Thus the least demanding level demanded by the RSPO – the ‘Book and Claim’, based on a certificate system – allows the business company to mention its participation in the system of certified sustainable oil, whilst in reality a proportion (sometimes quite significant) of its products contain classic palm oil! On the other hand, the most demanding level – called ‘Segregated’ – genuinely constitutes, for its part, a totally independent sector, leaning on integral traceability and sophisticated monitoring. ‘For the consumer, this reading of several levels of the CSPO sector is a source of confusion, and even discredits it,’ points out Sophie Delacharlerie. ‘There is an obvious need for the transparency of the established criteria, but also of the monitoring carried out and the results obtained.’

No premature undiluted praise for CSPO then. The Gembloux researchers also point out that even if this pathway seems the best method to establish the environmental and social sustainability of palm oil, it solves none of the nutritional problems. And that on a macro-economic level Europe and the United States by themselves represent about 25% of the global consumption of palm oil, the Asian market at this stage being not very open to ‘sustainability’ arguments (NB: as is also the case for the certification of tropical wood). But no doubt that has to be a beginning to everything. ‘Once the CSPO label becomes better known, the greater the demand for certified oil will be; and there will be greater market pressure in favour of plantations which respect the environment and the peasants,’ states Sophie Delacharlerie.

If greater transparency is ensured, one might reasonably expect the consumer to agree to pay a little more for his or her palm oil. But they will also have to expect that certain products in their supermarket trolleys are subject to evolutions in taste and appearance when other fats or combinations of them are used ⁽³⁾. After all it would be very beneficial to their health. As for the industry, the researchers estimate, it will also have to pitch in and stop hiding behind the argument that ‘it is consumers who dictate their choices on us.’ ‘It is also in part responsible for the choices of the greater number, for example when it places on the market products which are dubious on a nutritional level, without thinking over the long term about ‘civilisation diseases’ such as obesity.’