Half
the world is discussing palm oil related problems, while the other half is
asking themselves what’s with this palm tree that is so important and creates
so much negative buzz worldwide.
The
fact is that this ingredient (either palm oil or palm kernel oil) is present in
about 50% of what you buy/use in a daily basis: it is in your food, in your
cosmetics, fuels, in your toiletries and so on. You might not see it on the
labels, because it is often “hidden” behind synonyms or it comes inside another
described raw material, but it is there.
Why
is it so loved? It is said that palm oil is a very productive crop compared to
similar ones, meaning that it produces more oil per hectare than any other
substitute (RSPO* states that this palm tree needs less than half the land
required by other crop to produce the same amount of oil); it excels in cooking
characteristics, because it maintains its properties even under high
temperatures; its special texture and absence of smell make it a perfect
ingredient for several products; and it has a natural preservative effect,
extending the life of products on the shelves;
Why
then is there so much buzz?
It
all begins in the rainforest, but let’s go through a few facts before exploring
the answer:
-
In
2013, 59.6m metric tones of palm oil were produced;
-
Global
production has doubled in the last decade and it is supposed to double again by
2020;
-
Expansion
of emerging markets (especially in the most populous ones) is the driving force
behind the increasing demand;
-
The
largest producers of palm oil nowadays are in Asia. The main one is Indonesia
(33.5m metric tones a year), the second largest is Malaysia (20.35m metric
tones), the third one is Thailand (2.25m MT a year). Then it comes Colombia
(1.02m MT a year) and Nigeria (0.93m MT a year), followed by others;
-
The
largest consumers are: India (8.80m MT a year), China (6.60m MT a year),
European Union (6.30m MT a year), Pakistan (2.65m MT a year), United States
(1.41m MT a year), Bangladesh/Egypt (1.30m MT a year) followed by several others;
-
From
59.6m MT produced in 2013, only 5.4m MT were sold as certified sustainable palm
oil.
Having
said that, the following are the problems associated to the oil production:
-
Palm
tree plantations in Southeast Asia have tripled in the last decade causing a high
rate of deforestation in the main producers countries. The real numbers vary, but
the World Resources Institute estimates that Indonesia alone has lost 6m
hectares of primary forest (an area half the size of England) from 2000 to 2012;
-
GHG
emission – clearing down the forest releases a high level of carbon dioxide and
methane, which contributes to the global warming;
-
It
has been causing habitat and biodiversity loss in the region, putting certain
species in high extinction risk (local orangutans have become the flagship for
sustainable palm oil campaigns);
-
Communities
destruction and displacement along Indonesia and Malaysia to open space for
plantation;
-
Destruction
of other crop yields.
Several
companies, from different business sectors, have been looking for certified
palm oil production and some even claim to have their entire supply covered by
responsible sourcing. The main question is if our insatiable appetite for
products will allow a truly sustainable value chain, meaning: can 59.6m MT of
palm oil be provided within the best practices? Besides, would exchanging crop
be the solution considering that the very same problems could be applied to the
next (equally) demanded oil production?
This
is something to think about every time we buy toothpastes, ice creams,
margarines, fried foods, soaps, body lotions, shampoos, lipsticks, etc. The
main point is not necessarily to stop buying them, but to make better shopping
decisions (if possible) and being knowledgeable about our consumption habits
impacts.
*Roundtable
Sustainable Palm Oil
Sources:
The
Guardian – EU labelling changes force industry action on palm oil
The
Guardian – From rainforest to your cupboard: the real story of palm oil –
interactive
RSPO – About Sustainable palm oil
Photo credits: The Guardian website
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