Palm oil is found in about half of all packaged products in our supermarkets. It is the most popular vegetable oil. Palm Oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet and half of all packaged products contain it – from ice cream to cosmetics. Clearing for palm oil plantations has destroyed the rainforest homes of Indigenous peoples and animals like orangutans, elephants, rhinos and tigers. The felling and burning of trees also exacerbates climate change, and intensive palm oil production is creating soil and water pollution, and soil erosion.
“Certified Sustainable Palm Oil” by the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) does exist and should be better but we’re dubious. It’s also failing, and potentially pretty corrupt, according to a number of recent findings. Some things feel nearly impossible to source without palm oil – but staying away from all processed foods helps massively as does replacing your shower products.