Published on: June 15, 2022
For the past several years, more effort than ever has been put into putting a stop to the unethical side of the palm oil industry and the unsustainable palm production practices put into place by many major companies and palm oil producers.
These practices have not only caused incredible harm to the environment, to wildlife, and to small farmers but have also tarnished palm oil’s reputation as a whole. This incredibly versatile and easy-to-produce oil is found in over half of household products, cosmetics, and many manufactured foods, but its rampant production through unsafe and unsustainable practices can cause irreversible harm to the environment. To stop these harms, the production of conflict palm oil needs to halt in order to protect the environment, consumers, and the oil alike.
Since the inception of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in 2004, companies and environmental organizations alike have come together to try and encourage the use of organic palm oil and ethical consumerism, and try to hit those practicing harmful palm oil harvesting tactics where it hurts so that they’ll change their ways for the good of the environment and farmers. In the years since we’ve seen a gradual change in the industry as our efforts to push sustainability have increased.
Palm Done Right was founded as an initiative to partner with farmers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who use palm oil in their ingredients to stop the harmful, destructive palm oil production practices that have been occurring for many years.
This coalition works with local farmers to practice sustainable and beneficial palm oil farming and harvesting practices so that deforestation from conflict palm oil is stopped and the environment begins to benefit from palm oil production.
Palm Done Right also has outreach programs to raise consumer awareness about the harms caused by unethically sourced palm oil so that changes are made by the consumer to buy Organic palm oil that is sourced responsibly.
After all, if consumers won’t buy products that have conflict palm oil in them, manufacturers and retailers have an even larger monetary incentive to source their palm oil ethically and sustainably. Unfortunately, for those currently practicing unsafe and unsustainable methods, the only way to truly get their attention and affect change in their farmer techniques is by impacting their bottom line. If consumers take a stand for the environment and against harmful practices, we can help save the environment, rainforests, displaced species, and more.
Certain companies have chosen to put pressure on manufacturers of conflict palm oil to change their practices due to public and media pressure, but only true changes can be made when profits are impacted. This is up to the consumer and to companies who benefit from conflict palm oil to change. The next time you’re headed to the grocery store, or looking to buy a product that you know contains palm oil, look to see if the supplier or company who provides the palm oil to your brand particulates in sustainable palm oil practices, or who is certified by Palm Done Right or the RSPO. This will let you reap the benefits of this amazing product while knowing you’re consuming it ethically and responsibly. Though it may take an extra few minutes to research, it’ll be worth it for the environment and for the future production of palm oil in years to come.
There’s a simple reason to buy sustainable palm oil instead of palm oil harvesting through harmful practices: it’s the right thing to do! Conflict palm oil destroys forests, displaces animals, harms local farmers and communities, and needs to be stopped immediately in favor of organic palm oil sourced sustainably.
Palm Done Right’s mission is to make sustainable palm oil harvesting the regular, go-to method of sourcing palm oil for the benefit of the Earth, farmers, manufacturers, and consumers alike. Palm oil holds an incredible amount of health benefits and is a highly versatile oil that can be used for anything from cooking oils to ingredients in cleaning supplies. It’s also incredibly easy and low-cost to produce, which makes it an invaluable go-to oil for use in so many foods, products, and just as a standalone cooking oil.
When we all work together to stop unethical palm oil production, we get to reap the benefits of palm, without having to worry about rampant deforestation and harm to local communities. Ethically sourced palm oil helps everyone!
At the end of the day, the buyer is always going to reign supreme in the eyes of many retailers, and if buying habits don’t change, many will not see an incentive to change to sustainable palm oil. It’s sad but true!
Though sustainable palm oil is often a little bit more expensive than conflict palm oil, knowing you’re helping to solve the palm oil industry’s problem of unchecked and continued deforestation instead of contributing to it is invaluable.
This slightly higher price also works to benefit local farmers, sustainable, responsible farming practices and allows you to benefit from a more high-quality oil that helps the environment instead of hurting it. Using sustainable palm oil or making sure to buy from companies committed to using ethically sourced palm oil will bring you this oil’s great benefits and peace of mind all in one.
So how do you find brands and companies that produce sustainable palm oil and who are committed to local, independent farmers certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil? Palm Done Right has partnered with many companies and organizations to commit to working only with those producing sustainable palm oil and making products that use palm oil that has been sourced ethically. This makes it easy for consumers to work and buy from brands that they know are reliable and committed to using sustainable palm oil.
To shop with the brands and retailers who have partnered with Palm Done Right to commit to using sustainable palm oil, and to work to call attention to the importance of using organic palm oil, explore our mission and our partner’s products here.
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