Indonesia isn't stopping palm oil production but has implemented temporary export bans and restrictions, primarily to tackle domestic cooking oil shortages and soaring local prices, a problem exacerbated by global food inflation and increased domestic demand for biodiesel, though long-term issues like deforestation and sustainable practices remain a concern, leading to shifts towards domestic supply and downstreaming.
Indonesia curbs exports of used cooking oil, palm residue to help domestic users. JAKARTA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Indonesia has clamped down on exports of used cooking oil (UCO) and palm oil residue to ensure supply to domestic cooking oil and biodiesel industries, the government said in a new regulation on Wednesday.
The expansion of oil palm plantations has led to deforestation in Indonesia, particularly in tropical rainforest areas. The clearing of natural forests to make way for palm oil plantations has resulted in the loss of valuable ecosystems, including old-growth forests and species-rich communities.
Palm oil has been a problematic ingredient for nearly 20 years. Ethical Consumer has tracked the issue, seeking the best consumer responses. Concerns about its damage to forests, climate, people, and endangered species are escalating as the crisis worsens.
Forest fire in Indonesia still high in 2025 despite wetter dry season. Of at least 218,000 hectares with indications of being burned between January and August this year, nearly half were located in concession areas linked to oil palm, oil and gas and mineral mining businesses, a report discovered.
Large areas of forest in Indonesia have been cleared by large multinational pulp companies, such as Asia Pulp and Paper, and replaced by plantations. Forests are often burned by farmers and plantation owners. Another major source of deforestation is the logging industry, driven by demand from China and Japan.
The fine particles released from peat fires pose the greatest risk to your health. Peat smoke includes a wide variety of components that have an offensive odour or are irritating. Infants and Children are more susceptible to the effects of smoke inhalation.
McDonald's leads in palm oil use but not in commitments
Despite signing on to the non-binding New York Declaration on Forests in September reiterating the global importance of forests, McDonald's palm oil policies do not protect forests.
100% certified sustainable palm oil
Odourless and neutral in taste, the palm oil we use ensures the smooth texture of our recipe and heightens the flavour and aroma of all the other ingredients in Nutella®. Palm oil is the ingredient that ensures the smooth, creamy texture and unique stability of the Nutella® recipe.
Compared to other liquid oils, palm oil is relatively high in saturated fats. It's nearly 50% saturated fat, while olive oil is about 14%. Saturated fats are linked to high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease and other chronic health conditions.
The biggest global producers of palm oil are Indonesia, which produced 60% of it in 2022, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, and Nigeria. Indonesia produces biodiesel primarily from palm oil.
They are Budi and Michael Hartono; Susilo Wonowidjojo; Anthony Salim; Eka Tjipta Widjaja; Chairul Tanjung; Murdaya Poo; Theodore Rachmat; Putera Sampoerna; Peter Sondakh; Sukanto Tanoto; Martua Sitorus; Ciliandra Fangiono; Prajogo Pangestu; and Bachtiar Karim.
Be extra aware of foods that commonly contain palm oil such as sliced bread, crisps, and biscuits. Try to buy food marked with a sustainable palm oil logo. Make your own: Making your own food from raw ingredients means you can control exactly what goes in to your food.
A palm oil plantation in Cigudeg, Bogor Regency, West Java. In addition to servicing traditional markets, Indonesia is looking to put more effort into producing biodiesel. China and India are the major importers of palm oil, accounting for more than a third of global palm oil imports.
Deforestation for palm oil is destroying some of the most unique habitats on Earth, such as the rainforests of Sumatra, home to the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. The expansion of palm oil plantations affects over half of the world's threatened mammals and nearly two thirds of its threatened birds.
Pertamina is Indonesia's largest oil and gas company and a state-owned enterprise crucial to the country's energy security. Around 60% of Indonesia's oil and 80% of its natural gas production come from Pertamina, making its significance undeniable.
At Ferrero, we use palm oil to enhance the rich taste and creamy texture of our products, as well as to extend their shelf life and quality when consumers store our products at home. As it is an important ingredient, we have been working for a long time to source our palm oil responsibly.
Peanut butter and Nutella are popular spreads, but in terms of nutrition, peanut butter has the edge. Made from ground peanuts, peanut butter is high in protein and healthy fats, while Nutella is more like chocolate frosting, full of sugar and fat but with little nutrition.
Cadbury can make chocolate without palm oil — they do it in New Zealand and Australia — but here in the UK, Europe and South Africa they are using palm oil.
Kentucky Fried Chicken had the latter in mind when selecting which vegetable oil it would fry its famous chicken in. As of 2007, KFC uses low-linolenic soybean oil for all of its frying needs. Different from typical hydrogenated soybean oil, the low-linolenic variety has less linolenic acid.
In the BURGER KING® system, palm oil is used in two ways—as frying oil in the Asia/Pacific region and as a minor ingredient in baked goods globally. Virtually all of our vendors who produce BKC's frying oils and baked goods source palm oil from suppliers who are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
Once at the restaurant our fries are simply cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil which is 100 percent suitable for vegetarians (McDonald's French Fries are officially accredited by the Vegetarian Society).
The worst firewood includes softwoods like pine, cedar, fir, and spruce (due to high resin and creosote), green or wet wood (smoky and inefficient), pressure-treated or painted wood (toxic chemicals), and certain toxic plants like oleander or poison ivy (releasing harmful fumes). Also avoid wood with adhesives, like plywood and particleboard, as burning them releases dangerous toxins.
Burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock are increasingly influencing the climate and the earth's temperature. This adds enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Chemicals in the smoke can keep your body from getting enough oxygen. Symptoms of smoke inhalation include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, dizziness, confusion and more. Get to fresh air as quickly as possible and seek medical attention.