Natural Habitats USA is a company that focuses on environmental stewardship, sustainable palm oil production, and fairly traded products. They were founded in 2009 and implement a vertically integrated supply chain which allows oversight on every level to ensure organic, preservation-oriented farming practices. They work with independent farmers in Ecuador and support the formation of farmers’ unions, as well as the workers’ unions where palm is milled.
What is the Palm Done Right Campaign?
The Palm Done Right initiative was launched as a response to harmful practices resulting in negative impacts on the environment, communities, and animals where palm is farmed within the industry. The primary mission of this movement is to raise awareness of the importance of organic palm production using sustainable and ethical methods.
Demand for palm oil has been consistently high, as it is included in over 50% of consumer goods and is not going away anytime soon. Palm Done Right ensures accountability and traceability at every level through the Forest Conservation Policy, internal & third-party audits, 100% organic agricultural practices, fair wages to farmers, and crop management that secures species diversity of local flora & fauna.
Conscious consumers who choose products made with palm oils sourced from palm done right partners vote with their dollar for an industry that is accountable when it comes to each step of the production process. Palm Done Right expands the path toward continued innovation and support for balancing the needs of an ever-demanding industry with the goal of maximizing environmental protection and non-exploitation.
What is RSPO and How does it relate to Palm Done Right?
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm oil, also known as RSPO, is a global, non-profit organization centered around creating a network of stakeholders across the palm oil industry to develop and implement a global set of standards for sustainable, ethical palm oil production.
RSPO certification is tightly regulated and outlines clear and specific non-negotiable compliance requirements, including audits. One of many prerequisites for certification, RSPO requires credible sustainability (as modeled by the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance) with notable emphasis on impartiality as well as educational, sociocultural, and experience-based competency when it comes to audits/auditors.
While the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and the Palm Done Right initiatives share the common goal of advancing sustainable palm oil practices, each operate through different mechanisms. Palm Done Right differentiates itself by promoting regenerative agriculture practices.
To learn more about RSPO, click here.
To learn more about Palm Done Right, click here.
