• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • terms
  • contact
  • giving

England, Naturally

  • home
  • about
  • press

Why We Should Give Up Palm Oil

Animal Friends+ Looking Good

save the orangutans Annalies draws

Annalise Draws for Greenpeace

Everything on this site is free from palm oil, so you don’t have to go label-hunting. Some ‘sustainable forests’ have found burned-to-death orangutans inside, defending their homes and babies. Vegans are increasingly concerned at the amount of companies (and organisations) accepting this term. Greenpeace say the oft-quoted ’round table on sustainable palm oi’ is as useful as a chocolate teapot. RSPO took 14 years to ban members from destroying rainforests and still has not enforced the rule totally, with 75% of forest fires in Indonesia linked to palm oil production from members. 10 years ago, major brands promised everything would be okay by 2020. Yet still endangered creatures are killed daily – to make crisps, chocolate bars and soap.

the flower farm palm oil free

Dutch margarine company The Flower Farm  says that if the average family of four used palm-oil-free margarine, it could save over 17 kilos of palm oil (that’s over 44 square metres of plantation each year). 75% of oil in Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo certified as ‘sustainable’ by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil occupy land that was forest and/or wildlife habitat, 30 years ago. The fact that someone ‘deforested’ the area a few years before does not justify a sustainability label by a certification scheme today. Satellite images found that many ‘certified palm oil concessions’ had indeed replaced the habitats of endangered mammals and biodiverse tropical forests in Borneo and Sumatra, over the last few years (homes to rhinos, tigers, orangutans and elephants).

four paws forest school

Four Paws

Also found in soap (‘sodium palmate’ if not sodium tallowate (beef fat), palm oil is also found in cleaning products, laundry goods and most chip shops use it. There are alternatives (like local rapeseed oil, which also helps prevent climate change, by not importing oil from the other side of the world). Countries like Indonesia are far better earning money from eco-tourism, to help protect these beautiful creatures.

orangutan helps a man

This orangutan held out his hand to help a man in snake-infected waters, thinking he had fallen in. In fact the man was carefully moving the snakes out of the way, to protect the orangutan. He did not take the hand, as he did not want the orangutan to get too trusting of humans.

born to be wild orangutans

Image

Solitary orangutans will defend their babies to the death, with ‘forest schools’ left to pick up the tragic pieces. Recently, Hope the orangutan was shot 74 times, stabbed and left blinded (and her baby killed), just so merchants could get more land to build palm oil plantations. Half of Borneo’s orangutans have disappeared in 16 years, and over 75% of Indonesia’s national park has become illegal plantations (previously home to orangutans, elephants and tigers). 193 critically endangered species are at risk of extinction, due to production of palm oil.

palm oil free certification trademark

Even Ethical Consumer rates companies as to whether they use RSPO palm oil, surely they have read articles by Greenpeace?  There are now petitions to ask vegan brands to stop using palm oil (and stop calling it ‘sustainable’). For now, unless you choose to cook/bake with no oil, here are some alternatives to common items containing palm oil: also look for products with palm oil free certification (another scheme is run by Orangutan Alliance).

Where to Find Palm Oil Free Products

Miyoko's creamery vegan butter

  1. Vegan Butters with No Palm Oil
  2. Vegan Crackers with No Palm Oil
  3. Vegan Biscuits with No Palm Oil
  4. Nut & Seed Butters with No Palm Oil
  5. Make Your Own Palm-Oil-Free Pastry

Beauty Products with No Palm Oil

awake organics

See the post on beauty products with no palm oil to find soaps and other items that are palm-oil-free.  Also be aware of some other items (like fabric conditioner) that may contain it. The best option is nearly always to visit the local indie health store or farm shop, to find palm-oil-free brands, that are vegan and not tested on animals.

You may also like

← Previous Post
Why Children Need to Get Outdoors
Next Post →
Boycott Fur (and donate coats to wildlife)

About England, Naturally

An online source of inspiration, with helpful posts for community-focused, zero-waste and plant-based lifestyles.

Primary Sidebar

A Warm Welcome

laptop in garden Georgia de Lotz

At this site, find inspiring posts for community-focused, zero-waste and plant-based lifestyles. Make yourself a pot of tea,  enjoy browsing and find something interesting to forage!

Download Natural Reader to listen to posts (with dyslexic-friendly font).

Popular Posts

It's Easy to Be Vegan in London!
Moving Mountains Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
The Most Ethical Broadband Companies
Where to Buy Vegan One-Pot Ready Meals

find more

Categories

  • Animal Friends
  • Creativity Matters
  • Do What You Love
  • Ethical Money
  • Family Matters
  • Feeling Good
  • Getting Around
  • Home Comforts
  • In the Garden
  • Looking Good
  • Make a Difference
  • Save the Planet
  • Special Days
  • The Natural World
  • Uncategorized
  • Veggie Eats
  • Your Community

Image Credits

Photo by Georgia de Lotz

Pin button by The Dutch Lady Designs

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Footer

buy Isla

Does Isla look like the perfect theme for you? No need to wait! You can get it on the Code + Coconut website right away!

Buy Isla

Paul Kingsnorth

We are the first generations to grow up surrounded by evidence, that our attempt to separate ourselves from nature has been a failure.

I wonder if every animal is a spirit. If they are all spirits sent to you? And how you treat them, is what you are.

find more

Copyright © 2022 · England, Naturally

Isla Theme by Code + Coconut