Will A Palm Oil Boycott Help Protect Our Rainforests?
Thinking about joining the palm oil boycott? Here’s what you need to know first.
As you browse the internet, you will notice a growing trend: more and more products are proudly advertised as "palm-oil-free."
While these campaigns are often driven by good intentions, the reality is more complicated.
A widespread boycott of palm oil could actually lead to even greater environmental and social problems.
I hope that after reading this, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the palm oil issue—and what we can do to make a positive impact.
Palm oil has been used in soap making for thousands of years.
It helps create a long-lasting, cleansing, conditioning bar with a rich, fluffy lather.
Despite its great attributes in soap and other products, palm oil has become a highly debated topic.
And with good reason.
Worldwide concerns about the expansion of palm oil plantations—including the destruction of rainforests, loss of wildlife biodiversity, and threats to indigenous communities—must be addressed.
At Chagrin Valley Soap, we treasure our planet and its inhabitants. We understand that although our part is small, every choice matters. That is why we use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, grown and harvested according to strict environmental and social standards.
Over the years, we have done our research, and today I want to share what we’ve learned.
Because at the heart of the problem is this simple fact: The global demand for palm oil continues to rise. And how we respond to that demand matters more than ever.
Why Has The Demand For Palm Oil Increased?
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. It is not only found in our food but also many other products, including cosmetics, personal care items, and cleaning supplies.
Although palm oil has been used for centuries, the demand has skyrocketed, especially in the food industry. According to a November 2021 article by Pablo Robus et al. in Bloomberg, "The world's addiction to palm oil is only getting worse."
"We each consume on average 8 kilograms of palm oil every year, but most of the time, we’re not even aware that the thing we’re eating, smelling or burning contains substances that were once bunches of red fruit on an oil-palm tree. Pick up any packaged item in a supermarket and there’s about a 50 percent chance it’s got palm oil in it." (Source)
You may be thinking, “I always check labels for palm oil.” Unfortunately, it's not that simple. According to the Orangutan Alliance, palm oil and its derivatives can hide under more than 200 different names on ingredient lists, making it difficult for even diligent consumers to spot.
Why Did the Food Industry Embrace Palm Oil?
Palm oil is one of the few vegetable oils that is naturally solid at room temperature.
This property became crucial when health concerns over trans fats — hydrogenated oils created to mimic solid fats — led to regulatory bans. When the FDA officially banned trans fats in 2018, manufacturers rushed to replace them with healthier, naturally solid oils like palm or coconut oil.
Beyond Food: Biofuels and the Palm Oil Push
According to an article published in December 2020 by Hannah Ritchie and Max Rosner in Our World Data, although the use of palm oil in food products dominates the global demand,
". . . this breakdown varies from country-to-country. Some countries use much more palm oil for biofuels than others. In Germany, for example, bioenergy is the largest use, accounting for 41% (more than food at 40%). A push towards increased biofuel consumption in the transport sector has been driving this, despite it being worse for the environment than normal diesel."
The push for "green" biofuels ironically led to increased deforestation. Although intended to cut carbon emissions, studies have shown that clearing forests to grow biofuel crops causes more environmental harm than the emissions saved.
"Growing biofuel crops on a large scale requires either the conversion of agricultural land used for food crops or the destruction of forests to free up land, possibly offsetting any reduction in carbon emissions from the use of biofuels.” (Robert Mendick, The Telegraph, March 23, 2014)
The Roots of the Palm Oil Controversy
Before we can understand how to create real change, it's important to understand why palm oil production has become such a global concern.
New palm groves are often planted by clearing huge regions of rainforest or draining carbon-rich peatlands, without regard for the health of indigenous peoples or the surrounding ecosystems.
(And, by the way, this problem is not unique to palm oil--but more about that later!)
The largest rainforests are found in the Amazon River Basin (South America), the Congo River Basin (Western Africa), and throughout much of Southeast Asia. Smaller rainforests are located in Central America, Madagascar, Australia, nearby islands, India, and other tropical regions.
Deforestation threatens the survival of indigenous peoples and endangered species, disrupts critical habitats, and results in the loss of biodiversity and precious green space that cleans our air.
Clearing forests for palm oil production also contributes to climate change. Native forests are often cleared by burning the timber and forest undergrowth. This results in large amounts of smoke and greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.
On top of the environmental damage, the human cost is heartbreaking. As land is cleared for large plantations, indigenous communities are often displaced from their ancestral homes and sources of livelihood. Many are forced to work on industrial palm plantations, where they may endure harsh conditions, unsafe workplaces, child labor, human rights violations, and insufficient pay.
Consider the People, Not Just the Palm
It is easy for those of us living comfortably in developed countries to call for sweeping boycotts and demand change from a comfortable distance. But for millions of people living in developing nations, palm oil is not about convenience or profit—it is about survival.
The palm oil industry plays a critical role in the economy of many developing countries.
It is not just an ingredient in cosmetics or processed foods—it is a critical source of affordable nutrition and one of the few industries that provides steady jobs and income in some of the world’s poorest regions. Without it, countless families would lose their livelihoods, their homes, and even their access to food.
Those of us blessed with stable economies, clean water, and full grocery stores must be careful not to impose solutions that ignore the realities others face.
Communities struggling to survive cannot always afford to prioritize forest conservation over feeding their children.
If we truly care about people and the planet, we must advocate for responsible, sustainable palm oil, not simply demand boycotts that risk harming the very people we claim to stand for.
Real change means protecting ecosystems and supporting human dignity.
Who Really Pays the Price of a Palm Oil Boycott?
Finding a solution that protects the environment while allowing poorer nations to grow economically is not simple. Some advocate for a boycott of palm oil.
It sounds like a logical idea--if we boycott palm oil, the demand will decrease and new plantations will not be needed. But it is not as simple as that.
A widespread boycott could collapse a vital industry in developing countries, stripping communities of one of their few paths toward a better standard of living.
While many think of palm oil as a "big business" commodity, small farmers actually play a huge role. In fact, about 30 to 40 percent of the world's palm oil comes from small farmers. According to Indonesia’s palm oil commission, over 41 percent of plantations were owned by smallholders as far back as 2008. (A Report by World Growth, 2011)
And let’s be honest: Do we really believe that multinational corporations would be the ones to suffer the consequences?
No — it is the small family farmers, the local communities already living on the edge of poverty, who would bear the brunt of the loss. Taking these opportunities away from farming communities could be devastating, both economically and socially.
Why Not Use Another Vegetable Oil Instead of Palm?
A report released in June 2018 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that boycotting palm oil would result in "displacing, rather than halting" global biodiversity loss.
Why? Because it would lead to an increase in the production of other oil crops that require far more land.
Oil palms are incredibly productive crops. They have the highest yield per hectare (1 hectare equals about 2.5 acres), and can produce up to 10 times more oil per acre than other oil crops.
If palm oil plantations were forced to close, landowners would likely clear even more rainforest to plant other crops that require more space.
For example:
- Soybeans, the second-largest oil crop, would need more than 10 times the amount of land to produce the same amount of oil.
- Sunflowers would need about 8 times the amount of land. The social and environmental impacts will be greatly increased.
According to the World Wildlife Federation, "Globally, palm oil supplies 40% of the world’s vegetable oil demand on just under 6% of the land used to produce all vegetable oils. To get the same amount of alternative oils like soybean, coconut, or sunflower oil you would need anything between 4 and 10 times more land, which would just shift the problem to other parts of the world and threaten other habitats, species, and communities."
A palm oil boycott would not solve the problem — it would simply shift it, triggering even more deforestation, greater habitat destruction, and deeper environmental damage as other, less efficient crops rush in to take palm oil’s place.
What Can Be Done About the "Palm Oil Problem"?
The answer is not to abandon palm oil — it is to support and demand the development of truly “sustainable” palm oil.
By improving growing practices, it is possible to double palm oil yields without expanding into new rainforest areas. Since palm trees produce far more oil per acre than crops like soy or sunflower, sustainability efforts have begun to help countries and small farmers identify areas for palm oil development using land previously cleared for other crops.
In many regions, palm oil development can take place on land previously deforested for logging or agriculture. Huge tracts of abandoned, nutrient-poor land — especially in South America — could be repurposed for new plantations without cutting down a single additional tree.
For example, in parts of the Amazon, rainforests were cleared decades ago through slash-and-burn practices.
Without the protective canopy and tree roots, the thin rainforest soil quickly eroded, leaving behind barren grasslands.
Some of these degraded lands are now being used for palm cultivation, helping to reintroduce green cover, restore bird and animal populations, and preserve the untouched rainforest around them.
While these new palm forests are not as diverse as native rainforests, they are a major improvement over empty, lifeless fields, offering a more balanced way forward for both people and the planet.
If We Build It, They Will Come
You might remember that iconic phrase from the movie Field of Dreams: "If you build it, they will come."
Today, I am not talking about baseball fields — I am talking about building a movement powerful enough to change an industry.
Boycotting palm oil might feel like the right thing to do. But the truth is, it won't make palm oil disappear — and it won't shut down the companies doing the most harm.
Even when it’s not obvious, palm oil is everywhere, and it is here to stay. It's woven into nearly half of all food and personal care products, providing a plant-based fat and functionality that few other oils can match.
As small businesses as well as consumers, we can play a huge role in transforming the industry for the better.
Palm oil itself is not the villain. It is one of the most sustainable, efficient crops we have. The real problem is where and how it's grown. With responsible practices, palm oil can be produced in ways that respect the environment and support local communities.
The good news? We have power.
According to the World Wildlife Federation:
Boycotts of palm oil will neither protect nor restore the rainforest, whereas companies undertaking actions for a more sustainable palm oil industry are contributing to a long-lasting and transparent solution.
Consumer pressure works. Major companies like Nestlé, Unilever, Kellogg’s, Starbucks, and Hershey’s have all made public commitments to sourcing sustainable palm oil. There is still much work ahead, but it shows that when we speak with our wallets and our voices, change is possible.
At Chagrin Valley, we support this movement by using only USDA Certified Organic (traceable back to its source) and Certified Sustainable Palm Oil in our products.
Over time, I hope we will see fewer "palm oil-free" labels and more proud declarations of "sustainably sourced palm oil." That shift could make all the difference for our rainforests, for endangered species, and for the communities working hard to build a better life.
The solution is not to boycott palm oil, but rather to demand that companies use and produce palm oil that will sustain our rainforests and their inhabitants.
This demand will encourage oil producers to move toward producing Certified Sustainable Palm oil. If there is no demand for sustainable palm oil, the growers will not grow it. They will continue the cheaper, unsustainable practices because no one is paying them for a sustainable product.
Certified Sustainable Groups and Certifications
As consumers, our voices are powerful. Supporting Certified Sustainable Palm Oil helps protect rainforests, wildlife, and communities, without giving up an incredibly valuable natural resource.
Sustainable palm oil means more than just protecting rainforests. It will help ensure that valuable tropical forests will not be cleared, which preserves the habitat for some of the world’s most threatened species, preserves biodiversity, and protects green space that cleans our air.
It prioritizes a set of standards that include respect for plantation workers, indigenous peoples, and communities affected by palm oil production, and a commitment to environmental safeguards such as organic farming techniques.
Many certification groups are working to transform the palm oil industry for the better. Each group has its pros and cons, and these programs must strive to do better. Let them continue to hear the most important voices -- the consumers!
Here are a few of the certifications and groups behind responsible palm oil production:
The Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG)
Launched in November 2013 by a group of international NGOs (including The World Wildlife Fund, The Rainforest Action Network, The Forest Peoples Programme, and Greenpeace) it now includes a network of concerned groups, like the Orangutan Land Trust.
POIG pushes for the highest standards in palm oil production — including "zero deforestation" commitments. They focus on environmental responsibility, partnerships with communities, and full corporate transparency.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
Formed in 2004, the RSPO created global standards for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
While early efforts were criticized for being too weak, today RSPO certification requires strict practices:
- No clearing of forests or peatlands
- Conservation of rare and endangered species
- Third-party audits to verify sustainability
It’s not perfect, but it is moving in the right direction — and its wide reach offers real hope for large-scale change.
Rainforest Alliance
Best known for their “green frog” seal, the Rainforest Alliance certifies a wide range of agricultural products — not just palm oil, but also coffee, cocoa, and more.
They focus on protecting ecosystems, improving the livelihoods of farming communities, and encouraging sustainable tourism and forestry practices.
Palm Done Right
The Palm Done Right is the first fully integrated, 100-percent organic supply chain in the palm oil industry. Created in 2016 by Natural Habitats, Palm Done Right guarantees Fair Labor Certification, organic certification, Non-GMO Project Verification, and has the highest level of certification — Identity Preserved — offered by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). It bans deforestation and prioritizes transparency from farm to final product.
Palm Done Right believes that if, "Done Right, organic palm oil can be one of the most sustainable oils in the world, nurturing animals, people, communities, and the environment."
Learn more about the positive benefits of sustainably sourced palm oil at www.palmdoneright.com.
Friend of the Earth
Friend of the Earth is an international certification plan for sustainable agriculture and livestock breeding whose principles are based on the protection of the whole ecosystem in which certified companies carry out their activities.
Friend of the Earth certification guarantees strict traceability from the farm to the finished product and verifies that farming practices protect entire ecosystems, not just individual species.
At Chagrin Valley, we carefully vet every supplier we work with.
We are a small company, and while we can’t purchase directly from growers, we ensure that all of the palm oil we use is Certified Sustainable — always.
Supporting sustainable palm oil protects tropical forests, preserves vital habitats, and lifts communities out of poverty — all while giving us access to a nutrient-rich, planet-friendly oil.
It's not about rejecting palm oil. It's about demanding better — and holding the industry accountable.
These Controversies are NOT Unique to Palm Oil Crops
Palm oil is often painted as the main villain behind deforestation, but it’s not the only culprit.
The truth is, native forests and vital habitats around the world are being destroyed to make room for a wide variety of crops, not just palm oil.
We need to stop using Palm Oil as the scapegoat and focus on all commodities that drive forest and biodiversity loss.
Soybeans, rubber, coffee, tea, rice, sugar, and corn, along with logging and grazing lands for beef, are all major drivers of forest and biodiversity loss.
In an article released on Vox in February 2023, Glenn Hurowitz, the founder and CEO of Mighty Earth, an environmental advocacy group, said that progress in palm oil is not enough for the world’s forests. “The change in the palm oil industry is a massive success, and the tragedy is that it has not been sufficiently replicated in other industries.”
According to the article, one of the main contributors to deforestation is beef. "It’s far more devastating to the world’s forests than any other commodity. Indeed, between 2001 and 2015, cattle caused roughly four times as much deforestation as palm oil, globally."
An article published in the World Economic Forum states that "cattle, oil palm, soy, cocoa, rubber, coffee, and plantation wood fiber replaced 71.9 million hectares of forest, an area of land over twice the size of Germany."
Soybeans are devastating fragile ecosystems, especially in South America, where nearly 4 million hectares of forests are destroyed every year, 2.6 million in Brazil alone, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Sugar cane farming has become a major force behind deforestation in Colombia, with forecasts predicting that sugar cane and soybeans could drive a 20-million-hectare expansion into Amazon forests over the next 40 years.
Rice fields and coffee plantations have been major contributors to deforestation in Madagascar.
Cocoa is also a major driver of deforestation. In Ghana, the conversion of forests to cocoa farming resulted in the loss of one-third of the country's total tree cover.
And the list goes on.
Palm oil may be part of the problem, but it is far from alone.
If we are truly committed to protecting rainforests and biodiversity, we must look at the entire picture — and demand more sustainable practices across all agricultural industries.
In Conclusion: Rethinking the Palm Oil Debate
When the palm oil controversy came to the forefront years ago, I researched the issue thoroughly and concluded that the answer is NOT to boycott palm oil, but to support the demand for sustainable palm oil.
The global demand for palm oil will not disappear. Even environmentalists admit that boycotting palm oil will be even worse for the planet. Replacing palm oil, an extremely productive crop, with alternative oils will require even more land to be cleared for planting.
While choosing to use organic, certified sustainable palm oil has increased the cost of making our soap, I believe it is worth it. To be honest, it would have been cheaper, easier, and great for marketing to jump on the bandwagon, eliminate palm oil, and plaster the words “palm oil free” all over our website and packaging.
But I don't believe it would have been the right thing to do. And doing the right thing matters.
Sustainability issues will continue to challenge us, and the movement toward a more sustainable world is one we share. If we want more sustainable commodities—like palm oil, soybeans, coffee, sugar, and rice—then we must champion that movement and be a part of the change.
We need to support organizations whose goal is to ensure that all crops, not only palm oil, are grown in a manner that supports the sustainability of our native forests, protects wildlife and biodiversity, and safeguards the lives and dignity of indigenous peoples.
We must broaden our focus to include all commodities driving deforestation and biodiversity loss, while always remembering the profound impact on local communities and indigenous peoples.
Each of us can make a difference by choosing to support companies that source their ingredients responsibly, whether in food, clothing, skincare, or other products.
As consumers, we have power. It is only when the collective voice of consumers is heard that real change happens.
Our collective voice does make a difference.
We are not just consumers — we are changemakers. Let’s keep raising our voices for a better world.
Originally published April 6, 2020, updated for content
