Coconut

A mixed-species setting is one in which a variety of diverse plants are grown alongside each other so flora and fauna can thrive in interconnected symbiosis. As opposed to monoculture plantations, mixed-species settings are known to improve productivity of the plants, carbon sequestration and general biodiversity.

Coconut is often referred to as the "tree of life" in the local regions where it is growth. This is because every part of tree has purposes, many are for health, beauty, and wellness benefits.

• From the meat: coconut flour, coconut milk, coconut oil
• From the water: vinegar, coconut water, wine
• From the husk: ropes, nets, walling, flooring
• From the shell: activated charcoal
• From the leaves: paper, brooms
• From the roots: traditional medicines, beverages, dyes
• Even if a tree is cut down, the trunk is used for wood, furniture, and paper

Using the entirety of the plant is the most resourceful way to use plant feedstocks and one of the reasons coconut is a desirable and sustainable feedstock.

Coconuts are grown in the Pacific Islands. Our sources for coconut include Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Coconut trees are often managed by smallholders in the Pacific Islands. while this plant is inherently very sustainable and the labor practices are generally non-problematic, there is always room for improvement. There is certainly room for improvement in the traceability of the coconut supply chain. Since smallholders often sell to commodity traders who sell to different industries, there is a loss of traceability in the current model.

INOLEX is committed to being at the table to support the sustainable development of the coconut industry and improve the traceability of sourcing. Some of the organizations we look to are Sustainable Coconut & Coconut Oil Roundtable, Rainforest Alliance, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

There are currently no certification models that support the scale in which the chemical industry uses coconut oil. We are in support of the development of this alongside our stakeholders.