The Role of Business in the Plant-Based Oils Sector – A Socioenvironmental Analysis

Plant-based oils are a family of products widely utilized across the globe, a common staple in both home kitchens and within commercial applications. Despite this, such oils are perhaps scrutinized more for their nutritional qualities than for their socioeconomic and environmental impacts. With demand expected to rise over the coming decades, ensuring that the production of plant-based oils is conducted in a sustainable manner will be paramount to reducing the industry’s environmental impact. My research examines the current state of the plant-based oil industry, and the environmental and social trends present within it, as a means of informing corporate action. Through the use of an intensive literature review, I analyse the GHG emissions, environmental implications, and social impacts which factor into the cultivation and production of four major plant-based oils, palm oil, olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil. Reflecting on the historical evolution of how society perceives the role of business, I conclude that in its current form, the production of plant-based oils is overly reliant on fostering environmental and social inequalities. Although clear opportunities for change exist, businesses will need to take the initiative and factor in the needs of both current and future generations in order to combat the plant-based oil industry’s deep-rooted use of socioenvironmental exploitation.