Analysing Negative Campaigns Against Palm Oil

Abstract

T he palm oil industry has increasingly become the target of sustained negative campaigns launched by environmental NGOs, international media, and policy actors in the Global North. These campaigns often frame palm oil as a major driver of tropical deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human rights violations. While some concerns may be grounded in evidence, dominant narratives tend to simplify complex realities and overlook the socio-economic importance of palm oil in producing countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. This article conducts a qualitative literature review of 60 peer-reviewed sources published between 2015 and 2024. Using a thematic and interpretive approach, supported by discourse analysis, the study examines how anti-palm oil narratives are constructed, framed, and disseminated. It identifies key actors, campaign strategies, and the role of media channels in shaping public perception. The review also highlights counter-narratives promoted by producing countries and stakeholders through mechanisms such as RSPO and ISPO certification. T he findings reveal that many negative campaigns are influenced by geopolitical interests and trade competition, leading to power asymmetries in global sustainability discourse. This review concludes that current debates on palm oil require more balanced, inclusive, and evidence-based perspectives that consider environmental concerns alongside economic and social dimensions in the Global South.