and create a solution for these practices, the RSPO developed a set of standards to create a path to sustainability. These standards ensure the wellbeing of the environment, communities, and farmers, as well as consumers.

Palm Done Right

For the past 10 years, we’ve worked hand in hand with the RSPO to create the reality where palm oil can be sourced completely organically, while benefiting farmers and the environment instead of destroying it.

Our network of small, independent farms work to uphold organic practices and ensure that their palm oil is sourced sustainably. By doing so, we protect wildlife habitats, build communities, and protect the environment by employing only organic farming practices that promote biodiversity and economic stability. We also work to incentivize the palm oil industry to invest in changing their harmful practices and transition to sustainable practices.

The Impact

Since oil palms produce fruits for up to 40 years, when palm oil is sourced sustainably, it allows small farmers to have a consistent income. Additionally, when the soil is nurtured and organic methods are employed, the environment benefits from this biodiversity.

By planting oil palms in environments surrounded by complementary crops and leaving areas of land uncultivated, previously damaged land can be built up and enabled to produce good products once more. Additionally, instead of practicing ‘clear cutting’ primal forest methods, which are customary for the conventional palm industry and displace and harm native species, we create environments that promote the growth of oil palms while creating new ecosystems for animals.

By growing sustainably and ethically, palm oil not only benefits the environment and creates natural habitats for native species, but benefits small farmers and communities. When palm oil is sourced sustainably, everybody involved wins.