Why sustainable palm oil?

Getting the facts

When palm oil is produced sustainably, it has positive social, economic and environmental impacts. When it is produced unsustainably, the effects can be negative.

This distinction has led to misleading myths about palm oil. At the RSPO, we are working to make the facts about sustainable palm oil available to all.

Myth
Palm oil cannot be produced without exploiting workers and farmers around the world.
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Fact

RSPO sets strict standards for certified members to protect human and labour rights and to improve working conditions. There is a zero-tolerance policy on threats against defenders of human rights.

Myth
Farming palm oil means harming wildlife.
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Fact

Farming palm oil sustainably helps protect wildlife. When oil palms are grown according to the RSPO Standards wildlife is safeguarded and able to live alongside plantations and local communities.

Myth
Growing palm oil requires deforestation.
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Fact

Growing palm oil sustainably helps to protect forests. Our standards require members to protect both primary and secondary forests – those that are largely untouched by humans, or that are made up of important or native trees.

Myth
Other vegetable oils are more sustainable than palm oil.
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Fact

No other vegetable oil crop is as productive or as versatile as palm oil. That means other crops require more land to get the same amount of oil. Unfortunately replacing sustainable palm oil with alternative oils may cause even more deforestation to forests and wildlife species.

Photo Credit: RSPO/SayanCHUENUDOMSAVAD

Get Involved

Whether you’re an individual or an organisation, you can help make sustainable palm oil the norm.

As an individual

Take a stand for sustainable palm oil with your weekly shopping. See how you can influence brands and businesses.

More on individual action

As a smallholder

Discover how RSPO Certification can introduce you to sustainable farming practices to increase your yield and the land and wildlife around your smallholding.

More on smallholder impact

As an organisation

You can make an impact on reducing the negative social and environmental impact of conventional oil palm cultivation through producing and sourcing certified sustainable palm oil.

More on organisation influence