REVIEW PAPER
Sustainability in Malaysian Palm Oil:
A Review on Manufacturing Perspective
Ilyana Abdullah1, Wan Hasrulnizzam Wan Mahmood1, Muhammad Hafidz Fazli Md Fauadi1, Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman2, Fathiyah Ahmad3
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1Sustainable and Responsive Manufacturing Research Group, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering,
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
2Advanced Manufacturing Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
3Department of Language Studies, Universiti Technologi MARA Cawangan Kedah,
P.O. Box 187, 08400 Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia
Submission date: 2014-12-12
Final revision date: 2015-03-06
Acceptance date: 2015-03-15
Publication date: 2015-07-27
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(4):1463-1475
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ABSTRACT
The increasing worldwide demand of sustainable palm oil product has encouraged the industry to develop
a sustainability strategy on the unintended social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid population
growth, economic growth, and consumption of natural resources. This study reviews the manufacturing
perspective on the current sustainability effort and identifies the drivers for sustainability – particularly in
Malaysia – that control almost 50 percent of the global export market share. It revealed current research on
sustainability in general palm oil manufacturing (or palm oil mill) which involves empty fruit bunches, crude
palm oil, crude palm kernel oil, the refinery process, and palm oil waste management. It also highlights the
drivers for sustainability in the Malaysian palm oil industry. The findings of our study suggest that manufacturing
sustainability in Malaysian palm oil manufacturing is driven by three main objectives: environmental
consciousness, economic escalation, and social commitment – which all link to each other and demonstrate
progress toward sustainability. Nevertheless, social commitment shows a lesser amount of publications among
the drivers. This study can be helpful for palm oil organisations (particularly in Malaysia) to recognize their
opportunities and threats in efforts to enhance business profiles, corporate reputations, and market growth
without neglecting environmental and social impacts.