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Palm Oil Health - Sustainable Malaysian Palm Oil

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A new study done by London-based consulting firm Europe Economics emphasizes palm oil's global economic benefits. The study, commissioned by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), analyzed palm oil's land-efficiency and cost-effectiveness to measure its positive impacts to other countries.

Palm oil imports add enormous benefits to the world economy

The study found that palm oil imports directly affect both the gross domestic product (GDP) and job growth of individual countries such as the United States. A few key statistics about palm oil imports corroborate this:

The United States gains $8.76 billion of GDP growth

The U.S. gains $860 million in tax revenues

Palm oil imports also help create 62,000 jobs domestically

Those numbers are just a fraction of the growth gained globally:

Palm oil imports add $39 billion of GDP growth globally

They help create 2.9 million jobs globally

The study's results are thrilling

"This is a groundbreaking new study, illustrating palm oil's role as a provider of economic and social benefits to the global economy," said MPOC CEO Dr. Yusof Basiron. "Palm oil production brings substantial benefits to the people of Malaysia. It is clear from this new research that palm oil also brings substantial benefits to businesses and consumers in importing countries."

The Europe Economics study showed that manufacturing, distribution and services sectors benefit most from palm oil imports.

"The success of palm oil as both an essential food source and as a renewable energy demonstrates the value that palm oil provides for producers, manufacturers and consumers around the world," Basiron said. "The evidence is clear: Palm oil must be recognized and welcomed as a major contributor to jobs and growth, generating billions of dollars in benefits, and creating millions of jobs."

Malaysian palm oil's environmental impact is helping the world

Malaysia is the second-largest palm oil producer. MPOC makes sure this valuable export is well represented in the interest of palm oil growers and small farmers in Malaysia. These small farmers own or farm 40 percent of all oil palm plantations.

Malaysian palm oil has also helped its own country's economy. Poverty rates are down to less than 5 percent. More than 570,000 people have jobs in the palm oil business, and another 290,000 are employed downstream.

Palm oil is sustainably produced

Malaysia does not deforest or destroy biodiversity to manufacture palm oil. The country is committed to protecting more than half of its land as forest. Malaysia uses a balanced policy that allows for both land development for agriculture and forest protection. The United Nations and the World Bank has recognized these efforts. These commitments also make Malaysia a world leader in forest protection.

About Palm Oil Health

We are your resource for information on the health and nutritional benefits of Malaysian palm fruit oil and palm fruit oil bioactives. We provide breaking news and industry research, including the exciting potential for supporting cardiovascular and neurological health.

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Palm oil's global economic benefits emphasized in study

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A new study done by London-based consulting firm Europe Economics emphasizes palm oil's global economic benefits. The study, commissioned by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), analyzed palm oil's land-efficiency and cost-effectiveness to measure its positive impacts to other countries.

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Palm oil is one of the most profitable land uses in the tropics. For the main producing countries, palm oil can significantly contribute to national economies, driving rapid economic growth and contributing to the alleviation of rural poverty.
In Indonesia, the average income in a complete financial year of an oil palm plantation is up to $2,500 per hectare, compared to only $250 for a rice plantation. There are an estimated 25 million Indonesians living indirectly from palm oil production.

Nevertheless, unsustainable production also has potentially negative economic consequences at local and global levels in contributing to habitat destruction, pollution and climate change.

Producing countries

Malaysia exported 16.7 million tonnes of palm oil in 2010, with a value of about US$15 billion, equivalent to over 9% of the country's total exports.

Indonesia exported 16.4 million tonnes, with a value of US$14.8 billion, equivalent to over 12% of exports.

The palm oil industry is a significant contributor to rural income in Indonesia. At a local level, oil palm development has played a significant role in reducing rural poverty and improving infrastructure.

The industry directly and indirectly provides employment for over 0.8 million people in Malaysia and over 1.7 million in Indonesia.

In 2008, over 41% of oil palm plantations were owned by small land holders, producing 6.6 million tonnes of palm oil.

In 1997, the average net income of oil palm smallholders was seven times that of farmers involved in subsistence production of food crops.

Importing countries

The European Union (EU) imported over 9 million tonnes (€5.4bn) of palm oil and palm kernel meal in 2012.

These imports led to an indirect contribution to GDP of €2.7bn, an indirect contribution of €1.2bn in tax revenue and indirect contribution to employment of 67,000 jobs (indicating that more than seven workers are employed in the downstream supply chain for every thousand tonnes imported).

In the United Kingdom alone, palm oil imports created 6,800 jobs and contributed £330 million to GDP and £140 million to tax revenues.

Climate change

The palm oil industry through deforestation contributes to the release of greenhouse gas emissions. Tropical deforestation accounts for about 10% of total global warming emissions, and emissions from oil palm cultivation alone in Indonesia accounted for an estimated 2-9% of all tropical land use emissions from 2000 to 2010.

Southeast Asia will be seriously affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Heat stress, drought, climate-associated pests and diseases, flooding, and typhoons will all contribute to the decline in the production of palm oil, threatening local livelihoods tied to agricultural production.

A study by WRI in Brazil and Guatemala reveals the economic impacts of securing land rights for local people has significant economic benefits in terms of climate change, preventing the release of over 5.4 billion tons of CO2 over 20 years, with the benefits from carbon capture and averted emissions amounting to $161.7 billion over 20 years in Brazil and $605 million in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve over the same period.

For any questions related to the economic impacts of palm oil production visit the FAQs page.

Resources

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Producing countries Malaysia exported 16.7 million tonnes of palm oil in 2010, with a value of about US$15 billion, equivalent to over 9% of the country's total exports. Indonesia exported 16.4 million tonnes, with a value of US$14.8 billion, equivalent to over 12% of exports. The palm oil industry is a significant contributor to...

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The health benefits of palm oil include its ability to improve energy levels and vision, prevent cancer, boost immunity, prevent premature aging, protect against heart diseases. Palm oil is also beneficial for pregnant women.

What is Palm Oil?

Palm oil is an extremely useful vegetable oil derived from the pulp of the of the fruit of oil palms. The main varieties that are used in the production of palm oil are African oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis) and American oil palm ( Elaeis oleifera). Palm oil is naturally reddish-orange in color because of its high beta-carotene content. It is also one of the very few naturally saturated vegetable fats that increase the LDL cholesterol levels in a person's body.

Palm oil is commonly used as cooking oil in Africa, Southeast Asia, and certain countries in South America. It has become more popular in other parts of the world in recent years because of the health concerns of having too many trans fats in the diet.

Health Benefits of Palm Oil

There are a number of health benefits associated with palm oil. Let us discuss them in detail below.

Improves Energy Levels

Beta-carotene is one of the prime components of palm oil which is very good for improving energy levels and boosting hormonal balance in the body.

Improves Vision

Beta-carotene is extremely important for improving vision. Antioxidants, found in palm oil, act as powerful defensive mechanisms for the body. They are the beneficial by-products of cellular metabolism and can protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for cellular breakdown and mutation, including the damage that can cause vision issues. Using palm oil as a replacement for other types of oil can help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.

Prevents Cardiovascular Issues

Palm oil has a high content of HDL and LDL cholesterol, but even though one is good (HDL) and the other is bad (LDL), it can still create a healthier balance in your body. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your chances of atherosclerosis, which can cause strokes and heart attacks. By maintaining a healthy balance of cholesterol, you can ensure a healthier cardiovascular system.

Reduces Risk of Cancer

Tocopherols, a form of vitamin E, are natural antioxidants that can help prevent cancer by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells, so high levels of tocopherol in palm oil are necessary.

Supports Healthy Pregnancy

Vitamin deficiencies are some of the most dangerous conditions that are faced by pregnant women and unborn children. Vitamin A, D, and E are found in considerable quantities in palm oil, and since the body cannot naturally retain these vitamins, it is necessary to consume them in our diets. Thus, adding palm oil to the diet will ensure no occurrence of any vitamin deficiencies.

Word of Caution: Avoid intake of palm oil if you have high cholesterol levels in your body.

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5 Amazing Palm Oil Benefits | Organic Facts

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The health benefits of palm oil include its ability to improve energy levels and vision, prevent cancer, boost immunity, prevent premature aging, protect against heart diseases. Palm oil is also beneficial for pregnant women.

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Updated November 02, 2015 20:31:20

Indonesia's threatened orangutans are being choked by the haze from the land-clearing fires burning on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, and being driven out of their habitat into farmland, where they risk being shot.

As with humans, the orangutans most at risk are the young.

At a rehabilitation sanctuary just outside of Palangkaraya, in central Borneo, 16 baby orangutans have been treated for smoke inhalation.

Six of the young orangutans suffered acute respiratory problems, said Monterado Fridman, from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation at Nyaru Menteng.

"You do not see the effect straight away for the adults, but for babies you see the effect straight away," Mr Fridman told 7.30.

"They get flu, cough, and diarrhoea, and without intervention they collapse in one or two weeks.

"We reduce their activity and playtime outside, and they spend more time inside now, but if you bring them inside for a week or two they get stressed, because they are used to playing outside."

The foundation treats the young orangutans with rest, rehydration with the aid of a saline drip, and vitamins.

The smoke in this part of the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan has been dense for three months.

Visibility at times is less than 50 metres, and the pollution is so thick that an estimated half a million people are suffering from acute respiratory problems.

The scale of this man-made disaster is immense.

One organisation, the Global Fires Emissions Database, estimates Indonesia has overtaken China and the United States to become the world's biggest polluter.

It is extraordinary for a nation without major heavy industry and where most people cannot afford to drive cars.

Teams from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation have also been rescuing wild orangutans driven out of their habitat by smoke and fire.

So far they have brought five wild animals into the sanctuary.

"Generally they are experiencing malnutrition, dehydration, and hunger," Mr Fridman said.

"The orangutans whose habitat was burned are heading to people's farms where they can get food from the fruit trees planted by local people."

The foundation's team has to find the orangutans, tranquilise them, and then bring them back to the sanctuary. It is time-consuming and dangerous work for the rescuers and rescued alike.

Eventually they will be released back into the wild - when the fires are out.

Daily rainfall is improving conditions in parts of Kalimantan, but the haze is still thick and affecting both humans and orangutans.

First posted November 02, 2015 19:31:02

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Orangutans forced out of habitat by peat fire haze

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Updated November 02, 2015 20:31:20 Indonesia's threatened orangutans are being choked by the haze from the land-clearing fires burning on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, and being driven out of their habitat into farmland, where they risk being shot. As with humans, the orangutans most at risk are the young.

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A smog outbreak in Southeast Asia last year may have caused over 100,000 premature deaths, according to a new study released Monday that triggered calls for action to tackle the "killer haze".

Researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities in the US estimated there were more than 90,000 early deaths in Indonesia in areas closest to haze-belching fires, and several thousand more in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

The new estimate, reached using a complex analytical model, is far higher than the previous official death toll given by authorities of just 19 deaths in Indonesia.

"If nothing changes, this killer haze will carry on taking a terrible toll, year after year," said Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaign Yuyun Indradi.

"Failure to act immediately to stem the loss of life would be a crime."

A spokesman for Indonesia's environment ministry did not immediately have any comment.

Indonesian authorities have previously insisted they are stepping up haze-fighting efforts, through such actions as banning the granting of new land for palm oil plantations and establishing an agency to restore devastated peatlands.

The haze is an annual problem caused by fires set in forest and on carbon-rich peatland in Indonesia to quickly and cheaply clear land for palm oil and pulpwood plantations.

The blazes occur mainly on Indonesia's western Sumatra island and the Indonesian part of Borneo, with monsoon winds typically blowing the haze over Singapore and Malaysia.

But last year's fires were among the worst in memory and cloaked large parts of the region in choking smog for weeks, causing huge numbers to fall ill and sending diplomatic tensions soaring.

The new study to be published in journal Environmental Research Letters, which combined satellite data with models of health impacts from smoke exposure and readings from pollution monitoring stations, estimated that 100,300 had died prematurely due to last year's fires across the three countries.

They estimated there were 91,600 deaths in Indonesia, 6,500 in Malaysia and 2,200 in Singapore.

Greenpeace hailed a "groundbreaking" study they said for the first time gave a detailed breakdown of deaths from last year's fires, but cautioned that the figure was a "conservative estimate".

It only looked at health impacts on adults and the effect of dangerous fine-particulate matter, known as PM 2.5. It did not examine the effect on youngsters or of the other toxins produced by the blazes.

In reality, infants are some of the most at risk from the haze, said Nursyam Ibrahim, from the West Kalimantan province branch of the Indonesian Medical Association on Borneo.

"We are the doctors who care for the vulnerable groups exposed to toxic smoke in every medical centre, and we know how awful it is to see the disease symptoms experienced by babies and children in our care," said Ibrahim.

The study found an increase in the number of fires in peatland and in timber concessions in 2015, compared to the last haze outbreak considered major, in 2006, and that the number of fires in palm oil plantations fell.

Shannon Koplitz, a Harvard scientist who worked on the study, said she also hoped the model they had developed could help those involved with tackling the annual blazes make quick decisions "as extreme haze events are unfolding".

Last year's haze outbreak was the worst since 1997 due to a strong El Nino weather system, which created tinder-dry conditions in Indonesia and made peatland and forests more vulnerable to going up in flames.

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Haze from Indonesian fires may have killed more than 100,000 people - study

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A smog outbreak in Southeast Asia last year may have caused over 100,000 premature deaths, according to a new study released Monday that triggered calls for action to tackle the "killer haze". Researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities in the US estimated there were more than 90,000 early deaths in Indonesia in areas closest to haze-belching fires, and several thousand more in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

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Realizing the importance of the industry, the association is hosting in Bali from November 1-3 the Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price Outlook, an annual year-end event for global vegetable oil and palm oil stakeholders. The event is held to provide reliable information on palm oil price forecasts, market dynamics, as well as the latest issues in the industry. It's a major networking event for industry leaders. Supriyono, who is also vice president director at Indonesia's largest listed palm oil producer, Astra Agro Lestari, spoke to GlobeAsia in a recent interview discussing the issues that matter for the industry. Excerpts:

GA: How good was our palm oil production last year and what did exports earn? How much foreign exchange did the industry create? JS: Last year our exports stood at 26.7 million tons, while production was 31.8 million tons. We should be grateful that this country has such a commodity. No other commodity produces such a huge production surplus, at around 77%. This means we also earn huge foreign exchange revenues. This industry has topped the oil and gas sector for foreign exchange revenue contributed to the country. It contributed $17.73 billion in forex revenue last year. How important is the industry to Indonesia? What, for instance, does it contribute to employment?

Data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) shows that the industry employs 5.9 million people via direct employment and up to 50 million in non-direct employment. Please also remember this sector stimulates rural areas. You can see its direct multiplier effects. Regions can grow without the government. Whenever there is fluctuation in the prices of commodities, especially palm oil, nearly all the nation's economy will be impacted. In Astra group's case, whenever the price of palm oil is down, sales of Honda motorcycles will also fall. Who are the biggest buyers of Indonesian palm oil?

The biggest buyer is India, it bought about 5.5 million tons (of palm oil) last year from Indonesia, and then the next is Europe, which buys 2.5 million tons of our palm oil. Then it is China with 2.5 million tons, Pakistan with 2 million tons. Palm oil plays an important role in the world vegetable oil supply, while demand for palm oil for industry and for biofuel continues to increase every year. What is the biggest challenge in exporting palm oil?

The main enemy is regulation, like dumping. In the United States, they have just set anti-dumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. This kind of challenge will always be there. The biggest challenge for Indonesia is how we maintain our market share. Our market share at the global market is at about 33-35%.

Who are our competitors? There are many, and not just from fellow producers, but also from elsewhere in the edible oil industry. For example, rapeseed, canola oil, soybean. Each different producer of these commodities has imposed policies that support the industries and they are seen as strategic crops, because they represent a large number of constituents who are farmers.

There are also non-trade barriers, for example in the form of labeling, and the issue of deforestation. All are challenges that we have to face as the market leader. It all affects our competitiveness. There are other problems we have to deal with internally, for instance we have to improve the nation's infrastructure to lower palm oil distribution and transportation costs and the government must also offer a conducive investment climate to allow palm oil companies to continue to invest in the sector.

Are many countries, including developed nations, getting more protectionist? Yes, the fact is that many countries tend to be more protective of their strategic industries nowadays. Yes, we need the World Trade Organization as the referee in the game of trade, but at the end of the day it is about bargaining power. For example, China today makes it more difficult for our country to export commodities like olein, mangosteen and swallow nest after they protested Indonesia's policy that forbids their shipments to unload in islands outside Java. Even (US president) Donald Trump applies a more protectionist approach. For Gapki, what's the strategy to consolidate the industry?

Most importantly, we need to work together to improve productivity. From the farmers' aspect, companies must work out a scheme that offers long-term partnerships which have positive impacts on their welfare. Second, along with the government, we need to push for a conducive investment climate. Third, we need to continue our campaign that this industry is environmentally sustainable.

When we are confronted with a trade war, we must fight back with trade instruments. This is an advocacy role that Gapki is performing for the government, we encourage the government to start looking at trade figures from other countries, especially our markets for palm oil. For example, in India, we should improve our bilateral trade agreement. Another major palm oil producer, Malaysia, has done it. How does the government's new regulation on peat land ecosystem management (Government Regulation No. 57/2016, a revision of Regulation No. 71/2014) affect the palm oil industry as a whole?

The regulation will affect about 1 million hectares of palm oil plantation. Many will have to move from the peat land they currently occupy. This will need time and it has to be done step-by-step. Palm oil plantations provide welfare for farmers. The peat land ecoystem regulation is on the right track, but synchronizing idealism with the facts in the field will not be easy. My view on this is that what needs to be conserved must be done. However, peat land that has been cultivated needs to be managed sustainably to give benefit to the people.

A moratorium on new palm oil plantations was put in place six years ago, aiming to slow unsustainable agricultural expansion into primary forests and peat lands. How has this worked? Indonesians have planted oil palms in peat land since time immemorial. Our research finds there are plantation areas which have been operating for 80 years. Many are as old as 60 and 40 years. They are doing fine. What the industry needs is to find a way to promote sustainable practices, not a moratorium. The government should be pushing for expansion of the industry. The current administration has its Nawacita (the seven development goals set by President Joko Widodo from the time of his campaign), which include the goal to provide welfare for the people. Palm oil provides welfare for the people, including those living in rural areas. It really helps to stimulate the economy.

How hard is Gapki pushing for investment in the downstream sector? Well, not everyone can do the downstream part. It is large-scale business and it is capital-intensive as well as technology-intensive. Naturally, a palm oil company wants to tap the downstream and we are on track. About 70% of our exports are already in the form of derivative products, though the products may not be as sophisticated as those Unilever produces. Also, many companies are traders, not producers.

What's your response to the accusations of child labor? Small-scale plantations may be managed by families, with everyone in the family playing a part. When I was in grade 3 elementary school, I had to help my family on the farm. If the family only has one hectare of plantation, of course the father will invite the wife and children. This is not what is portrayed by the non-government organizations. This industry faces challenges from many interests, including countries wanting to blacken Indonesia's reputation. You name it, from orangutan, child labor, human rights to environment, they are always used against this industry. But remember this is an industry we should be proud of, a national asset. But without the government's help, the industry will die so I hope people are not so naive to see the industry only from that perspective.

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Why Palm Oil Matters to Indonesia | Globe Asia

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Realizing the importance of the industry, the association is hosting in Bali from November 1-3 the Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price Outlook, an annual year-end event for global vegetable oil and palm oil stakeholders. The event is held to provide reliable information on palm oil price forecasts, market dynamics, as well as the latest issues in the industry.

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The Heart of Borneo under siege

As in many tropical areas around the world, Borneo's rainforests are being cut and degraded for timber, palm oil, pulp, rubber and minerals. The increase in these activities is being matched by a growth in illegal wildlife trade, as cleared forests provide easy access to more remote areas.

Logging, land-clearing and conversion activities are considered to be the greatest threats to the Heart of Borneo. Of particular concern is the conversion of natural forests to oil palm and timber plantations.

The arrival of 2 alien intruders in the 1950s - the chainsaw and the caterpillar tractor - have perhaps made more impact than any other introduced species. Since then, the opening up of new roads has been a key factor changing Borneo. Roads not only provide access to commercially valuable trees, they also allow immigrant settlers, hunters and land speculators to access new areas of opportunities.

The lure of illegal logging

Illegal logging has become a way of life for some communities, with timber being taken from wherever it is accessible, sold to collectors and processed in huge sawmills. In the absence of sufficient alternative economic development, this is an irresistible lure for the local communities.

Scale of the problem

Satellite studies show that some 56% of protected lowland tropical rainforests in Kalimantan were cut down between 1985 and 2001 to supply global timber demand - that's more than 29,000 km² (almost the size of Belgium).

Protection laws are in effect throughout Borneo, but are often inadequate or are flagrantly violated, usually without any consequences.

Oil palm development

One of the biggest drivers of deforestation in the HoB and Kalimantan is the growth of oil palm plantations in response to global demand for palm oil, the most important tropical vegetable oil in the global oils and fats industry. Within Indonesia, oil palm production expanded from 600,000 hectares in 1985 to over 6 million hectares by 2007.

Oil palm development contributes to deforestation - directly and indirectly. About half of all presently productive plantations (over 6 million ha) were established in secondary forest and bush areas in Malaysia and Indonesia.

In the wake of tropical deforestation

Without the maintenance of very large blocks of inter-connected forest, there is a clear risk that hundreds of species could become extinct. Large mammals such as orang-utans and elephants are particularly affected because of the vast areas they require to survive. For example, the Borneo elephant has increasingly come into conflict with the expansion of human agriculture activities in its natural habitat.

Other smaller species, especially small mammals, may not be able to re-colonize isolated patches of suitable habitat and thus will become locally extinct. Road construction through protected areas leads to further separation of habitat ranges and provides easy access for poachers to some of the more remote and diverse tracts of remaining virgin forest.

Impacts on watersheds

Many of Borneo's major rivers originate in the Heart of Borneo. Maintaining the forests is critical to ensure the island's water supply, moderate the impacts of droughts and fires, and to support ecological and economic stability in the lowlands.

Malaysia and Indonesia account for over 90 per cent of the world's total oil palm production area, and the importance of these countries for this commodity is likely to increase in the future as demand soars.

However, not all areas can be converted into plantations. In the Heart of Borneo, research has demonstrated that slope, soil and access constraints mean that most of the area is not suitable for oil palm plantations.

Oil palm threats in Borneo

As palm oil is the cheapest vegetable oil, the demand for this commodity as a source of food and energy is expected to rise rapidly. The demand for food alone is expected to double in the next decade, and the Indonesian government has responded by setting a target to increase oil palm production from 20 million tonnes in 2009 to 40 million tonnes in 2020.

If the Heart of Borneo were cleared for what would be unviable oil palm plantations, this would seriously affect the region's water catchment role and would impact the region's unique biodiversity. The unsuitability of the terrain may also result in large-scale soil erosion, flooding and increase the risk of fire.

Threat of fire in Borneo

When left undisturbed, Borneo's natural forests are not usually prone to fires. But as forests are opened up by humans, they dry out and are increasingly susceptible to fires, which among other problems cause dangerous atmospheric haze. Properly managed, the forests of the Heart of Borneo can provide an effective break to the worst effects of fires.

Fire and haze produce many adverse effects ranging from impacts on human health, short and long-term medical treatment costs, losses in tourism and forfeited timber revenue. The ability of forests to regenerate following large fires is greatly weakened.

In the highlands of the Heart of Borneo, the risks of fire are still small as few people live in this densely forested area. But with forest clearance progressing in several places in Borneo, the risk of fire is constantly increasing.

Deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 20 per cent of global man-made CO2 emissions.

WWF projections indicate that if the island of Borneo continues at its current rate of deforestation, it will be severely affected by climate change through the increased risk of floods and forest fires, human health impacts, changes in agricultural yields and damage to infrastructure.

Sea level rise is also projected to cause widespread damage to population centres, causing considerable economic damage and costs to local governments, communities and businesses.

With two degrees of warming, Borneo's rich biodiversity in marine, reptile and amphibian species will be severely affected, and potentially devastated by any warming beyond this level by 2050.

Rampant poaching, assisted by the increasing number of roads and logging trails, poses a grave threat to Borneo's endangered species.

Wildlife crime is a big business. Run by dangerous international networks, wildlife and animal parts are trafficked like illegal drugs and arms. Experts at TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, estimate that it runs into hundreds of millions of dollars.

A number of the species that call the Heart of Borneo home are at risk:

Pangolin

Sir David Attenborough, renowned naturalist and filmmaker, chose the pangolin ( Manis javanica) as one of ten species he would save from extinction .

According to TRAFFIC, pangolins are the most common species of mammal in international trade, with animals being taken from all across Asia to meet the demand for use in traditional medicines, and for meat, mostly in China. Demand is greatest for the scales. Made of keratin - like fingernails and rhino horn - pangolin scales are used as a treatment for a range of ailments from rheumatism and arthritis, to reducing swelling and discharging pus.

Pangolin meat is also popular and said to have general health benefits. The meat from pangolin fetuses is considered a delicacy.

A 2010 TRAFFIC report estimated that one group in the Malaysian state of Sabah was responsible for taking 22,000 pangolins over 18 months.

The Sunda pangolin, found in Borneo, is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Arowana

The Borneo peat swamp forests are home to the world's most desirable aquarium fish, the Arowana ( Scleropages formosus).

The Arowana is thought to bring luck, wealth, prosperity and strength - all positive feng shui. People also believe the Arowana has supernatural powers, or that it symbolises wealth and refinement, like a piece of art.

In Japan, the Super Red Arowana can fetch prices ranging between $2,000-$200,000.

Due to its popularity, demand and outrageous price tag, the Super Red Arowana has been fished almost to extinction in West Kalimantan and it's extremely rare to catch one in the wild.

Orangutan

Young orangutans are in demand for a flourishing pet trade, with each animal fetching several hundred dollars in city markets on nearby islands.

Studies indicate that 200-500 orangutans from Indonesian Borneo alone enter the pet trade each year. This represents a real threat to wild orangutan populations as orangutans have an extremely low reproductive rate.

There is also trade in orangutan parts in Kalimantan, with orangutan skulls fetching up to $70 in towns.

Orangutans are hunted for food in some areas. Hunting is the likely cause of the very low estimated densities of orangutans in low-hill forests, particularly in the upper reaches of the Katingan and Barito rivers in Central Kalimantan and Pawan river in West Kalimantan.

Well-managed natural forests provide benefits to urban and rural populations in terms of high-quality drinking water. With 14 of Borneo's 20 major rivers beginning their journey from the Heart of Borneo, the area is the source for the island's considerable water resources.

Threats from water catchment in Borneo

When forests are clear-cut, the soil is left exposed to the rain. In the event of heavy rainfall, the erosion in the upper catchments of all the big river systems has the potential to lead to major damage downstream.

Poor management of upstream land and vegetation also has well-known adverse implications on hydro-electric facilities, filling up dams with sediment and damaging turbines. The economic costs that then arise can be massive.

Similar adverse effects can be experienced on a smaller scale by rural communities at the downstream end of small catchments. The cost may not be high to the State or the economy at large, but rural villages may suffer economically and socially.

Plans for economic development prioritise the exploitation of energy resources -especially coal - to help meet growing domestic and export market demands.

Kalimantan holds 53% of Indonesia's 4,300 million tons of recoverable coal reserves, and Sabah and Sarawak hold 99% of Malaysia's 1,724 billion tons of coal deposits.

Borneo also holds rich metal and mineral resources, including tin, copper, gold, silver, coal, diamonds, and different types of sand and stone.

Together, the forestry and mining sectors are the main contributors to forest loss in Borneo.

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As in many tropical areas around the world, Borneo's rainforests are being cut and degraded for timber, palm oil, pulp, rubber and minerals. The increase in these activities is being matched by a growth in illegal wildlife trade, as cleared forests provide easy access to more remote areas.

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From up in the air, Indonesia's Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve is a scene straight out of an epic nature documentary: lush green islands dot shimmering blue lakes.

This peat swamp forest is home to rare and endangered species such as the Malayan tapir and Sumatran elephant. The Sumatran tiger, too, can be found there. Its numbers have dwindled to as few as 400 individuals within the last remaining patches of forest in Sumatra.

But as our chopper hovered over the nature reserve during a research trip in February this year, we sat paralysed with shock. A blanket of grey smoke was rising from black and brown clearings in the forest.

Next to the burnt patches we saw neat rows of crops - the unmistakable sign of a plantation. This supposedly protected forest was being cleared illegally and burnt to make way for plantations.

Although we in Singapore have been enjoying clear skies this year because winds have not blown the pollutants our way, the root of the haze - uncontrolled large-scale fires - persists.

And the impact is devastating.

HOW HAZE CAN HARM

Two years ago, in September 2015, Singapore was hit with an intense haze that forced the closure of all primary and secondary schools for a day. That same year, Harvard and Columbia University published a study showing how the haze may have caused the early deaths of more than 100,000 people in South-east Asia that year.

That year, the region was plagued with the worst haze on record, as warmer and drier weather caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon resulted in the forests in Indonesia burning harder and for a longer time. Most of the fires were concentrated in the South Sumatra province, where large swaths of peatlands are located.

The haze is a toxic mix of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, cyanide and formaldehyde, as well as microscopic particles coated with carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

It is also a massive contributor to global warming. In 2015 alone, Indonesia's forest fires generated around 600 million tonnes of greenhouse gases - roughly the amount Germany produces in a year.

But as we complain about the haze giving us headaches and burning eyes, the fact is that a portion of the money we pay for fried curry puff could have funded the deforestation in Sumatra, the early deaths in Kalimantan and the pollution that hangs over Singapore.

The reason is palm oil.

While large palm oil and paper companies have been put under heavy scrutiny in recent years, numerous mid-level palm oil operations remain under the radar even as they commit blatant abuse like clearing protected forests.

INGREDIENT FOR HAZE

Besides being present in half of all consumer products that we buy (think packaged foods and personal care products), palm oil is also the most commonly used cooking oil in Asia.

A survey our organisation, People's Movement to Stop Haze (PM Haze), a Singapore non-profit, conducted last year revealed that 32 out of 33 popular eatery chains in Singapore used cooking oil that contains palm oil.

For the growers, oil palm is also a favourite - oil palm fruits can be harvested for around 25 years before palms need to be replanted.

The huge demand for palm oil has created a race to clear land for oil palm plantations, making it the No. 1 driver of deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia. From 2006 to 2010, oil palm was responsible for half of the deforestation in Indonesia and a third of deforestation in Malaysia.

Burning is the cheapest way to clear land. But even if fire is not used, the landscape becomes fire-prone when forests make way for plantations.

A pristine forest is like a woman's long, luscious hair. After a shower, it takes a long time to dry. Once the forest has been cut down, it resembles the bald head of a national serviceman, drying in no time at all.

In such dry landscapes, even a carelessly thrown cigarette butt can create a fire that rages out of control.

However, oil palms yield a relatively high amount of oil - up to nine times more compared with an equal area of canola or soya bean crop. Therefore, switching to other crops without changing deforestation practices means farmers would have to clear more forests to obtain the same amount of oil.

Soya bean oil, for example, is one of the main causes of deforestation in South America, threatening precious ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest and Cerrado savannah.

For this reason, we do not advocate boycotting palm oil. Instead, we want to improve the way palm oil is produced. And by being a more careful consumer, so can you.

HOW TO BE A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER

First, reduce unnecessary consumption of palm oil and other vegetable oils. Eat less fried food and choose less oily (and healthier) food instead.

Many processed food products such as margarine and potato chips are also heavy users of vegetable oil. Reducing demand for vegetable oil is a key step towards driving down the need to clear more land.

Next, if you do need a certain product with palm oil in it, choose one that uses haze-free palm oil - palm oil produced by growers that do not engage in forest clearing and burning.

Currently, palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is the closest to haze-free palm oil.

RSPO is an international non-profit organisation that brings together non-governmental organisations and companies to develop standards for sustainable palm oil, including no burning to clear land and no clearing of primary forests. To be certified, growers must be audited to ensure that they comply with these standards.

In Singapore, there are already four brands of cooking oil that are RSPO-certified. Moreover, two companies use RSPO-certified cooking oil in their eateries - Ikea Singapore and the Singapore Zoo.

For cooking oil in Singapore, the cost difference between RSPO-certified and uncertified palm oil is currently less than 10 per cent.

Third, tell others about the issue. Most of the eateries PM Haze spoke to were not even aware that they were using palm oil and mentioned terms like "vegetable oil" or "tempura oil" - generic names for palm oil.

By reaching out to your favourite eateries, you can encourage them to check if their cooking oil contains palm oil, and if so, whether it is RSPO-certified. With many popular eatery chains maintaining social media platforms and websites, it has never been easier to do so.

You can get more tips on how to take action on pmhaze.org/gohazefree.

Do consumers truly have the power to influence businesses? History has shown that to survive, businesses must respond to consumer demand.

In March last year, the RSPO temporarily suspended palm oil conglomerate IOI Corporation's certification because its deforestation practices violated RSPO's guidelines. In three short months, IOI lost 26 major corporate customers and its share price fell by 18 per cent. Reacting quickly to its consumers' signals, IOI announced that it would work towards deforestation-free practices.

Consumers have the power to spur businesses to minimise negative impacts on the health of our people and planet. Let's demand that businesses act responsibly and go haze-free.

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From up in the air, Indonesia's Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve is a scene straight out of an epic nature documentary: lush green islands dot shimmering blue lakes. This peat swamp forest is home to rare and endangered species such as the Malayan tapir and Sumatran elephant.

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Almost every year around this time - during the dry season - haze descends on Riau. And every year Jois Marfu'ah suffers.

Villages and some businesses across Riau, on the island of Sumatra, slash and burn shrub land to make way for crops. The flames belch out a toxic mess that is dangerous to breathe. Ear, nose and throat infections are common. Day becomes night as visibility drops to 50 metres or so, Jois says. Schools close. Trips to see relatives - already arduous on Indonesia's woeful roads - become torture. And all this goes on for months.

"I want to cry," says Marfu'ah, 30. "It's so uncomfortable and scary."

Two years after fires laid waste to 2 million hectares of land - causing US$16 billion in damage and fraying relations with neighbours Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, which were blanketed in haze - Indonesia is desperate to avoid a rerun.

WATCH: Thick haze blankets Indonesia

President Joko Widodo has banned new plantations on fire-prone peat land and bullied police and the military to lift their game. Police chiefs face demotion if fires break out on their patch. A new agency has been created to restore burned-out swathes and Widodo has promised more resources to fight fires.

How effective these measures are is unclear. Last year the dry season that usually settles across much of the archipelago around this time of year, and lasts until October, failed to materialise. This year the weather forecasts for the dry season are split - maybe wet, maybe dry. In any case, the man in charge of fighting the fires once they break out says he's not taking any chances.

"The fires gave Indonesia a bad reputation. We were caught by surprise," says Willem Rampangilei, head of the National Agency for Disaster Management. "Last year we got some help from God because of the rain. This year we think it will be drier. We must be prepared."

At the centre of the issue is peat. A mat of semi-decayed trees, grass and other plants built up since the last ice age, peat land makes up 12 per cent of Indonesia's territory.

Remote and marginal, the land is cheap and attracts plantation companies growing millions of hectares of oil palm or acacia trees for pulp and paper. Draining and drying peat oxidises all that built-up carbon and makes it flammable. At their height, the fires in 2015 kicked up as much carbon dioxide as the whole of the United States during an average 24-hour period.

The government, through its newly minted Peatland Restoration Agency, has restored about 270,000 hectares. It's promised an additional 150,000 hectares will be restored before the end of the year.

"The political will is there. The government was deeply embarrassed by the fires in 2015," says Herry Purnomo, a researcher at the Centre for International Forestry Research in Bogor, 40km from Jakarta.

"The government is pulling in the same direction, and for the police their careers depend on preventing fires. This is significant."

But discouraging people from using fire to clear land means going much deeper than the attitudes of bureaucrats in faraway Jakarta. The practice is baked into the mindsets of many who firmly believe not only that it is cheap but, falsely, that it is a source of fertiliser.

So some plantation companies are attempting to help villages that border their concessions to break their fire habit. Three years ago Singapore-based pulp and paper company Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd (APRIL) offered 100 million rupiah
(HK$60,000) in prize money for villages that remained fire-free for a year. Winnings from the programme go towards infrastructure such as bridges or markets.

A year later the company spruced up the programme, offering advice on clearing land without fire and agriculture as well as the annual prize money. It appointed a local resident to keep a finger on the pulse of the village as a way of staying abreast of local needs and identifying potential firebugs.

The programme resulted in a dramatic fall in the amount of land consumed by fire. Throughout the nine villages, covering more than 400,000 hectares of land, that were participating in the programme in 2015, only 54 hectares were burned. The company has since expanded the programme to 27 villages.

One of the villages to win was Sering, population 3,000. Months of back and forth between company representatives and the village helped whittle the area lost to fire from 80 hectares in 2013 to just 0.5 hectares in 2015 and then finally to zero last year.

"There is a culture of burning the land," Amirul Mukminim, a department head with the local government, says. "Most of the community had the perception that burning is legal and normal."

But as the message filtered into the sermons during Friday prayers, attitudes started to change. "Sering is poor. It's not easy to socialise people away from burning," Mukminim says.

Not everyone is a fan of the approach. Greenpeace says that, though welcome, APRIL's outreach to villages deflects attention from how it manages peat land within its concessions and those held by suppliers, which contribute about half of its raw material. "It's not enough for the company to point to work in one area to reduce fires without demonstrating how it is reducing fire risks elsewhere, such as through raising water levels across the entirety of its operations on peat," says Annisa Rahmawati, senior forest campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia.

APRIL defended its approach: "Fire prevention is one aspect of a holistic landscape approach that aims to balance responsible production with forest conservation and protection. We are focused on a science-led approach to responsible peat land management."

Other plantation companies have picked up the model, at least in part. Singapore-based palm oil company Musim Mas offers prizes of roughly US$2,500 to villages that remain fire-free. It says its efforts cover 72 villages comprising more than 500,000 hectares. The company wanted to move fast because it was concerned about burnishing its sustainability credentials and fending off legal probes as governments cracked down on plantation companies.

Indonesia's haze crisis is Singapore's haze crisis. During the worst of the burning season, prevailing winds from Sumatra coat the city state in fine particulate matter. The tiniest of these lodge in lungs and wreak havoc. Last year the index measuring these pollutants, PM2.5, went above 470 - out of a maximum of 500.

"This is such a powerful issue here," says Musim Mas spokeswoman Carolyn Lim, who is based in Singapore. "You look out your window and you can't see anything."

WATCH: Singapore shrouded in haze

Singapore has threatened to haul plantation companies - many of which are listed there - to court to answer for the haze. The government has demanded that six Indonesian suppliers linked to Asian Pulp and Paper Group explain their sustainability practices to its National Environment Agency.

In March last year Malaysian palm oil giant IOI Group was stripped of its sustainability certificates by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil. The loss meant multinational companies dumped it as a supplier.

"This programme does wonders for your sustainability. We didn't use to do any fire management outside of our concession. We realised that this whole situation is becoming criminalised," Lim explains.

"Whether you like it or not you're responsible for what happens in these villages."

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a burning issue for singapore: indonesia readies for haze battle

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A burning issue for Singapore: Indonesia's war on haze

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Almost every year around this time - during the dry season - haze descends on Riau. And every year Jois Marfu'ah suffers. Villages and some businesses across Riau, on the island of Sumatra, slash and burn shrub land to make way for crops. The flames belch out a toxic mess that is dangerous to breathe.

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Palm oil is produced by industrial means. It is in everything from cosmetics to processed food, and biofuels to drive cars. It requires extensive infrastructure, including processing mills and refineries. Ultimately, huge tankers ship the oil to every corner of the globe.

Oil palm isn't the only industrial crop. Today, most of the world's food production and supply is done by industrial means. Industrial agriculture is a system of chemically intensive food production, featuring gigantic single-crop farms and production facilities, controlled by large conglomerates.

Intensive monoculture depletes soil and leaves it vulnerable to erosion. Herbicides and insecticides harm wildlife and people. Biodiversity in and near monoculture fields takes a hit, as populations of birds and beneficial insects decline. In fact, the abundance of flying insects has plunged by three-quarters over the past 25 years in the European countryside because of industrial agriculture, according to a new study.

From 2005 to 2015, the expansion of industrial oil palm plantations was responsible for 50 percent of all of Borneo's old-growth forest area loss

David Gaveau and Mohammad Agus Salim, CIFOR researchers

In the humid tropics, industrial production of palm oil, soy, pulpwood and beef depletes biodiversity by being responsible for between 35% and 68% of all tropical forest loss.

Rates of forest loss and oil-palm developments are particularly marked on Borneo. Forest losses averaged 350,000 hectares annually from 2001 to 2016, while by 2016 the area of industrial oil palm plantations reached 8.3 million hectares (Mha) - about half of the estimated global planted area of 18 Mha. From 2005 to 2015, the expansion of industrial oil palm plantations was responsible for 50 percent (2.1 Mha) of all of Borneo's old-growth forest area loss (4.2 Mha).

Tools like the Borneo Atlas, and its new feature to assess the impact of mills, aim to equip governments, NGOS and companies with the capacity to see the full impact of industrial agriculture on forests, and to act accordingly to bring the rate of forest loss in their supply chains down to zero.

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New map helps track palm-oil supply chains in Borneo - CIFOR Forests News

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Palm oil is produced by industrial means. It is in everything from cosmetics to processed food, and biofuels to drive cars. It requires extensive infrastructure, including processing mills and refineries. Ultimately, huge tankers ship the oil to every corner of the globe. Oil palm isn't the only industrial crop.

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Palm oil and its derivatives can appear under many names. For consumers concerned about the catastrophic ill effects of the palm industry, here's what to look for.

Palm oil is the most popularly used vegetable oil in the world.﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ It is remarkably versatile and is used in everything from snack food and shampoo to biofuel. It is so prevalent that it can be found in around half of packaged items in most supermarkets.﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿

It comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree ( Elaeis guineensis) which is native to West Africa. It was once used for basic things like food and fiber, but with a yield greater than other vegetable oil crops, and with low labor costs, it has become the go-to oil.﻿﻿﻿﻿ While trees were once planted in small-scale, sustainable systems, the high demand has created a need for large-scale plantations.

The Ecological Impact of Palm Oil

To make room for palm crops, huge areas of tropical forests and other ecosystems where conservation is important are being stripped bare. Critical habitat for orangutans and many endangered species - including rhinos, elephants and tigers - has been destroyed. Forest-dwelling people lose their land, local communities are negatively affected. Catastrophic fires have taken place in Indonesia due to plantation slash-and-burn clearing that has run amok.

Global production of palm oil has more than quadrupled 15 million tons in 1995 to 66 million tons in 2017. The industry's worth an estimated $60 billion and its production value is expected to reach $88 billion by 2022. While the demand for palm oil may be hard to stem, by supporting sustainably produced palm oil, consumers can play a role in decreasing the destruction brought on by corporate interests.

Other Names

Palm oil and its derivatives can appear under more names than just "palm oil." While some of these ingredients listed by the World Wildlife Fund - like vegetable oil - aren't always made from palm oil, they can be:

1. Elaeis guineensis
2. Etyl palmitate
3. Glyceryl
4. Hydrogenated palm glycerides
5. Octyl palmitate
6. Palm fruit oil
7. Palm kernel
8. Palm kernel oil
9. Palm stearine
10. Palmate
11. Palmitate
12. Palmitic acid
13. Palmitoyl oxostearamide
14. Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3
15. Palmityl alcohol
16. Palmolein
17. Sodium kernelate
18. Sodium laureth sulfate
19. Sodium lauryl lactylate/sulphate
20. Sodium lauryl sulfate
21. Sodium palm kernelate
22. Stearate
23. Stearic acid
24. Vegetable fat
25. Vegetable oil

If you see these ingredients on a label you can call the company and enquire as to whether or not they include palm oil and/or if they source palm oil from sustainable enterprises.

Also, WWF advises consumers to look for the RSPO label to ensure that certified sustainable palm oil, produced in socially and environmentally responsible ways, was used. The Rainforest Alliance has a certification label as well.

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Palm oil and its derivatives can appear under many names. For consumers concerned about the catastrophic ill effects of the palm industry, here's what to look for. Palm oil is the most popularly used vegetable oil in the world.﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ It is remarkably versatile and is used in everything from snack food and shampoo to biofuel.

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A report for the Bank of England, which considered using palm oil in the production of the new £20 note, explained: "Forest fires, started to clear land for oil palm, release high levels of carbon dioxide and black carbon (soot) into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change."

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What is palm oil and why is it thought to be bad?

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Palm oil is a kind of vegetable oil, like sunflower or rapeseed oil but many consider it to be bad for the environment.

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What is palm oil, how is it extracted and who are the main producers? Find out more about the production of palm oil here.

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The Cornish Life | Cornwall Lifestyle Blog

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This week, large 'blobs' of palm oil were washed up on our beaches after Storm Angus, so it's very much on my mind!

This substance is harmful is to animals if eaten, obviously causing a problem to marine life, and apparently a vet in Newquay even had to save the lives of 5 dogs after they ingested some on the beach.

But this isn't the only issue with palm oil. In case you weren't aware, palm oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from palm fruit grown on oil palm trees, and it's one of the most unsustainable industries in the world.

Causing mass deforestation around the world (specifically Africa, Asia, and America, but mostly Indonesia and Malaysia), palm oil growth is destructive to the environment and the habitats of many now-endangered species, as well as the homes of native communities.

Evidently this is because of huge demand; it's in everything.

In fact, it's near enough unavoidable. Most of the time, it's a completely unnecessary ingredient, but it's so hard to find alternatives to products that don't contain it. But at least if we're all made aware, we can try our hardest to avoid it...

Below are 10 things that contain palm oil that most of us probably buy without realising:

1. Bread

Most loaves of bread you buy at the supermarket will contain palm oil (or one of the many other names palm oil is referred to as - see the link at the bottom of this post!). Next time you go for your weekly shop, check the ingredients carefully, or even better - buy bread from the counter or a local baker and check what ingredients they use!

2. Crisps

It makes sense that making crisps requires some kind of oil, but sadly most of them use palm oil. The packet will likely say 'vegetable oil' though, so be aware (this is another commonly used name for Palm Oil). The best thing is to look for crisps that expressly use an oil like olive, sunflower or coconut, or find savoury crunchy snacks that don't contain any oil at all!

3. Margarine

Margarine is a commonly used substitute for butter and dairy spreads, but even though you're doing a good thing by avoiding the dairy industry, most of these products contain palm/vegetable oil. Try substituting margarine in recipes with coconut oil, olive oil, or even apple sauce for baking. (And if anyone ever finds a margarine that doesn't contain palm oil, please let me know - because I can't find one!)

4. Vegan cheese

Same as above, many of the dairy substitutes sadly seem to contain palm oil in some form. Keep an eye out on the ingredients and shop sustainably; many vegan cheeses come in plastic packaging and contain loads of random additives anyway, so maybe try making your own vegan cheese sauces and trying out recipes!

5. Soap & Skincare

Random isn't it? Many supermarket soaps seem to contain palm oil for some reason, but good to buy from local artisans, or brands that use only natural ingredients who don't test on animals, anyway.

6. Ice Cream

I have no idea why there needs to be palm oil in ice cream... weird! Not all brands do, so always check the label. I would say try making your own (vegan or not ), and props if you have time for this, but to me it seems like too much effort (but hey, I'm not a huge ice cream fan anyway!).

7. Pizza bases

Many supermarket oven pizzas or readymade pizza bases contain palm/vegetable oil in the base. I know, it made me sad too. But again, check the label because not all will - just something to be aware of!

8. Instant noodles

Noooo! A staple for all budgeters and quick-lunch-addicts alike, vegan or otherwise :( We all know they're probably not great for our health anyway, but it is disappointing. And yes, this includes Supernoodles, Pot Noodles and Tesco Instant.

9. Shampoo

As with the soap mentioned above, it's a great idea to try and support ethical/environmental brands when buying personal care/beauty products anyway. Places like Lush and the Body Shop are good places to start.

10. Chocolate

Palm oil in chocolate is a more rare occurrence, but still something to check on the ingredients labels. It can be easy to avoid, so why buy it by accident right?

I'm not writing this trying to make you feel bad or expecting you to never buy anything with palm oil in it. As I said, it's near impossible, but if we all are made aware of this issue and try our best to cut down on our palm oil purchases and avoid it where we can, then maybe we can make a small difference.

Further reading:
Say No to Palm Oil: What's The Issue?
25 Sneaky Names for Palm Oil
Palm Oil is Everywhere: Here's What to Do About It

Know of any great palm oil free alternatives for the above items? Comment below!

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More posts on sustainable living:

- 4 Products That Are Helping Me Reduce My Plastic Waste
- Plastic and Our Ocean (Small Things That Help)
- 16 Small Things We Can Do to Become More Ethical Consumers

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10 Things You're Buying That Probably Contain Palm Oil | The Cornish Life | Cornwall Lifestyle Blog

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This substance is harmful is to animals if eaten, obviously causing a problem to marine life, and apparently a vet in Newquay even had to save the lives of 5 dogs after they ingested some on the beach. But this isn't the only issue with palm oil.

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GreenPalm :: What types of products and industries use palm oil?

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Palm oil and palm kernel oil are found in 50% of the products on supermarket shelves. Why is palm oil so popular for food and personal care products?

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What is Palm Oil? Facts About the Palm Oil Industry

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As palm oil plantations spread rapidly, deforestation impacts wildlife habitats and human communities. The sustainable production and harvesting of palm oil is imperative.

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Diving is a fun-filled water activity that took the interests of a lot of people these days. Unlike before, people are more interested in recreational water activities, and most likely, they would all agree that freediving is a challenging one. Thrilling as it ... [Read More...] about Best Freediving Fins Reviews 2020

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Diving is a fun-filled water activity that took the interests of a lot of people these days. Unlike before, people are more interested in recreational water activities, and most likely, they would all agree that freediving is a challenging one. Thrilling as it ... [Read More...]