Palm oil is associated with many harmful impacts it has on the environment; deforestation, animal die-offs, displacement of indigenous communities, just to name a few. However, human rights are also an issue raised due to the continuously developing nature of the palm oil industry. An inspection of two RSPO certified plantations in Indonesia revealed that, indeed, human rights were being violated and on a “sustainable” palm oil plantation no less. To do this palm oil plantations utilize what are referred to as casual workers, kernet workers (limited duration workers), or simply informal workers who are not on the books. Furthermore, these plantations task the normal employees with absurd quotas of palm oil fruit branches to harvest (140-160 on average). This results in the use of the aforementioned “unofficial workers” many of which are wives, children, or friends of regular workers to help meet these quotas. If child labor wasn’t bad enough, agriculture work is claimed to be the “worst form of child labor” subjecting all workers to poor conditions. Toxic chemicals (some even banned in western society like paraquat) are sprayed on the plantations and the vast distances required to walk to the palms as well as the weight of the palm tree branches themselves (30 to 45 pounds each) are not conditions in which children should ever find themselves.
Can palm oil be harmful to our health? The European Food Safety Authority found that there indeed might be some health complications under certain conditions. to produce palm oil, the seeds or fruit must be heated and refined; during the heating process, glycerol based contaminants from heating vegetable oil can be formed. These contaminants can be genotoxic and carcinogenic, and in palm oil the highest concentrations of these contaminants can be found. Thus, improperly refined palm oil can be dangerous to many groups (children, elderly, people with compromised immune systems). However, companies like Ferrero with Nutella, assert that palm oil is essential to the brand and “spread-ability” of Nutella, with no indication that palm oil will be excluded from the product anytime soon. Furthermore, Ferrero insists that any and all products that contain palm oil (specifically for Ferrero) are safe. Many products contain palm oil; Nutella, Girl Scout cookies, candy bars, toothpaste, cosmetics, etc. But the production of palm oil is only expected to increase. There is also a video for those who don’t like to read as much as well as several articles containing more information for those who are concerned.
Borneo is an island in southeast Asia, a region where palm oil production is the highest in the world. A massive drop in forest-covered land, almost a 50% loss, as well as burning of peatland has crippled the orangutan ecology. Despite high conservation value land, or HCV’s, where a portion of the palm oil plantation is left to remain as forest for orangutan and other species; the small, undisturbed plots of land pose other problems rather than solve the problems they set out to. HCV’s lead to high density populations of orangutans (and other animals) in the HCV’s which leads to more competition for food and resources between them with more aggressive tendencies. Additionally, with less area to roam freely in (as is orangutan nature) orangutans have been showing up more often in the plantation itself as well as in other villages throughout the island, resulting (typically) in the deaths of the roaming orangutans. Solutions have been proposed, initially relocating orangutans and reintroducing them to the wild but with recent development of palm oil that is no longer a viable option. Instead, recent solutions involve creating “corridors” or forest pathways connecting the HCV’s with each other and Gunung Palung national park. Unfortunately, the cost and land use required to create such corridors is not appealing to most palm oil producers. In fact, Marc Ancrenaz claims that “Companies comply [with the RSPO] because they want a good image.”
Can banks be linked to deforestation? Hiroko Tabuchi, says yes; the Rajawali group, an Indonesian conglomerate, is responsible for many environmental problems and concerns in the country. Rajawali, Tabuchi claims, deforests vast amounts of land in Indonesia for its resources as well as the land to grow palm oil (a business venture Rajawali began in 2014). Big banks like Bank of America, Credit Suisse, and more, sponsored loans for the Rajawali group to fund land acquisition, deforestation, etc. Many of these banks having sustainability policies, swearing to not fund projects related to “primary tropical moist forests” destruction, adopted as early as 2004. Furthermore, the Rajawali group and Eagle High Plantations (a subsidiary of Rajawali) has been accused (several times) for acts of deforestation, use of child labor, etc. Unfortunately, despite cases of child labor and force being used on workers on the plantation, the pail oil was deemed a success in Indonesia. This will most likely result in more loans being given to Rajawali further amplifying the issues already present. The data presented by Tabuchi is astonishing to say the least in that the Rajawali group and banks are/were able to get away with in this day and age.
Malaysia and Indonesia are both major palm oil producers and exporters. However, according to Robert Hii the two countries efforts of sustainable production of palm oil is not equivalent. Hii asserts that Malaysia should not be associated with the deforestation, human rights, and animal rights issues that Indonesia is. To do this, two things have been done, a new standard was established, the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification scheme (MSPO) and will be mandatory. Additionally, “walk the talk” or being transparent and have open communication between producers and consumers, which is allegedly being implemented. Unsustainable palm oil has had a negative and positive impact on Malaysian towns. Hii gives an account of his village (Sibu), the loss of biodiversity and peatland, the development issues of the town; on the other hand, development of an airport and hospital have helped the town. Concluding, Hii reinforces that Malaysia has a chance to show the world how to do sustainable palm oil right. Unfortunately, Hii also mentions that sustainable palm oil is not particularly desirable right now; leading to boycotts of palm oil by smaller groups, which may harm sustainable palm oil producers.
Palm oil is a new up in coming vegetable oil found in everything from makeup to packaged foods. The bulk of palm oil harvesting occurs in plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia leading to deforestation among other issues in the countries. Slash and burning of forests and burning and draining of peatland (carbon-rich swamps) lends to heavy carbon emissions by the two countries. Furthermore, improper handling of peatland can continue to release carbon long after the land is drained. Many other issues are associated with burning of peatland as well, such as a haze released into the air causing health issues. Development of palm oil plantations also severely harms biodiversity pushing endeared species even further to extinction. Animal endangerment is but one aspect as the palm oil industry is wrought with human rights issues, such as forced labor as well. What little that can be done, is being done according to the local governments. New endeavors to acquire resources from primary forests and peatlands are prohibited. Additionally, primary forests are receiving protection and restoration efforts have taken place in Malaysia and Indonesia. Unfortunately, not all sustainability efforts are the same. Private organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards fall short when it comes to protecting all forests. Palm oil is a growing industry, we are currently taking steps in the right direction with companies making commitments to source palm oil from deforestation-free sources. Contrary, however, to the efforts of these commitments our need/dependence on palm oil is expected to continue growing.