Is Palm Oil Vegan? Here’s Why Some Vegans Avoid It

Palm oil is a very common ingredient in many food and beauty products – and, given that it appears to be extracted from plants, it should be vegan, right? Why are so many vegans opposed to using palm oil? 

The problem comes less from the oil itself and more from the manner in which we derive it. Palm oil production has proven to be a leading cause of deforestation, animal endangerment, and environmental pollution. 

But what is palm oil, what do we use it in, and how can we help to fight its production? 

What is palm oil?

Palm oil is quite simply the oil that we extract from palm trees! To be more specific, palm oil actually comes from the fruit produced on palm trees – the fruit is broken down to extract the oil.

There are actually two kinds of palm oil – crude and kernel. The difference between the two is that crude palm oil is derived from the pulp of the fruit that’s squeezed, while kernel palm oil comes only from the centre stone of the fruit that’s crushed. 

It is vital to note that not all palm trees can produce the palm oil that we commonly use in everyday products – the oil we use actually comes specifically from oil palms. While they are indigenous to Africa, they are now grown in Southeast Asia, too. 

In fact, most of the world’s palm oil is actually produced in Malaysia and Indonesia alone. Both countries have vast oil palm plantations – and boy, do we use them! But how widespread is palm oil use, anyway?

What do we use palm oil in?

Palm oil is common in foodstuffs such as pizza dough, ice cream, chocolate, cookies, bread, peanut butter, chocolate, Nutella, frying fats, chips, biscuits, vegan cheese, doughnuts, cakes, cupcakes, instant noodles, baby formula… it’s all around us.

However, palm oil can also be found in many of our everyday beauty and healthcare products. It’s in soap, lipstick, shampoo, conditioner, mascara, eye pencils, foundation, concealer, perfume, sunscreen, facial wipes, moisturisers, toothpaste… and that’s not all. You’ll even find palm oil in biodiesel and some laundry detergents!

The fact that palm oil is so ubiquitous – and that so many people rely on it – makes it all the harder for vegans to find alternatives. But, do vegans even need to worry?

Many do – and here’s why.

Is palm oil vegan?

Technically, yes, palm oil is vegan. Since it is derived from a plant and not from an animal or an animal product, it is vegan. But, many vegans avoid using palm oil for ethical reasons, regardless of whether or not it is plant-derived.

Sadly, just because palm oil has no animal ingredients, it does not mean that animals were not hurt in their cultivation and extraction. In fact, the production of palm oil is extremely harmful to animals, which is why so many vegans are opposed to using it.

How does palm oil production harm animals?

First of all, to keep up with demands and produce as much palm oil as they do, some southeast Asian territories have pursued deforestation strategies to create vast palm tree plantations. 

This level of deforestation is a leading cause in the destruction of habitats and lives of animals such as orangutans, elephants, rhinos, tigers, proboscis monkeys, and up to 90 different species of fish! 

The impact on orangutans, in particular, has become a cause for great concern. This is because their loss of habitat has led to orangutans listed as critically endangered. This goes for all three species – and, sadly, their numbers appear only to be decreasing. 

And, orangutans aren’t the only species to face endangerment due to palm oil production. In fact, many believe that over 100 species across the world are critically endangered or vulnerable in part or completely due to the mass production of palm oil. 

What’s more, there appear to be no signs of the palm oil industry slowing down. In fact, the industry is likely to grow at a breakneck pace. Not only does this increase the risk for the already endangered animals, but it also poses an ever-growing threat to other animal species across the planet. 

Does palm oil production harm the environment?

Due to the mass deforestation that has already taken place, countless plant species are now extinct, meaning palm oil production is not purely affecting animals alone.

Palm oil production also links to severe water, soil and air pollution. And, due to the vast plantations needed to grow quickly and continuously, palm oil production has also been the cause of severe soil erosion. 

Moreover, due to the mass deforestation, many Indigenous tribes have been displaced, being robbed of their lands, homes, and livelihoods. These tribes did wonders in preserving the natural areas; without them, such spaces are getting lost to mass production. 

That is why the effect palm oil production has had on the world cannot be ignored and why so many vegans, environmentalists, and general people want to help reduce the production of palm oil and refuse to use it in their own products. 

Can palm oil ever be sustainable? 

As we know, palm oils can be very beneficial to us, which is why it is so commonly used in our food, skincare, cleaning, and general products. That is why many of us are also reluctant to let it go. So, instead of wondering how we can do without palm oil, maybe a better question would be whether or not palm oil can ever be sustainable. 

As it happens, it can! The problem isn’t actually palm oil itself. In fact, in 2004, the RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil) was created. The idea was that the organisation would help to improve palm oil production and reduce its environmental impact on the world. 

Sustainable palm oil plantations do exist and – the great news is – they do seem to work, too! People working on these plantations earn good living wages for their work, and seek to ethically deal with the native wildlife of the area before growing anything. 

However, as you can imagine, running things ethically means that the oil produced is typically more expensive to derive and then deliver to the consumer. And, while many of us want a better future for our planet and all of the living creatures on it, bigger companies will not necessarily take that into consideration without us putting our collective foot down. 

So, how can we help to fight destructive palm oil production? 

What can we do to fight against palm oil production? 

The best way to fight destructive palm oil production is by not consuming the products that contain it. Nice and simple!

Of course, it can be difficult to avoid palm oil altogether, but simply switching brands where possible can make a big difference. The brands that source their palm oil from ethical palm oil plantations advertise as such on their products. And, while they might be slightly more expensive, you know that that money’s going to support a much better service.

Many brands also avoid using palm oil altogether. Consider looking for Warburtons, Raw Health, Divine, and Mr. Organic, all of whom go against the palm oil grain.

Choosing ethically sourced products, and avoiding general palm oil products as much as possible, will force companies to rethink their ingredients and where they’re getting them from. And, the more companies make a shift to quality plantations, the more funding they will get to continue their work ethically and durably. 

So, join the fight and do your best where you can! It’s worth checking the products that you generally use to see where all of the ingredients are sourced and research quality brands that either do not use palm oil at all or, if they do, use palm oil that is sustainable.

As small of a contribution to the fight as it may seem, if every one of us committed to it, we would change the world! Remember that big impacts start with small steps! 

What should I look out for when avoiding palm oil products?

While many products will list palm oil outright, it’s worth noting that a few derivatives might slip through the net. However, a ‘few’ ends up being more than 500 different derivatives – meaning it’s likely impossible to memorise the full list!

There’s a little bit of a shortcut you can use to avoid palm oil derivatives without giving yourself a headache. Experts and campaigners recommend you should look out for ingredients that contain ‘stear’, ‘palm’, ‘glyc’, and ‘laur’. All will typically have some links to palm oil, which in turn, means your chosen product may not be the most ethical choice.

Do take a closer look at the Orangutan Foundation’s list of palm oil derivatives to learn more. It’s worth remembering that, in some cases, the derivatives you believe are from palm oil may be completely innocent! However, it is always better to be safe than to be sorry.

Conclusion

While palm oil is most certainly vegan by very definition, that does not mean it is an ethical product to use. Its effects on the environment and our wildlife are astonishing, destructive, and, sadly, increasing. 

So, wherever you can, avoid palm oil, and try to avoid the products that use general palm oil as opposed to those that take the time, effort and money to only work with sustainable plantations. 

While the difference may not seem huge to you, it will make a difference for the animals, and people involved, as it will for our entire planet. More and more brands are working to remove palm oil from their products – meaning it will hopefully get easier for us to make this conscious effort in time to come.