This document discusses sustainability practices in the edible oil and solvent extraction process. It identifies key sustainability risks like large-scale forest conversion, loss of habitat, solid waste generation, and air and water pollution. It outlines global best practices like proper waste management, reducing energy and water usage, and minimizing hazardous chemical impacts. It also describes sustainability initiatives like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and measures taken by Indian companies to use certified sustainable palm oil.

1. Xavier Institute of
Management, Bhubaneswar
Sustainability practices across Industries

2. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN EDIBLE OIL &
SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESS
SECTION A GROUP-6
KHANDEKAR SARFORAJ AKRAM UM15026
KUNAL TALWAR UM15027
LIPSA MISHRA UM15028
MANISHA BOSE UM15029
NAGARAJ JOSHI UM15030

3. INTRODUCTION
80% of the world’s total edible oil is of vegetable
origin - oilseeds, nuts, fruits and grains
Vegetable oil processing industry is estimated to be of
INR 80,000 crore
70% of 600 solvent extraction units & over 300 edible
oil-refining plants have small installed capacities of
below 100 tons per day & a capacity utilization rate of
only around 35-40%, primarily because of the risks
inherent in the industry
It is important to use latest technologies for
processing vegetable oils so that it retains valuable
nutrients, reduces energy consumption, keeps the
processing cost low and meets the stringent
environment emission norms

4. KEY SUSTAINABILITY RISKS
• Large Scale Forest Conversion: The development of plantations for the extraction of
edible oils is has an adverse impact on the forest green cover and leads to soil erosion,
air pollution and climate change.
• Loss of Critical Habitat for Endangered Species: The clearing of the tropical forest
areas has an adverse impact on a large number of plants and animals as the areas
contain habitats of rare and endangered species.
• Solid Waste and By-products: The processing of edible oil leads to large amount of
organic solid waste, impurities, residues and by-products which, if left untreated, leads
to accumulation of biological waste and a breeding ground for insects and other
potential harmful biological diseases transmitters.
• Atmospheric Emissions: Processing of edible oil causes dusts, particulate matter and
volatile organic compound emissions (VOCs). The boilers used to obtain hot water uses
energy sources which emits combustion by-products like NOx, SOx, CO2, CO, etc.

5. KEY SUSTAINABILITY RISKS
• Water Consumption: Huge amounts of water used for cooling, chemical neutralization,
washing and deodorization leads to generation of impure water, which if discharged to
water bodies untreated leads to poisoning and destruction of the aqua biodiversity.
• Energy Consumption: The production facility consumes significant amount of fossil
fuels to meet the energy requirements. Apart from hot water for cleaning, the
production facility also consumes energy for running of refrigeration and compressed
air, mainly for storage purposes.
• Hazardous Materials: Any leakages, spillages or release of acids, alkalis, solvents, etc.
used has an adverse effect on the soil and water bodies. Some of these materials are
highly inflammable and always carry a risk of fire and explosions.

6. GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Governments across the world have established many stringent regulations to check
rampant deforestation, illegal destruction of forests, etc.
• Different residues like spent acids, the solid waste, deodorizer from the steam,
spent catalysts can be conditioned and reprocessed for energy generation in the
plant’s boiler.
• It can also be used as fertilizer & utilized to revitalise the soil for next phase of
farming.
The augers and conveyor systems are being rejigged from water-based conveyor
systems with mechanical systems. Cleaning-in-place procedures are being applied to
recover and reuse the water condensate from the heating processes, to follow proper
treatment and discharge cleaning solutions to split oil and fatty acids from water phase.
Energy consumption is reduced by ensuring feed uniformity, increasing air removal
efficiency in vessel sterilization to improve heat transfer, feed recharging through heat
exchange, implementation of co-generation systems for better efficiency, using
enzymes to hasten process for reduced energy consumption, etc.

7. • The various process improvements suggested to reduce emission of VOC’s in the
atmosphere are improve exhaust air collection systems and installation of leak
prevention systems.
• Proper maintenance of cleaning, screening and crushing equipment,, use of chemicals and
enzymes like caustic, alkaline scrubbing systems to check the odour emissions.
• The best way to avoid adverse effects due to spillage or leaking of hazardous chemicals is
through implementation and following of best safety, operational and maintenance
methods and having quick response systems in times of crisis.
• Providing sufficient knowledge and training to personnel handling these dangerous
chemicals
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

8. MAJOR SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
RPSO’s main aim
• Forest, peat land
conversion
• Climate change
• Biodiversity loss
Elements of RSPO
certification scheme
• Requirements to be met
and against which
certification assessments
are made.
• Ensure organizations
undertaking certification
assessment are
competent to undertake
credible, consistent
audits.
• Establish whether or not
a set of requirements has
been met and is carried
out by an accredited
Certification Body.
RSPO Supply chain
certification procedure
• Verifies movement of oil
through supply chain
• Step-by-step
documentation
• Third-party certification
Challenges ahead for
RSPO
• Smallholders access to
standard practices
• Supply Chain
Certification – Difficult
for small end-users
• Small holders are more
focus on Yield
improvement
• Market demand has to
be further developed
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) – To promote the growth and use of sustainable Palm products through
credible global standards.

11. BUT PALM OIL BRINGS MANY BENEFITS TO INDONESIA
• Government- Palm oil is Indonesia’s Top Exported
Commodity, accounting for 18.97% of 2011’s total export
• Business- Global demand for palm oil is expected to
increase by 32% to 60MT by 2020
• Local- Almost all consumer products, from soaps to
chocolates, depend on crude palm oil
• Globally- Indonesia is world’s #1 producer and exporter
of palm oil, accounting for50% of total world export

12. MEASURES BY INDIAN COMPANIES
• 100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil(CSPO) covered by Green Palm
• Targets to purchase all its palm oil from traceable sources by 2020
• Attained certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
• Can supply RSPO-approved Mass Balance Certified Sustainable Palm Oil
(CSPO) to their customers
• Attained certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
• Committed to achieve 100 percent usage of sustainable palm oil across its
business by 2020

13. • http://www.sustainablepalmoil.org/
• http://www.wri.org/resources/data-visualizations/idea-behind-potico-palm-oil-indonesia
• http://www.strategyr.com/pressMCP-2226.asp
• https://www.isealalliance.org/sites/default/files/Responsible-Business-Practices-in-the-Indian-
Palm-Oil-Sector-CRB-Feb-2014-PDF.pdf
• http://www.wwfindia.org/?12281/Two-Companies-at-Forefront-of-Certified-Sustainable-Palm-
Oil-in-India
REFERENCES