Natural Habitats turns palm oil production on its head
In Ecuador and Sierra Leone, Alfons Van Der Aa set out to develop a sustainable line of organic palm oil. A decade later, a few thousand farmers and several dozen brands make up the Palm Done Right supply chain.
“My own personal objective is to get what I call ‘conflict’ palm oil out of the natural products industry. It doesn’t meet the values of our industry, but it is still prolific in a lot of products.”
—Neil Blomquist, Natural Habitats
Highlights:
The use of palm oil, a “hidden ingredient” in a variety of products that most people use, raises controversy because it is usually farmed without concern for the natural environment or the indigenous people its growth negatively affects.
Traditional methods of growing, milling and distributing palm oil make transparency impossible, says Monique van Wijnbergen, sustainability and corporate communication director for Natural Habitats Group.
Palm oil plantations can be managed in a way that conserves wildlife, provides farmers premium pay, protects workers’ rights and mitigates climate change.
Natural Habitats provides a toolkit for brands and retailers to educate consumers about supporting sustainable palm oil.
This session—Building Bridges Between Farmers & Brands—Revolutionizing Commodity Systems: Palm Oil—was recorded at Natural Products Expo West 2019. Click "download" below to access the presentation slides.
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