Blog

December 2024

Empowering Ethical Choices: How Palm-to-Palm is Revolutionizing Palm Oil Accountability through a Palm Oil Reduced Certification 

The challenge of palm oil is complex. This versatile ingredient is in nearly half of all consumer products, yet its unsustainable production is a major driver of deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change (Pye, 2019; Cooper et al., 2020). As consumers, we want to make ethical purchasing decisions, but getting clear, actionable information about a company's palm oil footprint can be tricky.

Enter Palm-to-Palm, a 501c(3) non-profit organization that is stepping up to bridge this information gap. Palm-to-Palm’s evolving innovative calculator system (as exemplified by the University of Michigan - Dearborn) is designed to bring unprecedented transparency to the palm oil supply chain for institutions and consumers alike.

The Power of Data: Tracking the Untraceable

For a college campus, a corporate cafeteria, or a major food manufacturer, tracking the hidden palm oil in their vast network of suppliers is an overwhelming task. Palm-to-Palm’s system is designed to tackle this challenge head-on by creating a standardized method for tracking and assessing palm oil reduction efforts.

Here is how our work is set to create a ripple effect of sustainability:

1. For Corporations and Post Secondary Campuses: The core of Palm-to-Palm’s mission is to provide large-scale buyers with a non-profit, third-party calculator. This tool will allow corporations and universities to:

   • Measure Baselines: Quantify the total volume of palm oil in their procurement, from food service to cleaning supplies. 

   • Assess Impact: Evaluate the products containing palm oil.

   • Track Reduction: Monitor progress over time as they switch to alternative ingredients, effectively creating an audited record of environmental improvement.

2. Unlocking Consumer Transparency: The real game-changer is how this institutional data translates to the average shopper. By encouraging and certifying large organizations to publicly report their Palm-to-Palm scores on a regular basis, the non-profit will essentially turn supply chain data into a consumer compass.

From Ambition to Action

Palm-to-Palm's focus on the end-buyer (corporations and consumers) is a crucial next step. It shifts the burden of proof from a distant palm oil plantation to the shelves of your local grocery store and the menu of your campus dining hall.

The sheer scale of palm oil in our daily lives, from lipsticks and detergents to cookies and cooking oil, means that a simple boycott is often impractical. The most effective way forward is to support sustainable supply chains. Palm-to-Palm is developing a network of colleagues and corporations to help reduce unsustainable practices and reward companies committed to change.

Your Role: Demand the Data

The work of non-profits like Palm-to-Palm thrives on public pressure and corporate adoption. As this system moves from development to deployment, here is what you can do:

• Ask Questions: When shopping, look beyond the product label. Demand that the retailers and manufacturers you support publish their palm oil sourcing and reduction scores.

• Support Transparency: Follow and champion organizations committed to clear, measurable environmental reporting.

• Make an Informed Choice: As institutions are certified, use the scores to support organizations that are demonstrably moving away from unsustainable palm oil.

Palm-to-Palm is pioneering a new era of accountability. By creating a standardized, campus-to-corporation calculator, we are empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their purchasing choices, ensuring that every product they buy is a vote for a more sustainable planet. 

If your institution would like to get Palm-to-Palm certified, feel free to reach us at palmtopalmreduced@gmail.com.

References

Cooper, Hannah V., Stephanie Evers, Paul Aplin, Neil Crout, Mohd Puat Bin Dahalan, and Sofie Sjogersten. 2020. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Resulting from Conversion of Peat Swamp Forest to Oil Palm Plantation." Nature Communications 11(1): 407-8. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14298-w.

Pye, Oliver. 2019. "Commodifying Sustainability: Development, Nature and Politics in the Palm Oil Industry." World Development 121: 218-228. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.02.014.

November 20, 2022

Unmasking the True Cost of Palm Oil: Palm-to-Palm Hosts Exclusive Pre-Release Event

In a compelling virtual event, the environmental action group Palm-to-Palm brought global awareness to a local screen, hosting an exclusive pre-release preview and discussion of the powerful new documentary, "In the Land of Palm Oil." The event drew an engaged online student  audience, eager to learn more about the devastating environmental, ecological, and economic toll of the global palm oil industry.

Palm-to-Palm, an organization dedicated to educating the public about the social and environmental injustices surrounding palm oil production and promoting measurable reduction, partnered with the filmmakers and a key featured activist to offer a candid conversation before the documentary hits general release.

The Documentary: In the Land of Palm Oil

The featured documentary, "In the Land of Palm Oil," follows the journey of Emmanuela Shinta, an Indigenous Dayak journalist and human rights activist from Indonesian Borneo. The film captures her emergence as a powerful voice against the massive palm oil expansion that is consuming her native land.

• Ecological Devastation: The discussion highlighted the film's stark portrayal of rainforest destruction. Palm oil expansion is a leading driver of deforestation (Berenschot et al., 2024), pushing iconic species like the orangutan to the brink of extinction as their natural habitats are cleared. The draining of natural peatlands for plantations also releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making the industry a significant contributor to climate change and increasing the severity of annual fire seasons (Human Rights Watch, 2021: see “Why Our Land?”: Oil Palm Expansion in Indonesia Risks Peatlands and Livelihoods | HRW).

• Economic & Social Impact: The conversation went beyond the ecological, focusing on the human cost. Activist Emmanuela Shinta shared her experience fighting on the front lines, detailing how the expansion disrupts the traditional economy and culture of Indigenous communities. The documentary provides powerful testimony on land rights abuses and the exploitation of vulnerable workers on palm oil plantations, issues Palm-to-Palm has long championed in its own research and advocacy.

Bridging the Divide: Activist and Filmmaker in Conversation

The virtual panel, featuring director Denise Dragawitz and activist Emmanuela Shinta, served as an important link connecting global production to grassroots action.

Palm-to-Palm members led a dynamic open Q&A, focusing on the measurable change that films like this can inspire. The filmmakers emphasized their goal to not just document the crisis but to fuel on-the-ground campaigns for solutions. Emmanuela Shinta’s passion was palpable, as she spoke about her ongoing work to protect forests and her efforts to secure land for her community—a call to action directly supported by the film's outreach campaign.

How You Can Take Action

The pre-release event was a powerful reminder that every consumer has a role to play in transforming the palm oil industry. The key takeaway: awareness leads to action.

• See the Film: Keep an eye out for the general release of "In the Land of Palm Oil" to see this crucial story for yourself.

• Educate Yourself: Learn what products contain palm oil. Palm-to-Palm’s resources, including their online calculator and information on ethical sourcing, are excellent places to start.

• Support Grassroots Activism: Consider supporting organizations like Palm-to-Palm and the ongoing work of activists like Emmanuela Shinta, who are fighting to protect land and secure human rights on the front lines.

The conversation made one thing clear: the fight for sustainable palm oil is a fight for the future of our planet's forests, wildlife, and most vulnerable communities. The collaboration between Palm-to-Palm and the "In the Land of Palm Oil" team has set the stage for an impactful release—don’t miss this essential viewing!

References

Berenschot, Ward, Ahmad Dhiaulhaq, Otto Hospes, Afrizal, and Daniel Pranajaya. 2024. "Corporate Contentious Politics: Palm Oil Companies and Land Conflicts in Indonesia." Political Geography 114: 103166. doi: 10.1016/j.polgeo.2024.103166.

Human Rights Watch, 2021: see “Why Our Land?”: Oil Palm Expansion in Indonesia Risks Peatlands and Livelihoods | HRW

August, 2020

University of Michigan's Divestment from a Palm Oil Plantation in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Palm-to-Palm’s Grassroot Movement Leads to Change for a Sustainable and Compassionate Future 

Palm-to-Palm, a student and professional-led activist group at the University of Michigan-Dearborn has achieved a significant victory. We worked with the upper administration of the University of Michigan to divest its endowment funds from an unsustainable palm oil plantation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that had alleged human rights abuses leveled against it. This win highlights the power of activism and collaborative efforts with the University and also the non-profit investigative journalism from the organization, GRAIN.

Palm-to-Palm, a passionate group dedicated to ethical investment and environmental justice, partnered with GRAIN, a non-profit organization that works to support small farmers and food movements. GRAIN's investigative work discovered that the University of Michigan's endowment fund (together with other universities and a major non-profit) had investments in a palm oil plantation in the DRC. This plantation, started in the 1930s by the Lever Brothers when the DRC was a colony of the Belgian government, with an alleged dubious environmental and social record.

Armed with this crucial information, PtP led the fight for change. We held a series of meetings with the University of Michigan officials. Our evidence-based arguments, bolstered by GRAIN's findings and firsthand accounts, meticulously detailed the potential environmental destruction and alleged human rights issues associated with the plantation.

Palm-to-Palms' unwavering dedication and the clear evidence provided by GRAIN ultimately led to a breakthrough. The Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the University of Michigan, after careful consideration of the evidence and our advocacy, made the decision to withdraw the University's endowment funds from the unsustainable palm oil operation in the DRC.

This triumph is a testament to the impact that informed and organized activism can have. It also underscores the vital role of independent journalism by GRAIN in uncovering the facts to provide leverage for change. 

The University of Michigan's divestment sends a strong message to other institutions and corporations: responsible investment is not just an ideal, but a responsibility and a necessity. This victory is a significant step forward in the fight against unsustainable practices and a beacon of hope for environmental and social justice.