Retailers in Malaysia and Indonesia should ensure shoppers can easily find foods made with sustainable palm oil, instead of refusing to stock products that steer clear of the controversial oil, environmentalists have said. Palm oil is the world’s most widely used edible oil, but the $60 billion global palm oil trade has been targeted by green activists for contributing to forest loss and fires, as land is cleared to plant palm trees, besides exploiting workers. Paula den Hartog of the Rainforest Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit working on responsible business, said backing palm oil produced in line with environmental and ethical standards would be “the most constructive way forward”. She adds that bans tend to be ineffective in solving environmental and human right issues. Endorsing products that highlight their avoidance of palm oil creates disincentives for producers who have worked to achieve sustainable certification, analysts said, so it is key for products containing sustainable palm oil to be promoted and easier to find for conscious consumers.

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