{"id":5049,"date":"2022-08-18T06:56:18","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T06:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/?page_id=5049"},"modified":"2023-05-06T12:05:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T12:05:07","slug":"palm-oil","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Palm Oil"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Palm oil has exploded in popularity in the last decade and is now found in countless products worldwide, thanks to its versatility and potential health benefits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consumers who look beyond the product, however, will be shocked to learn how harmful it can be. Palm oil is linked to deforestation, the displacement of people and wildlife, and climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s time you knew what you\u2019re consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#what-is-palm-oil\" title=\"What Is Palm Oil?\">What Is Palm Oil?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#how-is-palm-oil-made\" title=\"How Is Palm Oil Made?\">How Is Palm Oil Made?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#uses-of-palm-oil\" title=\"Uses of Palm Oil\">Uses of Palm Oil<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#is-palm-oil-healthy\" title=\"Is Palm Oil Healthy?\">Is Palm Oil Healthy?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#brain-health\" title=\"Brain health\">Brain health<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#heart-health\" title=\"Heart health\">Heart health<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#potential-health-risks\" title=\"Potential health risks\">Potential health risks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#palm-oils-environmental-problems\" title=\"Palm Oil\u2019s Environmental Problems\">Palm Oil\u2019s Environmental Problems<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#deforestation\" title=\"Deforestation\">Deforestation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#species-endangerment\" title=\"Species endangerment\">Species endangerment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#greenhouse-gas-emissions\" title=\"Greenhouse gas emissions\">Greenhouse gas emissions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#pollution\" title=\"Pollution\">Pollution<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#palm-oils-social-impact\" title=\"Palm Oil\u2019s Social Impact\">Palm Oil\u2019s Social Impact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#lets-talk-about-sustainable-palm-oil\" title=\"Let\u2019s Talk About Sustainable Palm Oil\">Let\u2019s Talk About Sustainable Palm Oil<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/#what-is-palm-oil-wrapping-up\" title=\"What Is Palm Oil: Wrapping Up\">What Is Palm Oil: Wrapping Up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-palm-oil\"><\/span>What Is Palm Oil?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwf.org.uk\/updates\/8-things-know-about-palm-oil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palm oil<\/a> is a type of vegetable oil, specifically one made from the fruits of the African oil palm tree. It has gained popularity thanks to its range of uses and possible health benefits. Palm oil is used in prepackaged <a href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/\">foods<\/a>, cosmetics, animal food, and even fuel. It is not an overstatement to say that palm oil is ubiquitous. It\u2019s everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so are its plantations. Originally manufactured solely in Central and West Africa\u2014where the oil palm tree is native\u2014it\u2019s since expanded beyond West Africa to Indonesia and Malaysia, where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nnip.com\/en-CH\/professional\/insights\/articles\/palm-oil-engagement-through-the-supply-chain#:~:text=Indonesia%20and%20Malaysia%20produce%20around,oil%20palm%20estates%20and%20deforestation.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">90% of the world\u2019s palm oil<\/a> supply currently comes from. Indonesia alone produces 35 million tonnes of palm oil every year, making it the <a href=\"https:\/\/oec.world\/en\/profile\/bilateral-product\/palm-oil\/reporter\/idn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">largest producer and exporter<\/a> among palm oil producers. Its oil palm plantations span over nine million hectares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>West Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia aren\u2019t the only regions to produce palm oil, though. A total of 42 countries, including some in the Americas, produce <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/613471\/palm-oil-production-volume-worldwide\/#:~:text=The%20global%20production%20of%20palm,exporters%20of%20palm%20oil%20worldwide.&amp;text=Palm%20oil%20grows%20mainly%20in%20Asia%2C%20Africa%20and%20Latin%20America.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">over 73 million tonnes<\/a> of palm oil each year, representing a whopping 40% of all vegetable oil production.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This oil comes in either a crude or refined form, with crude palm oil having a rich orange color that reflects the orange pulp of the oil palm fruit it\u2019s extracted from. Typically, this type of palm oil is used in Southeast Asia and Africa. Refined palm oil, however, is more popular in the United States and Europe and has a pale yellow color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil is a popular cash crop because it needs fewer resources, such as land, pesticides, and fertilizers, than oil crops grown for coconut oil, soybean oil, and other oils, making it a more affordable product to grow and trade.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-is-palm-oil-made\"><\/span>How Is Palm Oil Made?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil production starts with the planting and growing of palm trees on oil palm plantations, after which their seeds are harvested as the oil\u2019s main ingredient. The trees stay in a nursery for the first eight months, during which they receive daily watering and treatments of pesticides and fertilizers. As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asianagri.com\/page\/media-publications\/faqs\/how-is-palm-oil-made\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">soon as they reach eight months old<\/a>, they\u2019re removed from the nursery and placed in the palm oil plantation proper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The oil palm trees then receive a similar treatment until they reach 30 months old, when harvesting begins. At this point they\u2019re considered mature, and workers can start harvesting seeds every seven to ten days. The seeds are then taken to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodunfolded.com\/article\/palm-oil-how-its-made\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">processing mill<\/a>. When they arrive, they\u2019re sterilized with steam and stripped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the harvest and sterilization, the seeds are separated into crude or refined oils and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/article\/290687\/palm-oil-vs-palm-kernel-oil\/#:~:text=They%20both%20come%20from%20palm,making%20it%20easier%20on%20arteries.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">processed accordingly<\/a>, extracting oil from either the flesh of the palm fruit to produce palm oil, or the seeds of the fruit to produce palm kernel oil.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To extract the oil, the fruit is pressed into a liquid, which is then screened to ensure it\u2019s contaminant free before being dried. The oil is finally shipped to refineries, where it goes through various production processes depending on what the end product will be and what products it\u2019ll be used in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"uses-of-palm-oil\"><\/span>Uses of Palm Oil<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil is a versatile ingredient that\u2019s put to a wide range of uses, a versatility enhanced by the fact that it can be either solid or liquid\u2014a benefit it has over alternative oils\u2014and its odorless and colorless nature. It also boasts a smooth and creamy texture, which makes it an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/B9780981893693500228\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">appealing ingredient in many foods<\/a>, such as cakes, biscuits, frying fats, margarine, and chocolate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil also has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chesterzoo.org\/what-you-can-do\/our-campaigns\/sustainable-palm-oil\/what-is-palm-oil\/#:~:text=Palm%20oil%20is%20used%20in,be%20used%20as%20a%20biofuel.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">multiple nonfood uses<\/a>, in cosmetics, like shampoo and soaps, in cleaning products, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/B9780123850997000164\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">even in biofuel<\/a> and candles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s estimated that up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwf.org.uk\/updates\/8-things-know-about-palm-oil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">50% of packaged products<\/a> in supermarkets contain some amount of palm oil, with even toothpaste and deodorant listing it as an ingredient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is-palm-oil-healthy\"><\/span>Is Palm Oil Healthy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil, like other vegetable oils, particularly the non-hydrogenated kind, has been linked to multiple health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies show that it\u2019s an excellent source of beneficial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/tocotrienols\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tocotrienols<\/a>, a chemical in the vitamin E category. Its use in food items is bolstered by the fact it\u2019s high in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. Because it\u2019s a vegetable oil, it\u2019s also cholesterol free. Let\u2019s explore these health benefits in depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"brain-health\"><\/span>Brain health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil is high in antioxidants, especially vitamin E. Vitamin E helps the body in myriad ways, with the most notable being that it helps <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27716672\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slow dementia progress<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24699052\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">prevent brain lesions<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24699052\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">and reduce stroke risks<\/a>. Animal studies <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32085610\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">have shown hope<\/a> that it can help prevent cognitive decline, although further research in humans is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"heart-health\"><\/span>Heart health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil has shown mixed results with heart health, but it appears to have a positive impact on heart disease, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24717342\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">increasing HDL cholesterol levels<\/a> while <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26488229\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reducing LDL cholesterol levels<\/a>. Studies highlight people with palm oil-heavy diets having healthier cholesterol levels than those who have diets with<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24717342\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> large amounts of lauric and myristic acids<\/a>, or trans fats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"potential-health-risks\"><\/span>Potential health risks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While palm oil offers some potential health benefits, it still isn\u2019t the healthiest cooking oil. That title goes to olive oil. Palm oil is high in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.com\/food\/palm-oil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> saturated fats<\/a>. These saturated fats cause cholesterol to <a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000838.htm#:~:text=But%20too%20much%20saturated%20fat,Weight%20gain.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">build up in veins and arteries<\/a>, which increase heart disease and stroke risks. Because palm oil is present mostly in prepackaged, processed foods, products that contain palm oil are likely also high in added sugar and sodium. If you already practice moderation when eating such foods, the small amount of palm oil you\u2019re consuming likely won\u2019t hurt you. Stick with other, healthier vegetable oils for cooking at home, like olive and avocado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"palm-oils-environmental-problems\"><\/span>Palm Oil\u2019s Environmental Problems<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 1995 and 2015, palm oil\u2019s production <a href=\"https:\/\/palmoilalliance.eu\/palm-oil-production\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">increased from 15.2 million to 62.6 million tonnes<\/a> per year among palm oil-producing countries. There\u2019s more of it created than any other type of vegetable oil, but this rise in production comes at a cost. The production of palm oil has an increasingly devastating impact on the environment, at multiple levels, in multiple ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"deforestation\"><\/span>Deforestation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The cultivation of land for oil palm trees accounts for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azolifesciences.com\/article\/Everything-you-need-to-know-about-Palm-Oil.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">8% of the world\u2019s deforestation<\/a> between 1990 and 2008, with much of this taking place in Malaysia and Indonesia, both of which are areas of <em>megadiversity<\/em>, or high amounts of plant and animal diversity. A United Nations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biodiversitylibrary.org\/item\/98566#page\/6\/mode\/1up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report in 2007<\/a> highlighted the risks associated with these deforestation efforts, claiming that palm oil plantations are the leading cause of rainforest destruction in both countries. More recent <a href=\"http:\/\/d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net\/rainforestactionnetwork\/legacy_url\/163\/po_factsheet.pdf?1402697977\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reports suggest that 98%<\/a> of both countries\u2019 rainforests will be gone by the end of 2022. Read that again: 98% of rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia will be gone by the end of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deforestation has more implications than just cutting down trees. It results in erosion and the depletion of soil quality. The depletion of soil nutrients prevents any potential regrowth of the rainforest. Erosion can lead to landslides and avalanches, sinkholes, and floods. Deforestation also increases carbon dioxide in the air by eliminating the carbon sinks that exist naturally deep in forest soil. And perhaps the saddest of all, deforestation destroys the habitats of countless wildlife species.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"species-endangerment\"><\/span>Species endangerment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The habitat destruction caused by the production of palm oil leads to species endangerment, with the orangutans of Indonesia being the most notorious casualty. Reports in 1990 claimed there were 315,000 orangutans in the wild, while more recent reports claim there <a href=\"https:\/\/ielc.libguides.com\/sdzg\/factsheets\/orangutans\/population\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">are now as few as 55,000<\/a>. The expansion of palm oil plantations is the primary driver of this loss, with orangutans either being killed during the deforestation efforts or <a href=\"https:\/\/orangutan.org\/rainforest\/the-effects-of-palm-oil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">being displaced and struggling to find food<\/a>, and subsequently dying of starvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Should expansion of such plantations occur in Africa, scientists believe it would put <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pnas.org\/content\/early\/2018\/08\/07\/1804775115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the local primate population at risk<\/a> there as well. Studies show that areas with high palm oil production are also highly populated by primates, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/science-environment-45146581\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leading to fears<\/a> that this population would be decimated if palm oil production expands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"greenhouse-gas-emissions\"><\/span>Greenhouse gas emissions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The removal of forests for oil palm plantations has a domino effect on carbon emissions. Indonesian <a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2022\/03\/a-more-potent-co2-sink-than-the-amazon-brazils-mangroves-remain-overlooked\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">forests store more carbon per hectare than<\/a> Brazilian forests, and deforestation releases this carbon into the environment. Between 2000 and 2010 alone, these plantations caused between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsusa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/legacy\/assets\/documents\/global_warming\/palm-oil-and-global-warming.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2% and 9% of worldwide carbon emissions<\/a>. Because trees absorb carbon emissions, their removal also prevents the absorption of the greenhouse gases their removal creates. It\u2019s a dangerous cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The removal of trees isn\u2019t the only factor at play here. Peatlands also need to be cleared to make way for palm oil plantations. Peatlands store between <a href=\"https:\/\/stpancras.com\/peatlands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">18 and 28 times more carbon<\/a> than forests, carbon that is released into the environment when the peatlands are destroyed. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/lifestyle\/home\/should-sustainable-gardeners-use-peat-moss\/2017\/05\/09\/1fc746f0-3118-11e7-9534-00e4656c22aa_story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peat use<\/a> is common among keen gardeners, an incongruous truth that should be eliminated <em>tout de suite<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These carbon emissions fuel climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere, which subsequently leads to changing weather patterns, catastrophic natural disasters, and even the extinction of certain species.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"pollution\"><\/span>Pollution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil plantations fuel air pollution in every country they\u2019re in, with Southeast Asia being particularly affected. Up to <a href=\"https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/11\/9\/094023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">100,000 deaths every year<\/a> in the region can be directly attributed to forest fires used to make space for these plantations, as well as rice, sugarcane, and maize plantations. Carbon emissions, as well, impact human health, increasing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafa.org\/climate-and-health\/#:~:text=Climate%20change%20increases%20water%20and,respiratory%20disease%2C%20such%20as%20asthma.&amp;text=Increased%20temperatures%20due%20to%20climate,inflammation%20and%20damages%20lung%20tissue.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">risks of respiratory disease<\/a> among people who breathe in pollution from the burning of fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there are the fertilizers and pesticides used in palm oil\u2019s production once the land has been cleared. Though these chemicals let plantations operate more productively and cheaply, they are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2984095\/#:~:text=Impact%20on%20environment,%2C%20and%20non%2Dtarget%20plants.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full of toxins<\/a> that contaminate the soil, vegetation, and water supplies, leading to <a href=\"https:\/\/homeguides.sfgate.com\/houseplants-repel-mosquitoes-cockroaches-pests-13771627.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">increased rates of leukemia and cancer<\/a>, as well as causing miscarriages. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/wedocs.unep.org\/xmlui\/bitstream\/handle\/20.500.11822\/34463\/JSUNEPPF.pdf?sequence=13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an estimated 385 million unintentional<\/a> pesticide poisonings every year. Approximately 11,000 of these are fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"palm-oils-social-impact\"><\/span>Palm Oil\u2019s Social Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil\u2019s impact goes much further than harming the environment and posing health risks. It also has a social impact, specifically the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples that live in Indonesian and Malaysian forests don\u2019t have deeds for their land and often face displacement as their ancestral homes are torn down and burned. Such an impact has already happened <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spott.org\/palm-oil-resource-archive\/impacts\/social\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in Borneo<\/a>, where the local population has been removed to make way for palm oil production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exploitation of workers\u2019 rights is common in the palm oil industry. In Malaysia alone, between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrm.org.uy\/bulletin-articles\/modern-day-slavery-in-oil-palm-plantations-the-outstanding-cases-of-malaysia-and-indonesia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">72,000 and 200,000 children<\/a>\u2014yes, children\u2014are used in the production process, with these \u201cworkers\u201d being forced to labor in harsh conditions for little to no pay. Some are even the victims of human trafficking, with reports of workers having their passports stolen and withheld to force them to continue working. Though rarer, even sexual violence has been reported, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/palm-oil-abuse-investigation-cosmetics-2a209d60c42bf0e8fcc6f8ea6daa11c7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">with a 16-year-old worker being raped<\/a> on a plantation and other female workers being subjected to similar treatment. Indonesia\u2019s oil palm plantations <a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2020\/12\/labor-abuses-rspo-oil-palm-plantations-indonesia-sumatra-kalimantan\/#:~:text=JAKARTA%20%E2%80%94%20A%20coalition%20of%20NGOs,made%20by%20food%20giant%20Nestl%C3%A9.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aren\u2019t much better<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Malaysia is responsible for up to <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/virus-outbreak-only-on-ap-indonesia-financial-markets-malaysia-7b634596270cc6aa7578a062a30423bb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">85% of the world\u2019s palm oil supply<\/a> in combination with Indonesia, the majority of workers in the industry are based in these two countries and could be subjected to such circumstances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodnavigator-asia.com\/Article\/2022\/01\/27\/palm-oil-and-human-rights-malaysia-striving-to-improve-reputation-and-appease-us-over-labour-standards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Malaysia is cracking down on this<\/a> to appease customers and businesses in the United States and Europe, such practices are still rampant in the industry. Even then, the crackdown only came after the US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodnavigator-asia.com\/Article\/2020\/11\/18\/War-of-attrition-Malaysian-palm-oil-sector-needs-direct-comprehensive-engagement-with-US-to-overcome-forced-labour-hurdle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">issued a 2020 detention order<\/a> on the oil and related products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"lets-talk-about-sustainable-palm-oil\"><\/span>Let\u2019s Talk About Sustainable Palm Oil<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While palm oil has a hugely detrimental impact on the environment and other areas, sustainable production of palm oil has emerged as an effective solution. <a href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/sustainable\/\">Sustainable palm oil<\/a> comes with a noticeably lower environmental impact and boasts none of the environmental or social impacts that its standard counterpart has. To achieve this, manufacturers and brands implement sustainable best practices, such as enforcing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pepsico.com\/docs\/album\/esg-topics-policies\/global-policy-for-sustainable-palm-oil.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">zero deforestation policy<\/a>. These sustainable palm oil policies also extend to employment, with the organizations that certify sustainability demanding fair treatment of employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These trends come from multiple initiatives that have been established to oversee and encourage <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eco-business.com\/news\/what-is-sustainable-palm-oil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">palm oil sustainability<\/a>, with the World Wildlife Fund helping to establish the <a href=\"https:\/\/rspo.org\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil<\/a> in 2004. The nonprofit organization focuses on promoting sustainability in the industry and has created a certification program to that effect. To date, however, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.treehugger.com\/palm-oil-facts-4868300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">approximately only 20%<\/a> of palm oil brands have signed up to the initiative and received this accreditation. Still, multiple corporations have committed to using only sustainably produced palm oil:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Burger King<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nestle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Starbucks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mars, Inc<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>L\u2019Oreal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hershey\u2019s<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kellogg\u2019s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, Greenpeace finds “<a href=\"https:\/\/issuu.com\/greenpeaceinternational\/docs\/db5ec2fd-gp_mot_v4.6_pages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">problematic producers who are actively clearing rainforests<\/a>” are still at large, and the industry still has a way to go before undoing the damage it\u2019s done. Though the shift to certified sustainable palm oil could stop the damage, if not reverse it, it\u2019s still years away. It seems as though a drop in palm oil consumption may be one of the few ways to encourage this, but with the amount of palm oil consumed worldwide, this seems unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-palm-oil-wrapping-up\"><\/span>What Is Palm Oil: Wrapping Up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Palm oil, like similar vegetable oils, is destroying the natural world, contributing to climate change and wiping out wildlife species. Combined with the worker abuses it\u2019s linked to, palm oil is more harmful than most consumers may think. No potential health benefits are worth that, although the palm oil industry doesn\u2019t seem likely to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While sustainable palm oil is an option, sustainable palm oil production is far from a standard in the industry, which still has decades of damage to undo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Palm oil has exploded in popularity in the last decade and is now found in countless products worldwide, thanks to its versatility and potential health benefits.&nbsp; Consumers who look beyond the product, however, will be shocked to learn how harmful it can be. Palm oil is linked to deforestation, the displacement of people and wildlife, and climate change. It\u2019s time you knew what you\u2019re consuming. … <a title=\"Everything You Need to Know About Palm Oil\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/products\/food\/palm-oil\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Everything You Need to Know About Palm Oil\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":3700,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":""},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Palm oil has exploded in popularity in the last decade and is now found in countless products worldwide, thanks to its versatility and potential health benefits.&nbsp; Consumers who look beyond the product, however, will be shocked to learn how harmful it can be. Palm oil is linked to deforestation, the displacement of people and wildlife, and climate change. It\u2019s time you knew what you\u2019re consuming. Table of Contents Toggle What Is Palm Oil?How Is Palm Oil Made?Uses of Palm OilIs Palm Oil Healthy?Brain healthHeart healthPotential health risksPalm Oil\u2019s Environmental ProblemsDeforestationSpecies endangermentGreenhouse gas emissionsPollutionPalm Oil\u2019s Social ImpactLet\u2019s Talk About Sustainable Palm&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"Jem","url":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/author\/jem\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5049"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5049"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5049\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/caring-consumer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}