The Future of Palm

Sustainable supply chains and thriving communities are reshaping perceptions of this solution-driven ingredient, providing much-needed transparency into how sustainable palm can have a long-lasting positive impact on both people and planet.

Despite its land efficiency and potential as a truly eco-friendly crop, palm oil also has a history of harmful environmental practices.

Thankfully, responsible suppliers are stepping up to offer a solution: palm oil cultivated with an eye to sustainability—for both the environment and the farmers who grow it. Suppliers worldwide are helping to rewrite the future of palm.

What have you heard about palm oil?

Chances are, you’ve heard conflicting information—and for good reason. Suppliers of the ingredient have a variety of approaches, meaning not all palm is created equal. That’s why it’s so important to look for products made with palm oil that is sustainably produced.

Some suppliers have a history of harmful deforestation practices that destroyed land and animal habitats.

Others have unfair labor practices. There is no transparency nor traceability with these suppliers.

Suppliers provide fairly paid employment and make full use of palm as a versatile ingredient.

They have a sustainable model that’s good to the environment and communities.

They offer full traceability from farm to table.

Today, there is a more sustainable way to produce palm, and the future of the ingredient is looking much different from its past. Responsible suppliers, certifiers and nonprofit organizations are working toward producing and sourcing sustainable palm that’s better for the environment and farming communities worldwide.

Support responsible palm oil sourcing by following DaabonUSA.

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Learn more about sustainable palm at palmtoday.org

On the health front, palm oil packs a positive punch

☑️ Vitamins A, D, E, K to support overall well-being and immunity

☑️ Phytosterols to support healthy cholesterol levels

☑️ Carotenoids to support eye health

☑️ CoQ10 to support brain and heart health

50%

unsaturated fatty acids and is a healthy alternative to trans fats.

Palm oil provides a healthy reliable alternative to harmful trans fats

Palm oil is so ubiquitous because it's versatile and affordable.

If you look in your pantry or your bathroom, you’ll find products containing palm oil—from pizza, doughnuts and cookies to soap and lipstick. It’s even in biodiesel.

The World Wildlife Foundation estimates more than 50 percent of packaged foods contain palm oil.

Palm oil is the most widely used edible oil in the world. It’s great for baking and frying, and thanks to its neutral taste and smell, it can be used in many products from nut butters to spreads, baked goods, chocolate and more. It’s a natural preservative, which means fewer chemicals are needed in a product’s formulation.

To learn more about Daabon’s palm oil applications, go to daabonusa.com or contact Daabon at info@daabonusa.com.

However, many still wonder:

Is palm production sustainable?

Considering what an efficient plant palm is, replacing it with another kind of vegetable oil would actually require a larger footprint, not to mention put millions of people’s livelihood at risk.

By 2050, the world will need 80 million extra tons of vegetable oils to meet consumer demand. Palm oil can meet this demand by using a fraction of the land other vegetable oils require. Sustainable palm production can meet this goal while also keeping an eye to planetary health and animal and human welfare.

“Younger consumers are becoming increasingly discerning about the environmental impact of crops like cotton and palm. Daabon has not only acknowledged this but has led by example for over 40 years. Addressing the challenges posed by palm oil production is essential, as the consequences of inaction are the irreplaceable loss of forests and species.”

—Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA).

Soybean vs. Palm oil

In terms of crop yields, palm is uber efficient, yielding more oil on the same amount of land than any other oil crop (4 to 10 times more than alternatives such as soy, sunflower or canola oils). Palm oil requires the lowest input for energy, fertilizer and pesticides per ton of production.

Our comparisons to the left show how much more resource intensive soy production is than palm production.

Watch to learn more about Daabon’s history, sustainability strategy and its commitment towards planetary health.

Seals & certifications that instill trust in the industry.

In order to validate sustainability efforts, a number of certifying bodies have worked alongside the palm industry to help producers be as responsible as possible and have a positive impact on planetary health.

USDA ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

Limits pesticides and other chemical inputs, supports soil fertility and does not use GMOs.

FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED

Supports fair wages and empowers producers in their communities and prohibits use of the most harmful chemicals.

NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED

A third-party certification that certifies a product was created without genetic engineering and ingredients were not derived from GMOs.

RSPO CERTIFIED

Holding a RSPO certification ensures that sustainability is upheld in every aspect of production.

REGENERATIVE ORGANIC (ROC™) GOLD CERTIFIED

Regenerative Organic (ROC™) Gold represents the highest bar for regenerative organic production, taking the principles of the USDA organic certification and adding a deeper focus on soil health, biodiversity, animal and human welfare.

“Regenerative Organic Certification is strategically vital for Daabon. It aligns closely with our company’s mission and corporate values, focusing on the production of high-quality organic and sustainable products that meet customer demands. The rigorous standards of ROC™, which include requirements under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), reflect Daabon’s commitment to not only meeting but exceeding the benchmarks for organic and sustainable practices.”

—Carlos Reyes, Daabon Certifications Director.

Being a sustainable palm oil company means being willing to lead by example.

1992
Daabon, pioneering organic palm oil, offered the first USDA-certified product.

2004
As one of the first RSPO members since August 9, Daabon embraced sustainable palm oil early.

2010
First in Latin America, Daabon achieved RSPO certification for palm production.

2012
Daabon's farms, leading in organic practices, gained Rainforest Alliance Certification™.

2023
SPOTT ranked Daabon top in sustainable palm oil production for the sixth year.

2023
Setting a high bar, Daabon received the first Gold level in Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC™), promoting environmental and social welfare.

Daabon employs more than 4,000 people globally.

In the areas that grow it, millions of people and their families depend on palm. Halting demand of palm in favor of another plant would put these families’ livelihoods in immediate jeopardy. Plus, eliminating the demand for sustainable palm deprives these farmers of the opportunity to adopt sustainable business models that can transform their lives for the better. Further, boycotts eliminate demand for sustainable practices. If responsible companies boycott palm oil, production will not cease. Rather, producers will sell oil to markets that don’t value the environment or farmers.

Palm oil creates jobs and positive change

Daabon, a 110-year-old family-owned company, has been growing palm and producing organic and sustainable palm oil in Colombia for more than two generations.

Central to Daabon’s mission are key initiatives and projects that foster community and promote economic resilience and opportunities for individuals and families.

At Daabon, employees are regarded as an integral part of the family, and this commitment extends beyond the workplace. Daabon has established a Women’s Education Center, a Music Outreach Program and even a Microlending Program, all aimed at providing opportunities for employees and their families to become entrepreneurs, enhance their lives and the economic resiliency of the communities in which they live.

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Learn more about sustainable palm at palmtoday.org

Community empowerment through palm

Daabon’s commitment to sustainable business goes beyond non-harmful growing and carbon sequestration.

Daabon’s ethos includes the people who harvest and produce palm oil and the company is committed to empowering its farmers and workers and investing in long-term community development.

It supports family farmers, teaching them how to grow palm in addition to other crops and supports these farmers in attaining third-party certifications, allowing them to earn a premium through access to international markets.

Daabon supports programs for women, which in turn supports diversified income, strengthens families and communities.

Daabon’s programs for smallholders, commitment to fair wages and Fair Trade are essential to the deep-rooted growth and prosperity in the communities where the company operates.

There’s more to the conversation.
Connect with Daabon.
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palmtoday.org

“Our strategic goal has always been to grow through the encouragement of human development for our communities. Our family takes pride in its reputation as ethical and reliable business owners, which we’ve earned by treating our customers, our employees and our neighbors fairly. That’s because we recognize that we’re a part of a community, both locally and globally.”

– Manuel Julian Davila, Daabon CEO

To learn more about sustainable palm oil follow DaabonUSA.

Watch to explore the ways in which sustainable palm supports community and fuels happiness.

At Daabon, responsibility goes beyond simply doing what’s right in your own business. Daabon believes the palm oil industry can and should be sustainable and it starts with a commitment to sustainable business practices for people and planet.

“Daabon has always been about sustainable practices. Our whole foundation was built on principles like respect and sustainability. It’s amazing how we’ve evolved—starting from conventional farming in the 1940s to now being 100% organic, and even transforming agricultural waste into something useful. We are aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.”

—Carolina Torrado, Daabon Sustainability Director

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