Palm oil plantations and deforestation in Guatemala: Certifying

Palm oil is the world’s most consumed vegetable oil, but producing it has caused deforestation and biodiversity loss across Southeast Asia and elsewhere, including Central America. Efforts to curtail the damage have largely focused on voluntary environmental certification programs that label qualifying palm-oil sources as “sustainable.” However, those certification programs have been criticized by environmental groups as greenwashing tools that enable multinational corporations to claim fully sustainable palm oil while continuing to sell products that fall far short of the deforestation-free goal. Findings from a new University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability-led study support some of the critics’ claims—and go much further.

Communities protect forests from Palm Oil industry in Guatemala

Palm Oil Plantations and Deforestation in Guatemala: Certifying Products as 'Sustainable' Is No Panacea - Alumni Association of the University of Michigan

Palm oil giants push out smallholders in Guatemala; deforestation risks remain

More than 250 organizations condemn the greenwashing of palm oil - Rainforest Rescue

Dept. of Bioresource Engineering

Palm oil now biggest cause of deforestation in Indonesia

Sustainable' Certification Is no Panacea

Palm oil giants push out smallholders in Guatemala; deforestation risks remain

RSPO Certification Project in Guatemala showing excellent results - Solidaridad Network