Steer clear of unsustainable palm oil
From ‘stearamidopropyldimethylamine’ to plain old ‘palmate’, palm oil appears in our food under a number of guises. In fact, around 50% of everyday goods contain it, and it’s a staple ingredient in many processed and packaged foods.1
But are all these names hiding the real truth about palm oil: that it is a significant cause of deforestation and a serious threat to the survival of various species, such as the orangutang?
Challenge yourself to get informed and aim for snacks which contain sustainable palm oil, or no palm oil at all.
Deforestation
Hundreds of thousands of hectares of greenhouse gas-absorbing trees are cleared each year to make way for oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis), and the fires which are often used to clear the land are a major source of CO2 pollution, turning up the heat on the global thermostat.2
Communities
While palm oil production does create jobs and opportunities for many poor communities, it has also been the cause of many land disputes, with reports of displaced communities and illegal land grabs. In some cases, the expansion of plantations has led to forest-dwelling peoples being forced out of their homes.
Extinction
Many rare and endangered species are being forced out of their natural habitats by the planting of oil palm plantations. In Indonesia and Malaysia, which together account for 85% of the world’s palm oil production, the orangutan population is under severe threat of extinction. The Orangutan Project estimates that over 6,000 of the orange apes are lost every year.3
80%
Health
Palm oil is higher in saturated fat than other types of vegetable oil, containing 6.7 grams of saturated fat in every tablespoon, compared to 1.9 grams in olive oil, and 1 gram in canola oil. 4
Eating a diet high in saturated fats is linked to causing high cholesterol, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease.
Global Goals
In September 2017, a historic agreement was signed by UN member nations agreeing to work towards 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development by 2030, otherwise known as the SDGs.
Achieving these ambitious goals will require action from governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals alike. We can - and must - all play our part.
By making the 'Well oiled' pledge, you are contributing in your own small way to the following SDG targets:
2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.b: Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
How
You don’t need to boycott palm oil altogether. It seems to be hidden in almost everything we buy, so cutting it out completely would be tricky. Here are some tips on how to make your palm oil consumption more sustainable:
1. Responsible Palm Oil: choose products that only use certified sustainable palm oil (which is grown responsibly and with consideration for the environment and local communities). Look out for the RSPO or Green Palm labels, thankfully they’re becoming more and more common.
2. Do your research: check out WWF's Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard to find out how your favourite brands measure up in their commitment to ending deforestation.
3. Use your voice: write to companies asking that they commit to using sustainable palm oil, and encourage others to do the same. Every voice counts!
4. Palm oil free: while it might be hard to find palm-oil free products, there are some out there: Ethical Consumer have compiled a decent list.
5. Break it down: given that palm oil is found in everything from shampoo to chocolate, completely cutting it out in one fell swoop can be daunting and, well, unrealistic. Break your pledge down into manageable chunks - each week or month focusing on a different area of shopping: snacks; cleaning products; beauty products etc.
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