Options to reduce environmental impacts of palm oil production in Thailand

Published Date
Journal of Cleaner Production
20 November 2016, Vol.137:370–393, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.002

• Author 

• Kanokwan Saswattecha ^a,,
• Carolien Kroeze ^b
• Warit Jawjit ^c
• Lars Hein ^a

• aEnvironmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
• bWater Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
• cSchool of Allied Health Sciences and Public Health, Walailak University, 222 Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80161, Thailand

Received 29 April 2016. Revised 28 June 2016. Accepted 1 July 2016. Available online 6 July 2016. 

Highlights

• •
  We identified 26 options to reduce environmental impact of palm oil production.
• •
  Seven of these are effective and are paying options.
• •
  Mulching EFB, cover crops and harvesting ripe fruits are most paying.
• •
  Cover crops and harvesting ripe fruits are cost-effective for plantations.
• •
  Oil recovery from decanter cake is the most cost-effective option for mills.

Abstract

There is an increasing demand for palm oil worldwide. In Thailand, oil palm is being promoted by the government but this expansion is associated with several environmental impacts. We identified 26 options for reducing the environmental impact of palm oil production in Thailand, and assessed their cost-effectiveness. Our analysis includes measures that can be taken in plantations as well as in palm oil mills. We analysed the effects of the options in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical ozone formation, human toxicity and freshwater ecotoxicity. Our analysis shows that empty fruit bunch (EFB) combustion, wet scrubbers and pre-heating fiber are the most effective in reducing multiple impacts. Among these, EFB combustion results in the largest environmental improvement, but at relatively high costs. Several options are found to be not only effective, but also generate a positive net return. These include cover crops, harvesting ripe fruits, mulching EFB, EFB composting, EFB pellets production, oil loss recovery from decanter cake and pre-heating fiber. The most paying options are mulching EFB, harvesting ripe fruits and cover crops. Our results are relevant for the promotion of more environmental friendly oil palm production in Thailand.

Keywords

Environmental impact

Palm oil

Oil palm

Effectiveness

Cost-effectiveness

Thailand

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• ∗ 
  Corresponding author. Postal address: PO Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
  
  

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