"Consumers don't see tigers dying in palm oil plantations": a cross-cultural comparative study of UK, Malaysian and Singaporean consumer views of palm oil
File version
Author(s)
Padfield, Rory
Salim, Hengky K
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
In the past decade, palm oil has become the most produced and consumed vegetable oil globally. In view of the growing global demand for palm oil, promoting consumption of the most “sustainable” form of palm oil is necessary to mitigate the known environmental and social impacts of unsustainable production. In this study, we compare consumer awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of palm oil and its sustainability amongst consumers from three countries: Malaysia, Singapore and the UK. Employing a combination of an online survey, interviews and focus groups and building on consumer behavior theories, we found a number of key differences and similarities between the three nationalities. Malaysians were more aware of palm oil and held more positive views compared to the other two nationalities, while all were relatively unfamiliar with the concept of “sustainable palm oil”. Only a small proportion of respondents from each country ruled out purchasing sustainably certified palm oil products. However, price was a determining factor and most respondents from the three countries were unwilling to pay more for “green” products. Considering the disconnect felt by consumers towards the realities of palm oil production, we argue for improved consumer-facing information on the socio, economic and environmental impacts of their consumption patterns. Finally, the study highlights the importance of place in shaping consumer views of palm oil and thus a need to better understand how positive information campaigns about the benefits of sustainable production can sit alongside localized information flows of palm oil.
Journal Title
Asian Geographer
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
36
Issue
2
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Physical geography and environmental geoscience
Human geography
Social Sciences
Geography
Sustainable palm oil
cross-cultural study
consumer views
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Reardon, K; Padfield, R; Salim, HK, "Consumers don't see tigers dying in palm oil plantations": a cross-cultural comparative study of UK, Malaysian and Singaporean consumer views of palm oil, Asian Geographer, 2019, 36 (2)