RSPO and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Sign Landmark MoU to Strengthen Conservation and Consumer Awareness Through Sustainable Palm Oil

Renewing their longstanding partnership through a new agreement, RSPO and WAZA unite their global networks to promote certified sustainable palm oil and drive conservation through education and consumer empowerment.

By: Juan Camilo Plazas

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2025, reaffirming their joint commitment to promote RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) and combat deforestation through education, research, and conservation led collaboration.

The agreement, in effect through 2028, brings together two global networks with complementary missions: the RSPO, the leading global standard-setting body for sustainable palm oil, and WAZA, the umbrella association for hundreds of progressive zoos and aquariums worldwide working to advance biodiversity conservation and animal welfare. This renewed MoU formalises years of ongoing collaboration and sets the stage for broader and deeper engagement between both organisations and their members.

Allies in conservation efforts

“Receiving hundreds of millions of visitors each year, zoos and aquariums are among our strongest allies in educating consumers about the importance of certified sustainable palm oil. RSPO is excited to continue this mutually beneficial partnership with WAZA, which allows us to better engage the public while helping the WAZA community stay connected to conservation efforts in biodiverse, oil palm–growing regions,” said Chelsea Wellmer, RSPO Assistant Manager for Market Transformation (North America).

For his part, Dr. Martín Zordan, CEO of WAZA, said: “WAZA’s collaboration with RSPO reflects our shared commitment to conservation. By promoting certified sustainable palm oil, we can tackle deforestation at its roots while supporting communities and ecosystems. Together, with RSPO and our zoo and aquarium membership, we can help transform consumer and visitor choices across the globe.”

Since the signing of the first MoU in November 2017, RSPO and WAZA have collaborated to develop resources and tools that promote sustainable sourcing practices across WAZA’s membership. One early result of the collaboration was a multilingual guide for zoos and aquariums on how to integrate CSPO into their operations and communications.

Building on that foundation, the new MoU establishes a joint framework for advancing awareness, sharing expertise, and improving consumer engagement around sustainable palm oil.

Empowering consumers to make informed choices

A key objective of the renewed MoU is to make sustainability more visible and accessible to the millions of visitors who pass through WAZA member zoos and aquariums each year.

WAZA will encourage its zoo and aquarium members to raise awareness about certified sustainable palm oil by integrating educational messaging into their exhibits, signage, digital platforms, and visitor programmes. Through awareness campaigns, guidance, and shared resources, WAZA aims to inspire zoos and aquariums to highlight the role of sustainable palm oil in transforming the industry and protecting biodiversity.

As part of this collaboration, WAZA will raise awareness among its member zoos and aquariums about the benefits of aligning procurement practices with RSPO Standards. By sharing knowledge and showcasing best practices, WAZA will empower its members to adopt CSPO and communicate these choices to their audiences.

One tool supporting this outreach is the PalmOil Scan App, developed by WAZA in collaboration with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Chester Zoo, Auckland Zoo, and Zoos South Australia, which allows users in selected countries to scan product barcodes and check whether brands are committed to sourcing RSPO CSPO.

While currently available in selected countries, the PalmOil Scan App, winner of RSPO’s Innovation Award in 2024, has the potential to become a valuable tool for visitor engagement worldwide. WAZA will encourage its member institutions to help expand the app’s reach in their regions and promote its use among visitors as a way to support informed consumer choices and drive demand for certified sustainable palm oil.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, a longtime WAZA member and leader in sustainable palm oil advocacy, has also played a key role in promoting the app and educating visitors about their power to drive change. Earlier this year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo reached a major milestone by raising over one million dollars for orangutan conservation. Funds allocated from the zoo’s membership revenue and daytime admissions have supported a variety of efforts that benefit critically endangered wild orangutans in Southeast Asia. This achievement reflects the strong connection between community engagement and real-world conservation outcomes.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo reached a major milestone by raising over one million dollars for orangutan conservation. Funds allocated from the zoo’s membership revenue and daytime admissions have supported a variety of efforts that benefit critically endangered wild orangutans in Southeast Asia.

“By using PalmOil Scan, a free, global mobile app, everyone has the power to advocate through their shopping choices, and to make large companies listen to their demands for sustainably produced palm oil,” said Kean Kearney, Palm Oil and Conservation Coordinator at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “As a leader in sustainable palm oil advocacy for more than a decade, CMZoo helped launch PalmOil Scan in July 2022, under the direction of WAZA. When more companies recognize that their customers won’t tolerate the use of unsustainable palm oil, we can help prevent further deforestation and support the recovery of endangered wildlife.”

Looking ahead

This renewed collaboration between RSPO and WAZA represents more than just a partnership, it is a shared commitment to empower millions of zoo visitors to recognise their influence as consumers and to choose a more sustainable future for people and the planet.