What is palm oil?
Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of oil palms. There is palm oil, palm kernel oil and PFAD (Palm Oil Fatty Acid). The latter is a by-product of the production of palm oil. Oil palm thrives best where it is warm and humid, for example in tropical climates. Palm oil is an important source of fat and energy for millions of people around the world.
What is the function of palm oil and what is it used for?
Palm oil has good shelf life and texture. It has a neutral taste and does not contain any allergens (allergenic substances) and is therefore easy to use in several different areas. Palm oil is in solid form already at room temperature and is a sought-after and healthier substitute for heated fats (hardened fats) in many foods. Palm oil is used partly in cooking and as an ingredient in, for example, biscuits, chocolate and semi-finished products. The oil is also used as a raw material in cosmetics, skin care, soaps, biofuel and candles.
What is less good?
Demand for palm oil is high around the world. This means that the areas where oil palm is cultivated are expanding and spreading. Sometimes the rainforest is cleared to make way for palm oil plantations to expand. The result is devastating for humans, animals and plant life. Agricultural land disappears, depriving people of livelihoods. Forests are cleared, causing displacement of animal species and indigenous communities and leading to a depletion of biodiversity.
What does the Nordic Swan Ecolabel think about palm oil?
Due to the serious risks associated with oil palm production, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel has a strict stance and prohibits the use of palm oil as far as possible. For example, palm oil, palm kernel oil or PFAD are not allowed in Nordic Swan Ecolabelled candles or fuels. However, we accept that palm oil is used in Nordic Swan Ecolabelled cosmetics and skin care because it has so far been difficult to find good alternatives. In cases where we allow palm oil, we require that it is certified according to an established sustainability standard. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel has so far accepted the use of palm oil certified according to the Round Table of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO-certified).