Palm Oil in TESU Products — Yes or No?

Sep 12, 2024

 

Palm oil is widely used in both the food and cosmetics industries. Although it offers many beneficial properties, the palm oil industry itself carries a darker side, with serious ethical and environmental concerns at its core. However, not all palm oil is unethical or unsustainable, which is why it is important to look deeper into its history and current use.

As a small brand that values transparency, we are committed to raising awareness and educating others. That is why we wanted to share this informative article covering everything you should know about palm oil.

What Is Palm Oil?

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of palm trees. Different types of palm oil are produced depending on which part of the fruit is used — such as the flesh, the kernel inside the fruit, or the seed itself (WWF, 2020).

Let’s Talk About the Benefits

Palm oil is an extremely versatile ingredient with a wide range of uses. It helps extend product shelf life because it is highly resistant to oxidation. In skincare, it is deeply moisturizing and especially suitable for sensitive skin, helping to nourish irritation and dryness.

Additionally, because palm oil is naturally odorless and colorless, it does not alter the scent, color, or texture of the products it is used in (WWF, 2020; New Directions Aromatics Inc., 2021).

Addressing the Controversy

Unfortunately, palm oil has gained a negative reputation for several serious reasons. Palm oil production has contributed to (WWF & RAN, 2020):

  • Deforestation in areas that are home to endangered species

  • Destruction of rainforests

  • Increased risk of illegal poaching

  • Pollution and haze

  • The release of large amounts of greenhouse gases caused by peatland destruction, which releases years of stored carbon into the atmosphere

  • Exploitation of workers within the palm oil sector, including child labor

The Environmental Impact of Palm Oil

So why don’t we simply eliminate palm oil completely?

As mentioned above, the palm oil industry is linked to many alarming environmental and social issues. Labor exploitation and climate change are critical global challenges that affect us all.

However, completely removing palm oil is not necessarily the solution. Palm oil is incredibly efficient compared to other vegetable oils because it yields more while requiring less land for cultivation. In some cases, replacing palm oil with alternative oils could actually lead to even more deforestation.

In addition, millions of small farmers in developing regions depend on palm oil production for their livelihoods. Completely eliminating palm oil could also negatively impact these communities (WWF, 2020).

Fortunately, there are ethical and sustainable initiatives working to improve the industry, one of the most important being RSPO-certified palm oil.

What Is RSPO Palm Oil?

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a non-profit organization that works to unite, certify, and monitor key sectors of the palm oil industry, from producers to retailers.

Its primary goal is to make sustainable palm oil the industry standard and to provide proactive solutions to the environmental and ethical issues associated with palm oil production (RSPO, 2020).

The certification process includes strict standards, accreditation, and supply-chain monitoring designed to reduce environmental harm, improve labor conditions, and ensure that all participants in the production process follow the same social and environmental principles (RSPO, 2020).

TESU and Palm Oil

As a small handmade brand, we are committed to sustainable and ethical practices, which is why we do not use palm oil in our products.

At TESU, we carefully researched this ingredient and weighed its benefits and risks. Based on our values and understanding of the industry, we decided that excluding palm oil from our formulations was the best way to maintain the integrity, sustainability, and quality of our products.

Organizations like RSPO are doing important work to help create a more ethical and sustainable future for palm oil production, and companies that choose responsibly sourced palm oil are contributing positively to that progress. However, for TESU, avoiding palm oil entirely aligns best with our philosophy and the values we stand behind.

 
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