Oil palm fruit

Contributed by Giles Kirkland

As of 2017, 87% of the growth seen in the palm oil industry came from greater use of palm oil in vehicles as an ingredient of biodiesel.

Biofuels sound like a better alternative for the environment than traditional petrol. In fact, however, the detrimental impact of palm oil on the environment has been known since at least 2014.

Many citizens do not intentionally fill their tanks with palm oil biofuels but rather have the fuel forced onto them when they stop to refuel. Now, with deforestation running rampant through Indonesia and Malaysia and air pollution growing, it’s essential to combat its use as a biofuel across the world.

The diminishing appeal of palm oil

Deforestation for palm oil production in Indonesia

EU laws now direct participating countries to decrease their use of non-renewable fuels within the next several years. Not long ago, palm oil appeared to be a natural alternative to petrol and coal.

This vegetable oil, previously only used for cooking and as a food additive, found use as a feedstock in the production of biodiesel. Prior to an assessment of its environmental impact, it was considered the harmless product of oil palm trees.

Today it is clear that palm oil is not as sustainable as its initial reputation would have led many drivers to believe. Considering that sustainability as a concept applies to economics as well as to ecosystems, we need to consider more than its impact on the environment.

At present, Indonesia and Malaysia account for 85% of the world’s supply of palm oil. In order to produce this oil, both countries have had to undertake massive deforestation efforts. Such is the case for a number of other countries on the equator looking to boost their national income.

Palm oil is in high demand by corporations across the world. Therefore, the deforestation of tropical forests has continued even with governments proposing an end to subsidies for the biofuel.

Palm oil’s environmental impact

Deforestation, especially of tropical countries, negatively affects the planet’s ecosystems. To begin, loss of tree-rich areas lessens the planet’s ability to process the carbon dioxide produced by people, livestock, and infrastructure.

Not only that, but deforestation threatens numerous animals, plants, and insects with extinction. Industrial development compromises their natural habitats.

Further, clearing of forests on a mass scale results in soil erosion in the area. The palm oil mills discard the wastes from processing the oil, resulting in increased groundwater pollution.

In the process, the mills also release pathogens into the air, adding more air pollution to the surrounding areas. And burning the oil in cars still produces air pollution equivalent to burning petrol.

Use of palm oil, as is becoming increasingly obvious, does not promote sustainability any more than petrol does. The process of refining it is just as detrimental to the countries where it’s used daily as an alternative fuel as it is to the tropical countries from which it comes.

Moving forward

Even as the impact of palm oil may seem obviously detrimental, the European Parliament still faces a backlash as it attempts to limit palm and soy oil usage across the continent.

Europe is the biggest consumer of palm oil in the world. The production companies are looking to secure their revenue streams. Their workers – people who need to bring home rent money to their families –also resist the idea of losing their livelihood.

Use of palm oil has placed international economics and environmentalism between a rock and a hard place. Even so, the European Parliament decided in June 2018 to forbid its members to increase their use of it beyond  2019 levels. It will be completely phased out by 2030.

It will not be easy to avoid palm oil. Half of all the palm oil Europe imports becomes biodiesel. It goes by diverse names: palm oil, ethyl palmitate, hydrated palm glycerides, PKO, PHPKO, or palmitate. Besides diluting it with petrol, it’s even hard to know where it lurks in the products we buy. Consumers have begun to reject it, however. Drivers seek out organisations and corporations that actively advertise their sustainability and avoidance of any use of palm oil.

Sometimes what seems like a sustainable solution turns out to do more harm than good. Hopefully as will be the case with palm oil, the best way to address these mistakes is with honesty and active resistance to their continued integration into an increasingly non-consenting society.

Editor’s note:

In the US, biodiesel more likely comes from soybeans than palm oil. We also add ethanol from corn to our gasoline. These practices don’t contribute to tropical deforestation, but they have their own environmental issues. Instead of using food products for auto fuel, we could make biodiesel from all the spent cooking oil from restaurants. It could become a resource instead of a waste management problem.

Giles Kirkland is an environmentally conscious car expert and clean technology advocate. Passionate about healthy lifestyle and smart solutions, he shares his knowledge with other drivers and sustainable living enthusiasts. You can find his articles on Twitter and at Oponeo. Most often Giles writes about electric vehicles, safe driving, and alternative energy, as well as traveling and current issues from the automotive world.