Q&A: Is Palm Oil Vegan?

Palm oil is one of the most common ingredients used for commercial purposes including confectionery, cosmetics and cleaning products.

Palm oil is not an animal product, i.e. it is not extracted directly from animals.

However, the cultivation of palm oil requires the mass clearance of rainforests. This has led to the displacement of many native wildlife and plant species, further disrupting the forest ecosystems.

Most times, if any animal enters the plantation in search of food, they are shot.

Orangutans have been especially affected from the destruction of their habitats due to palm oil cultivation. Sumatran orangutans were recently categorized as “critically endangered” by the IUCN.

Apart from consequences on animal life, palm oil cultivation also has an environmental impact. It is one of the major causes of deforestation of rainforests, leasing to increased amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, accelerating the impact of climate change.

Sustainable palm oil cultivation is possible and takes place in some areas, but that is not the case for the majority of palm oil products in the market.

While palm oil does not directly harm animals, its production leads to animal exploitation and environmental degradation. Thus, palm oil is usually avoided by vegans.

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