Palm oil is used in many products because it has an excellent consistency, is heat stable and can be produced very cost-efficiently. Because of these advantages, world-wide palm oil production has more than doubled over the last 10 years. Currently, around 85% of all palm oil is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia, mostly on big plantations. Yet, as palm oil expansion often goes hand-in-hand with deforestation, important biodiversity losses and social conflicts, both Coop Switzerland and the Swiss State Secretariate of Economic Affairs (SECO) are commited to contributing to enhanced sustainability in palm oil production.
This project aims to assess different palm oil production systems in Africa and South America to help define pathways to increase the sustainability contribution of oil palm production and to foster the sourcing of organic and fair trade certified palm oil.
Project implementation