What is palm oil?

What is palm oil?

Palm oil is in edible vegetable oil that is derived from a type of palm tree, Elaeis guineensis. These trees are grown all over the world, with 86% of all palm trees grown in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Harvesting Process:

Due to high demand, palm oil is harvested in the cheapest, fastest way possible.

Oil palm trees take around 2-3 years after planting to produce fruit. The first step of the process is harvesting the palm fruit.

The harvested bunches are transported, typically via truck to factories, where they are sterilized and separated.

Now the fruits go through a digester where they are pressed into a pulp. This pulp contains 56-70% of edible extracted oil.


How is it impacting the environment?

Due to high consumer demand for palm oil, the Elaeis guineensis trees are now harvested at a faster rate than ever and at the expense of the environment. Deforestation at such a high rate is not sustainable for anyone, and the change is going to have to come from the consumer, you!

What products contain palm oil?

Unfortunately, most products in today's grocery store contain palm oil, and it is also found in a large amount of cosmetic care products.

How do I identify palm oil in products?

Products containing palm oil do not always list palm oil as an ingredient. It may be found under any of these following names:

  • Vegetable Oil

  • Vegetable Fat

  • Palm Kernel

  • Palm Kernel Oil

  • Palm Fruit Oil

  • Palmate

  • Palmitate

  • Palmolein

  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate


  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

  • Sodium Kernelate

  • Sodium Palm Kernelate

  • Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate

  • Hyrated Palm Glycerides

  • Etyl Palmitate

  • Glyceryl

  • Stearate

  • Stearic Acid

  • Elaeis Guineensis

  • Palmitic Acid

  • Octyl Palmitate

  • Palmityl Alcohol

  • Palm Stearine

  • Palmitoyl Oxostearamide

  • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3