This summary report presents the 2023 update of 2-0 LCA’s life cycle assessment of palm oil production at United Plantations Berhad. It covers results for 2004 to 2022 and examines changes in greenhouse gas emissions alongside other environmental impacts.
The assessment follows palm oil from cultivation to the refinery gate. Its reference unit is 1 kg of neutralised, bleached and deodorised palm oil for food use. Distribution, use and disposal fall outside this boundary.
The inventory covers thirteen estates in Malaysia and Indonesia, five palm oil mills and two refineries. Site data come from work with United Plantations’ research and sustainability departments. The hybrid EXIOBASE database supplies background data for inputs such as fertilisers, fuels and machinery. The report also presents results for the company’s total product portfolio.
For 2022, the report gives a carbon footprint of 1.55 kg CO₂-equivalent per kg of refined palm oil before indirect land use change. The result rises to 1.81 kg when indirect land use change is included. With the modelled benefits of nature conservation also included, the result is 1.39 kg.
Across 2004 to 2022, the corresponding reductions are 55%, 51% and 62%. The report links improvements to methane capture at palm oil mills, energy integration between mills and refineries, and nature conservation. Peat soil emissions and nitrous oxide from cultivation remain important contributors.
The study treats nature conservation as the difference between avoided local impacts and indirect impacts from displaced demand for land. Its results therefore depend on the selected treatment of land use and conservation.
The report also examines biodiversity, respiratory effects and other impact categories. Its carbon footprint figures cannot be compared directly with PalmGHG results because the methods, system boundaries and reference products differ. These findings describe United Plantations’ production within this study and do not represent palm oil production in general.
