Should consumers boycott products that contain palm oil?
This is not as black and white as many think as the issue is extremely complex. There are 2 answers to this question.
Yes AND No.
Consumers need to understand that not all palm oil is bad. Not all palm oil is wiping out habitat and killing endangered species. Palm oil can be farmed and produced in a responsible and ethical manner and consumers can help by pressuring brands to only source ethically produced palm oil. Support the brands that are sourcing responsibly and avoid brands that are not. If consumers don't support brands that are doing the right thing with their sourcing then the brands that are not are not going to be encouraged to change to ethical supply.
In regard to the food industry palm oil is relatively easy to replace in many products, however food products that need emulsifiers it is not that easy. When it comes to personal care products and cosmetics, it is near impossible to manufacture these without the use of palm oil derived ingredients and still have them perform well.
Yes AND No.
Consumers need to understand that not all palm oil is bad. Not all palm oil is wiping out habitat and killing endangered species. Palm oil can be farmed and produced in a responsible and ethical manner and consumers can help by pressuring brands to only source ethically produced palm oil. Support the brands that are sourcing responsibly and avoid brands that are not. If consumers don't support brands that are doing the right thing with their sourcing then the brands that are not are not going to be encouraged to change to ethical supply.
In regard to the food industry palm oil is relatively easy to replace in many products, however food products that need emulsifiers it is not that easy. When it comes to personal care products and cosmetics, it is near impossible to manufacture these without the use of palm oil derived ingredients and still have them perform well.
What would boycott of palm oil products achieve?
Apart from personal satisfaction, boycotting products using palm oil will actually achieve very little to overall scheme of things. Palm oil is not going away no matter how much consumers try to boycott. Consumers also need to understand that it is near impossible to live completely palm oil free. Palm oil is not only in food products, it is also in hair care, cleaning products and cosmetics right down to the moisturising strips on razors, wax used on cardboard fruit boxes, yeast used in breads, feed for livestock, coating to stop products sticking together, art supplies such as some brands of oil pastilles and paints.
Palm oil is also sometimes used to lubricate machinery. Just because you can't see palm oil labelled it does not mean that its not there.
Palm oil is also sometimes used to lubricate machinery. Just because you can't see palm oil labelled it does not mean that its not there.
Why not just use another oil?
The palm fruit produces two oils – palm oil and palm kernel oil. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit, is edible and used primarily in food products. Palm kernel oil is extracted from the seed of the fruit and is used mainly in the manufacture of soaps and cosmetics, while palm kernel expeller (PKE) is used as a feed for livestock otherwise known as Palm Kernel Cake and as biofuel for generating electricity.
Oil palm is a highly productive crop yielding more oil from less land than any other vegetable oil.. As a result, palm oil production has become an important source of income and a major part of the economy in the regions where it is grown, providing livelihoods for local communities and helping to lift people out of poverty.
If we were to switch to another oil seed crop, more land would be required to produce the same amount of oil.
Oil palm is a highly productive crop yielding more oil from less land than any other vegetable oil.. As a result, palm oil production has become an important source of income and a major part of the economy in the regions where it is grown, providing livelihoods for local communities and helping to lift people out of poverty.
If we were to switch to another oil seed crop, more land would be required to produce the same amount of oil.
How can consumers create change?
Consumers need to support the brands that are sourcing ethically and place pressure of the brands that are not.
Make contact with brands that are not using fully certified palm oil or have a No Deforestation Policy in place and encourage them to do the right thing. Please always be respectful when making contact to ensure that your voice is heard.
Download our free palm oil scanner app for ios and Android and use it. When a product you scan comes up as FAIL or MB please use the email button on the app to contact that brand, this will generate an email to the company that has been written by us. This feature has encouraged many brands to shift their supply and contact us for assistance with their sourcing.
Sign petitions that are asking brands to shift to deforestation free or certified palm oil.
As a consumer, your voice can be heard if you take action.
Make contact with brands that are not using fully certified palm oil or have a No Deforestation Policy in place and encourage them to do the right thing. Please always be respectful when making contact to ensure that your voice is heard.
Download our free palm oil scanner app for ios and Android and use it. When a product you scan comes up as FAIL or MB please use the email button on the app to contact that brand, this will generate an email to the company that has been written by us. This feature has encouraged many brands to shift their supply and contact us for assistance with their sourcing.
Sign petitions that are asking brands to shift to deforestation free or certified palm oil.
As a consumer, your voice can be heard if you take action.
Do the rescue teams and NGO's on the ground want boycott?
Rescue teams and NGO's are pushing for regulation of the oil and understand that palm oil production keeps their economy going. The rescue teams want to see stronger regulations so that palm oil can be produced in a responsible manner without further loss and destruction of habitat.
POI's stance on palm oil.
POI are not against palm oil however we are against deforestation for palm oil. POI are guided by the the highly respected rescue teams on the ground in Indonesia that are dealing with the negative impacts of palm oil production and destruction. POI rely on these rescue teams and organisations for advise on what they believe is the best way forward. Currently they advise that regulation of production and transparency of supply is what's needed.
