Why should you avoid Palm Oil?
What is Palm Oil?
Why is Palm Oil used?
Why is Palm Oil used?
Palm oil derives from the fruit of oil palms. It is grown on the African oil palm tree. Oil palms can grow wherever there are vast amounts of rainfall and heat. Today palm oil is globally produced and grown throughout Africa, Asia, North and South America.
Palm oil is one of the world's most popular edible vegetable oils, due to its low co
Palm oil derives from the fruit of oil palms. It is grown on the African oil palm tree. Oil palms can grow wherever there are vast amounts of rainfall and heat. Today palm oil is globally produced and grown throughout Africa, Asia, North and South America.
Palm oil is one of the world's most popular edible vegetable oils, due to its low cost and wide availability. It is a multi-billion dollar industry, and demand continues to grow at the expense of our forests.
Why is Palm Oil used?
Why is Palm Oil used?
Why is Palm Oil used?
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil on the planet, (65% of all vegetable oil). It has many different properties and functions which make it so widely used. It is semi-solid at room temperature, so can keep spreads spreadable; it is resistant to oxidation, and so can give products a longer shelf-life; it is stable at high temper
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil on the planet, (65% of all vegetable oil). It has many different properties and functions which make it so widely used. It is semi-solid at room temperature, so can keep spreads spreadable; it is resistant to oxidation, and so can give products a longer shelf-life; it is stable at high temperatures, and so helps to give fried products a crispy and crunchy texture; it is odourless and colourless, so does not alter the look or smell of food products; It is mass-produced, and therefore cheap.
Deforestation
Why is Palm Oil used?
Climate Change
The World loses 20 million acres of forest per year. This equates to 40,000 football pitches per day or 28 football pitches per minute. Palm Oil production is the main driver of deforestation. In the last 20 years, over 3.5 million hectares of Indonesian and Malaysian forest have been destroyed to make way for palm oil production. Corpora
The World loses 20 million acres of forest per year. This equates to 40,000 football pitches per day or 28 football pitches per minute. Palm Oil production is the main driver of deforestation. In the last 20 years, over 3.5 million hectares of Indonesian and Malaysian forest have been destroyed to make way for palm oil production. Corporate owners of palm oil plantations are responsible for slashing or burning the land to clear large swaths for palm tree production at a higher rate than ever before.
Climate Change
Why is Palm Oil used?
Climate Change
Deforestation impacts climate change. 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. The environmental impact has been devastating. Palm oil production creates an array of environmental and ecological issues. In addition to the carbon released when forests are burned, deforestation impairs the planet's capacity to absorb CO2
Deforestation impacts climate change. 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. The environmental impact has been devastating. Palm oil production creates an array of environmental and ecological issues. In addition to the carbon released when forests are burned, deforestation impairs the planet's capacity to absorb CO2 from our air. This compounds the greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change. When forests are cleared to make room for oil palm plantations, the area is burned down. The burning down of these forests involves burning the invaluable timber and remaining forest undergrowth, which emits large amounts of toxic smoke into the atmosphere.
Driving Extinction
Sustainable Palm Oil is a MYTH
Sustainable Palm Oil is a MYTH
Endangered species such as Orangutans, Elephants and Sumatran Tigers are being pushed close to extinction. 15 years ago there were more than 230,000 Orangutans in total. The present figure is around 100,000, meaning the population has more than halved since 2004.
We are presently losing over 6,000 orangutans a year. Orangutans will be exti
Endangered species such as Orangutans, Elephants and Sumatran Tigers are being pushed close to extinction. 15 years ago there were more than 230,000 Orangutans in total. The present figure is around 100,000, meaning the population has more than halved since 2004.
We are presently losing over 6,000 orangutans a year. Orangutans will be extinct within 20 years. There are now only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world. Almost 80% of orangutan habitat has disappeared in the last 20 years. Their forest homes have been lost and degraded, and hunting threatens their existence. Orangutans have been found buried alive, killed by machete, guns and other weaponry. This can happen after the animals enter a village or palm oil plantation in search of food, or during the deforestation process. If captured by poachers, adults are usually killed. Their babies are sold as pets.
Sustainable Palm Oil is a MYTH
Sustainable Palm Oil is a MYTH
Sustainable Palm Oil is a MYTH
The term "Sustainable" Palm oil is nonsense, a myth, not a reality. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests. Multi-national corporations' (Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Ferrero, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi Co, etc) demand for palm oil production increases year on year. They use a shell game called "Roundtable On Sustainable Palm
The term "Sustainable" Palm oil is nonsense, a myth, not a reality. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests. Multi-national corporations' (Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Ferrero, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi Co, etc) demand for palm oil production increases year on year. They use a shell game called "Roundtable On Sustainable Palm Oil" (RSPO) to hide their connection to deforestation. So-called "sustainable" plantations sit on thousands of acres of former wildlife habitat within a critical watershed. The forests are forever gone. These corporations have blood on their hands whilst claiming to be sustainability leaders. Biodiversity and endangered species should be in every conversation about palm oil. As tigers, orangutans, elephants and rhinos become extinct at the hands of RSPO, we must reconsider our values and priorities. The RSPO label is a shield that deflects proper scrutiny.
Bad for YOU
Sustainable Palm Oil is a MYTH
Bad for YOU
Palm oil is high in saturated fat. This is fine if consumed in moderation, but if consumed in high amounts, it increases LDL cholesterol level. This removes any good nutrients and minerals, and makes it harder for our bodies to digest.
Nutella is a popular international brand. It claims: "The palm oil in Nutella is carefully treated during
Palm oil is high in saturated fat. This is fine if consumed in moderation, but if consumed in high amounts, it increases LDL cholesterol level. This removes any good nutrients and minerals, and makes it harder for our bodies to digest.
Nutella is a popular international brand. It claims: "The palm oil in Nutella is carefully treated during processing, making it perfectly safe to ingest. The palm oil we use in Nutella is 100% RSPO certified sustainable palm oil and can be traced back to the mills, guaranteeing that it does not come from plantations subject to deforestation".
The statement is disingenuous in every way.
About Us
What can YOU do?
What can YOU do?
What can YOU do?
Consumers can make a difference through avoiding products, brands and companies that use palm oil. You are part of the palm oil problem, but could be part of the solution. Do not accept or trust most companies' "Sustainability Policy" at face value. The likelihood is that it is no more than a marketing tool. "Sustainable" palm oil is certified forest destruction.
Some Good News!
What can YOU do?
What can YOU do?
In 2019 the British supermarket chain Iceland hit the headlines after an advert it planned to air was blocked from TV for being politically motivated. The ad highlighted the devastating environmental impact of palm oil production and announced that Iceland was committing to phasing out the oil in all its own-brand products by the end of 2020.