The Deal With Palm Oil

Palm oil has been and continues to be one of the main drivers of deforestation of some of the world's most biodiverse forests (Amazon Rainforest and Boreal Rainforest), & destroying the habitat of already endangered species like the Orangutan, Pygmy Elephant & Sumatran Rhino. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that an area about the size of 300 football fields is cleared each hour in tropical rainforests for palm oil production.

Palm oil is in nearly everything. It’s in close to 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets, everything from pizza, doughnuts and chocolate, to deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and lipstick. If you go with the cheaper, more "popular" brands, chances are, it contains Palm Oil.

Yet...Palm oil CAN be produced more sustainably and things CAN change. The Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil or RSPO was formed in 2004 in response to increasing concerns about the impacts palm oil is having on the environment. The RSPO has a production standard that sets best practices producing and sourcing palm oil, and it has the buy-in of most of the global industry.

As well as committing to buying and using only RSPO certified palm oil, I encourage you to choose companies that are transparent in their use and sourcing of this oil, and all ingredients for that matter.

THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE….

Boycott the use of Palm Oil wherever possible. Look at what you are buying, and how it can be substituted. Need almond butter? Great… Grab the one with just almonds, and no palm oil. Need soap? Super. There are a ton out there that are palm oil free. If you are the person that looks at the nutritional info for Gluten Free, Low Calorie, High Protein, etc.. it’s time to reassess your priorities.

As always, if you need any help..you know where to find me! ;)

#DoYourPart #CreateChange #SaveThePlanet #CarolynMcGuireWellness