A Look into the Environmental Impact of the Production of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Products
For all the useful and beneficial qualities of virgin coconut oil (VCO), ethical concerns regarding the production of this highly beneficial oil are also under widespread consideration today. As the issue of mass production always ends with ruminations about the impact of this production on the environment, VCO, as one of the best products from coconut products from Indonesia, also does not escape the discussions that are currently being hotly debated.
Production of VCO
Currently, VCO is produced in traditional and modern ways, depending on who the producer is. As we know, this oil is filtered from the coconut milk content in coconuts.
Even so, the question is often raised about what will happen to coconut dregs and the waste that arises from the process of filtering them.
Moreover, with the increasing number of requests for coconut products from Indonesia, such as VCO, this means that there will be more and more coconut trees to be planted.
And to be able to grow them, often deforestation must be done because there is no other way to find enough land to plant coconut trees.
Impact
In general, VCO is often compared to palm oil, which, despite its immense economic benefits for a country like Indonesia, has long been controversial because it requires mass deforestation to clear land for oil palm.
The coconut tree used to produce VCO is a monoculture plant (a single crop in a single area at a time), which, although it has the potential to completely absorb nutrients in the soil, can still grow in harmony with other plants such as banana trees and coffee plants.
This ability cannot be found in oil palm trees, which do not grow well when planted together with other crops, such as coconut trees.
Furthermore, considerations are now emerging to provide more compensation to VCO producers in Indonesia and the Philippines so that they can process VCO production waste better.
That way, they can get more ethical treatment from the government and contribute directly to reducing the negative impact of VCO production on the environment.
And in the end, gas emissions arising from the process of transporting VCO as one of the finest coconut products from Indonesia to other countries are considered to have the potential to exacerbate global warming.
Conclusion
By responding more seriously to the environmental impact of VCO production, more ethical consumption and safer production processes will protect the natural environment from the negative impacts of this oil production. Contact PT. Kelapa Asli Indonesia for ethically grown and produced VCO products as well as other coconut products from Indonesia!