Scientists Expose WWF Lies About Palm Oil
- Did you know that palm oil is in 50% of consumer products
- Did you know that palm oil causes deforestation in tropical countries?
- Did this knowledge lead you to boycott palm oil because you love orangutans?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you must have heard the WWF monster lie about palm oil.
Scientists from Borneo Futures released their findings on the viral claim that palm oil is in 50% of consumer products. What they found is that the WWF is responsible for creating a monster that does not exist.
Scientists from Borneo Futures released their findings on the viral claim that palm oil is in 50% of consumer products. What they found is that the WWF is responsible for creating a monster that does not exist.
8 things to know about palm oil WWF
"Tracing the claim —that approximately half of supermarket products include palm oil—through time reveals inconsistencies and a lack of supporting research. For the year 2004, we found a statement that 10% of all supermarket products contain palm oil derivatives (Table S1). Two years later, in 2006, this claim was revised to 50%, reportedly by the Worldwide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) global palm oil team. Other organizations such as Greenpeace then started its online use (see Table S1). Over the years, the claim has been repeatedly cited with variations (Table S1 shows 60 variations), with statements referring to “consumer goods,” “packaged goods,” “all products on store shelves,” or “daily products.”
A less technical read from Borneo Futures is available on Sustainablepalmoil:
For example, one frequently cited claim is that palm oil is found in 50% of supermarket products. You may have come across it before; it has become a staple of anti-palm oil campaigns. Big numbers presented in familiar contexts are powerful tools for shaping perception. Think of the widely used image of “6 football fields of forest lost every minute” (ref). But given their potential to influence public opinion and behavior, such statistics should be grounded in solid evidence.
A recent study by myself and a team of scientists, currently under peer-review, explored this particular claim, originally popularized by WWF in 2006. It didn’t take long to discover that the “50%” figure wasn’t backed by research. The parameters were unclear. Did this refer to global supermarkets? Were only packaged goods included? What about household items, fresh produce, or cleaning supplies?"
The WWF continues to make the claim in 2025 as it tries to sound all knowledgeable in “8 things you need to know about palm oil.”
2. What products is it in?
Palm oil is in nearly everything – it’s in close to 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets, everything from pizza, doughnuts and chocolate, to deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and lipstick. It’s also used in animal feed and as a biofuel in many parts of the world (not in the UK though!).
It is not clear why WWF claims that palm oil is not used in animal feed and biofuels in the UK. If this was meant to assure British consumers that palm oil is not all bad before it starts selling certified palm oil, this marketing tactic is a lousy one that has done more harm than good for the palm oil industry overall..
According to The Guardian UK:
“British cats, dogs, cows, pigs and even goldfish are helping destroy the rainforests of south-east Asia. A new study for the government finds that more than a tenth of all the world's palm kernel meal – a lucrative by-product of the production of palm oil – is fed to British animals.”
No palm-based biofuels in the UK?
The UK used to import and consume significant amounts of palm oil-based biodiesel. Questions on the quality of palm oil-based biodiesel led to a move towards biofuels from palm oil wastes which is still being questioned in 2025
So what was the WWF talking about when it claimed that palm oil-based animal feed and biofuels is “not in the UK?”
WWF lies hurts livelihoods of small holders
If the lie was an attempt to push the fledgling efforts of the Roundtable On Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) the WWF has succeeded as major palm oil export markets buy into RSPO certification. The RSPO claims that 93% of palm oil exports to the EU is now certified by the group.
Unfortunately, this volume comes mostly from corporate operations which can afford to pay the RSPO to certify their operations. To give credit where it is due, the RSPO has been instrumental in reducing deforestation among its corporate members despite the criticisms of civil society organizations.
The Environmental Investigation Agency along with 99 other organisations questioned whether the RSPO was fit for the EUDR..
"Palm oil produced through the destruction of forestland is still being sold around the world with the blessing of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
The watchdog’s routine practices mean that palm oil bearing its stamp of approval to assure consumers it is sustainably produced cannot be considered deforestation-free, as a new EU law will require."
Regardless of whether the EU will recognize the RSPO, the monster under the bed created by WWF with the lie that 50% of all consumer products contain palm oil has done irreparable harm to the livelihoods of smallholders in the palm oil industry who are struggling to find a market for their produce.
WWF lie grows unexpected wings as palm oil substitutes challenge certified sustainable palm oil
The WWF lie which was not exposed until now by Borneo Futures, has become cancerous for the palm oil industry as anti-palm oil stakeholders from media to competing industries and civil societies cash in on the lie.
Palm oil is estimated to be present in roughly 50% of consumer products, especially in supermarkets and shops. This includes a wide range of foods like bread and chocolate, as well as products like shampoo and lipstick. The use of palm oil in production is linked to deforestation, which threatens wildlife like orangutans. BBC in The Deadly Ingredient in Over Half of Supermarket Products
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from palm oil fruit. It's said to be found in 50% of supermarket products, from food to cleaners to cosmetics. Ethical Consumer
The production of palm oil is a major contributor to deforestation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, where 85% of the world’s supply is produced. Palm oil is used in nearly 50% of everyday consumer goods; from personal hygiene items such as shampoo and toothpaste, to cleaning products. It is also used as a biofuel, in packaged foods and as a cooking oil in many parts of the world. Earth
The WWF may not have anticipated that its lie about palm oil could morph into investments in for palm oil substitutes instead of investments into certified palm oil.
According to Stylus investments into palm oil substitutes are at a frenzied pace as scientists and companies look to cash in on the anti-palm oil sentiment.
Although it features in 50% of all packaged goods consumed globally (WWF, 2025), palm oil continues to have a problematic reputation thanks to its links to multiple environmental problems, including deforestation. These sustainability issues, as well as a recent price hike, are prompting buyers to seek alternatives. In response, researchers and start-ups are developing innovative, sustainable solutions.
Inspired by the funding success of C16 Biosciences substitutes for palm oil other academicians are hoping to cash in also.
Stanford University for example, quotes the WWF lie in looking for investments in its palm oil alternative.
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world; it’s in over 50% of all consumer goods and is used as an input to 31% of global biodiesel production.
Even Shell, the petroleum giant is jumping on the band wagon as it looks to make money off the WWF lie.
Palm oil alternatives to derisk your supply chain and meet consumer demand.
Is palm oil putting your supply chain at risk? Not only could palm oil alternatives mitigate sourcing challenges, but they might also help you meet your consumers’ sustainability demands. Shell
Undoing the impact of WWF’s lies on palm oil will be tough as the WWF blames Indonesian palm oil for climate change.
Indonesia is the third-largest global emitter of greenhouse gases, mainly due to its high deforestation rate, which is significantly driven by the expansion of oil palm plantations. Oil palm plantations contribute to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through deforestation and the burning of peatlands to clear land for cultivation.
Is the Indonesian palm oil industry solely responsible for the burning of forests and peatlands in Indonesia?
Many have jumped on this WWF bandwagon without questioning the veracity of the WWF's accusation against Indonesian palm oil. The articles below are a small sampling from an online search which yielded too many results to share here.
As the Global Demand for Palm Oil Surges, Indonesia’s Rainforests Are Being Destroyed
Tracts of land are being cleared to make way for palm plantations, releasing vast quantities of CO2 and giving poachers easy access to endangered Helmeted Hornbills. Audubon
Burning rainforest on Sumatra to make space for palm oil plantations, Indonesia GRIDA
Burning to clear rainforests is widespread, emitting a thick haze of smoke that shuts down regional air traffic and provokes public health alerts in urban areas hundreds of miles away. RAN
The palm oil industry is not solely responsible for forest loss in Indonesia. The latest data published by Palmoilina busts a lot of myths created by what the WWF said. The WWF should pay attention to these particular sets of data as they don't lie.
Myth 6-29 Oil palm plantations are the main driver of forest to non-forest conversion in Indonesia
Myth 6-30 Indonesian palm oil plantations originate from direct conversion of forests (deforestation)
But to really blow these myths out of the water, FERN, an European NGO, had a suggestion that is worth looking into for Indonesia. In its report Indonesian palm oil smallholders and the EUDR the NGO recommended the creation of a national traceability system including the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standards.
It is a good suggestion considering the expansion of the ISPO standards to cover all sectors of the Indonesian palm oil industry.
It would be a great suggestion if the concerns of Indonesia's biggest association representing smallholders APKASINDO are met. As Eko Jaya Siallagan, SecGen for APKASINDO highlights"
This leads to a pressing question: How nationalistic was the ISPO drafting team? Are we witnessing, once again, the hidden influence of foreign interests channeled through domestic NGOs—organizations that claim to advocate for sustainability but may ultimately undermine the national palm oil industry?
There are myriad issues to be addressed in determining the sustainability of Indonesian palm oil. A good starting point would be to dismiss the WWF as an expert on sustainable palm oil.
As for palm oil smallholders whose livelihoods have been impacted by the WWF’s lies, these smallholders should consider protesting against the WWF for having lied about palm oil. The US group Rainforest Action Network would be another suitable target for protest for suggesting that smallholders should not get a break from EUDR simply because RAN does not understand the palm oil industry beyond orangutans.
APKASINDO should find it encouraging that there are foreign NGOs like Solidaridad who are working towards real solutions for producing palm oil sustainably.
Published May 2025 CSPO Watch
A less technical read from Borneo Futures is available on Sustainablepalmoil:
For example, one frequently cited claim is that palm oil is found in 50% of supermarket products. You may have come across it before; it has become a staple of anti-palm oil campaigns. Big numbers presented in familiar contexts are powerful tools for shaping perception. Think of the widely used image of “6 football fields of forest lost every minute” (ref). But given their potential to influence public opinion and behavior, such statistics should be grounded in solid evidence.
A recent study by myself and a team of scientists, currently under peer-review, explored this particular claim, originally popularized by WWF in 2006. It didn’t take long to discover that the “50%” figure wasn’t backed by research. The parameters were unclear. Did this refer to global supermarkets? Were only packaged goods included? What about household items, fresh produce, or cleaning supplies?"
The WWF continues to make the claim in 2025 as it tries to sound all knowledgeable in “8 things you need to know about palm oil.”
2. What products is it in?
Palm oil is in nearly everything – it’s in close to 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets, everything from pizza, doughnuts and chocolate, to deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and lipstick. It’s also used in animal feed and as a biofuel in many parts of the world (not in the UK though!).
It is not clear why WWF claims that palm oil is not used in animal feed and biofuels in the UK. If this was meant to assure British consumers that palm oil is not all bad before it starts selling certified palm oil, this marketing tactic is a lousy one that has done more harm than good for the palm oil industry overall..
According to The Guardian UK:
“British cats, dogs, cows, pigs and even goldfish are helping destroy the rainforests of south-east Asia. A new study for the government finds that more than a tenth of all the world's palm kernel meal – a lucrative by-product of the production of palm oil – is fed to British animals.”
No palm-based biofuels in the UK?
The UK used to import and consume significant amounts of palm oil-based biodiesel. Questions on the quality of palm oil-based biodiesel led to a move towards biofuels from palm oil wastes which is still being questioned in 2025
So what was the WWF talking about when it claimed that palm oil-based animal feed and biofuels is “not in the UK?”
WWF lies hurts livelihoods of small holders
If the lie was an attempt to push the fledgling efforts of the Roundtable On Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) the WWF has succeeded as major palm oil export markets buy into RSPO certification. The RSPO claims that 93% of palm oil exports to the EU is now certified by the group.
Unfortunately, this volume comes mostly from corporate operations which can afford to pay the RSPO to certify their operations. To give credit where it is due, the RSPO has been instrumental in reducing deforestation among its corporate members despite the criticisms of civil society organizations.
The Environmental Investigation Agency along with 99 other organisations questioned whether the RSPO was fit for the EUDR..
"Palm oil produced through the destruction of forestland is still being sold around the world with the blessing of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
The watchdog’s routine practices mean that palm oil bearing its stamp of approval to assure consumers it is sustainably produced cannot be considered deforestation-free, as a new EU law will require."
Regardless of whether the EU will recognize the RSPO, the monster under the bed created by WWF with the lie that 50% of all consumer products contain palm oil has done irreparable harm to the livelihoods of smallholders in the palm oil industry who are struggling to find a market for their produce.
WWF lie grows unexpected wings as palm oil substitutes challenge certified sustainable palm oil
The WWF lie which was not exposed until now by Borneo Futures, has become cancerous for the palm oil industry as anti-palm oil stakeholders from media to competing industries and civil societies cash in on the lie.
Palm oil is estimated to be present in roughly 50% of consumer products, especially in supermarkets and shops. This includes a wide range of foods like bread and chocolate, as well as products like shampoo and lipstick. The use of palm oil in production is linked to deforestation, which threatens wildlife like orangutans. BBC in The Deadly Ingredient in Over Half of Supermarket Products
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from palm oil fruit. It's said to be found in 50% of supermarket products, from food to cleaners to cosmetics. Ethical Consumer
The production of palm oil is a major contributor to deforestation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, where 85% of the world’s supply is produced. Palm oil is used in nearly 50% of everyday consumer goods; from personal hygiene items such as shampoo and toothpaste, to cleaning products. It is also used as a biofuel, in packaged foods and as a cooking oil in many parts of the world. Earth
The WWF may not have anticipated that its lie about palm oil could morph into investments in for palm oil substitutes instead of investments into certified palm oil.
According to Stylus investments into palm oil substitutes are at a frenzied pace as scientists and companies look to cash in on the anti-palm oil sentiment.
Although it features in 50% of all packaged goods consumed globally (WWF, 2025), palm oil continues to have a problematic reputation thanks to its links to multiple environmental problems, including deforestation. These sustainability issues, as well as a recent price hike, are prompting buyers to seek alternatives. In response, researchers and start-ups are developing innovative, sustainable solutions.
Inspired by the funding success of C16 Biosciences substitutes for palm oil other academicians are hoping to cash in also.
Stanford University for example, quotes the WWF lie in looking for investments in its palm oil alternative.
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world; it’s in over 50% of all consumer goods and is used as an input to 31% of global biodiesel production.
Even Shell, the petroleum giant is jumping on the band wagon as it looks to make money off the WWF lie.
Palm oil alternatives to derisk your supply chain and meet consumer demand.
Is palm oil putting your supply chain at risk? Not only could palm oil alternatives mitigate sourcing challenges, but they might also help you meet your consumers’ sustainability demands. Shell
Undoing the impact of WWF’s lies on palm oil will be tough as the WWF blames Indonesian palm oil for climate change.
Indonesia is the third-largest global emitter of greenhouse gases, mainly due to its high deforestation rate, which is significantly driven by the expansion of oil palm plantations. Oil palm plantations contribute to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through deforestation and the burning of peatlands to clear land for cultivation.
Is the Indonesian palm oil industry solely responsible for the burning of forests and peatlands in Indonesia?
Many have jumped on this WWF bandwagon without questioning the veracity of the WWF's accusation against Indonesian palm oil. The articles below are a small sampling from an online search which yielded too many results to share here.
As the Global Demand for Palm Oil Surges, Indonesia’s Rainforests Are Being Destroyed
Tracts of land are being cleared to make way for palm plantations, releasing vast quantities of CO2 and giving poachers easy access to endangered Helmeted Hornbills. Audubon
Burning rainforest on Sumatra to make space for palm oil plantations, Indonesia GRIDA
Burning to clear rainforests is widespread, emitting a thick haze of smoke that shuts down regional air traffic and provokes public health alerts in urban areas hundreds of miles away. RAN
The palm oil industry is not solely responsible for forest loss in Indonesia. The latest data published by Palmoilina busts a lot of myths created by what the WWF said. The WWF should pay attention to these particular sets of data as they don't lie.
Myth 6-29 Oil palm plantations are the main driver of forest to non-forest conversion in Indonesia
Myth 6-30 Indonesian palm oil plantations originate from direct conversion of forests (deforestation)
But to really blow these myths out of the water, FERN, an European NGO, had a suggestion that is worth looking into for Indonesia. In its report Indonesian palm oil smallholders and the EUDR the NGO recommended the creation of a national traceability system including the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standards.
It is a good suggestion considering the expansion of the ISPO standards to cover all sectors of the Indonesian palm oil industry.
It would be a great suggestion if the concerns of Indonesia's biggest association representing smallholders APKASINDO are met. As Eko Jaya Siallagan, SecGen for APKASINDO highlights"
This leads to a pressing question: How nationalistic was the ISPO drafting team? Are we witnessing, once again, the hidden influence of foreign interests channeled through domestic NGOs—organizations that claim to advocate for sustainability but may ultimately undermine the national palm oil industry?
There are myriad issues to be addressed in determining the sustainability of Indonesian palm oil. A good starting point would be to dismiss the WWF as an expert on sustainable palm oil.
As for palm oil smallholders whose livelihoods have been impacted by the WWF’s lies, these smallholders should consider protesting against the WWF for having lied about palm oil. The US group Rainforest Action Network would be another suitable target for protest for suggesting that smallholders should not get a break from EUDR simply because RAN does not understand the palm oil industry beyond orangutans.
APKASINDO should find it encouraging that there are foreign NGOs like Solidaridad who are working towards real solutions for producing palm oil sustainably.
Published May 2025 CSPO Watch