#SayItOnTheWrapper campaign: Palm Done Right urges greater transparency

22 May 2020 --- Palm Done Right (PDR) has launched a new campaign, “#SayItOnTheWrapper,” calling for transparent communication around palm oil. The initiative aims to encourage consumers to engage in a dialogue with manufacturers and retailers, urging them to be open about their palm oil use. While a shift away from palm oil consumption is observed as a result of growing awareness about the crop’s environmental impact, PDR aims to bolster the shift toward sustainable palm oil instead of eliminating it from supply chains entirely.

The widely consumed vegetable oil has long been criticized for its role in deforestation, wildlife habitat loss and human rights abuses in Southeast Asia, which may be impacting consumer purchasing decisions. This has notably led to many consumers switching out palm oil for alternatives, which inspires brands to advocate a purpose-driven palm oil agenda.

Growing awareness about the detrimental impacts of palm oil has led some brands to reformulate products and label them “palm oil-free.” “One of the best ways for consumers to both educate themselves and keep the pressure on producers and retailers is to ask questions. If you’re unsure about the ingredients in your product or where they came from, don’t be afraid to enquire – and use the power and reach of social media to ensure they respond to you,” advises Monique van Wijnbergen, Sustainability and Corporate Communications Director of Natural Habitats Group, which created the PDR philosophy.

She further encourages a dialogue between consumers and manufacturers, encouraging shoppers to “demand manufacturers start sourcing or scale up their sourcing from sustainable sources.”

Growing awareness about the effects of palm oil on the environment, biodiversity and local communities has led some consumers and brands to utilize palm oil-free options, reformulating products and labeling them “palm oil-free.” 

While a shift away from palm oil results from growing awareness of the crop’s detrimental impacts on ecosystems, PDR notes that reformulating and using alternative vegetable oils has several negative impacts:

1. Product quality and performance: The functional characteristics of palm oil improve quality, taste, shelf life and overall performance of a broad range of products consumers use on a daily basis. Using alternatives to palm oil could negatively impact product performance.

2. Palm oil alternatives use more land, impacting forests, wildlife and communities: Palm oil is the most efficient vegetable oil, generating up to ten times more volume than some of its alternatives. Replacing palm oil by other vegetable oils may mean much more land is needed, leading to more land use change for agricultural crops.

3. Income and livelihoods: Millions of farmers and workers in the palm oil sector globally could be negatively affected.
   
   

The #SayItOnTheWrapper campaign encourages brands to provide clear labeling on packages and have an open conversation with their consumers explaining why they choose palm for their products, and why they will continue to use it. PDR partners understand the importance of buying palm oil from sustainable sources and providing clear labeling, transparency and consumer education.

“Nutiva is committed to revolutionizing the way the world eats, so we take ingredient transparency as well as social and environmental responsibility seriously,” says Steven Naccarato, CEO of Nutiva, a PDR-certified company. “That’s why our products made with Organic Red Palm Oil bear the Palm Done Right seal – it signifies our commitment to sourcing red palm oil from small organic family farms in Ecuador. 

“This level of supply chain transparency and environmentally-conscious ingredient sourcing assures that our products do not contribute to deforestation or habitat destruction, but rather protect the planet and support farmer livelihood,” he adds.

This campaign will run leading up to September’s Third Annual Palm Done Right Month, an opportunity to reinforce the PDR mission and increase awareness for palm oil that is organic, deforestation-free, wildlife-friendly, fair and social. 

In recent developments, innovative “brain and body” snack brand Goodfish – maker of fried wild-caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon skins – embraced organic palm oil as one among PDR’s latest brand partners. 

Edited by Benjamin Ferrer