How Owning Your Environmental Impact Can Save Global Rainforests and Wildlife
Becoming a conscious consumer
Each of us have an invisible impact. The products we buy every day directly affect people, wildlife, and Nature around the planet. Nobody knows this better than Dr. Ian Singleton, OBE, Director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). Ian lives on the Indonesian island of Sumatra near Borneo, one of the most lush rainforest regions in the world. But the forests are disappearing rapidly, and along with it the habitat for thousands of species including the orangutan which is native to this region. Ian wants us to know that we can stop the destruction and protect these highly intelligent and complex animals. By understanding the change you can make with your purchases, your awareness, and your voice in daily life and on social media, you can be part of the solution so that we continue to enjoy one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse regions on Earth for generations to come.
What you can do today
Research companies you buy from often to understand their practices when it comes to sustainability. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, write to them and let them know you value sustainability as a consumer
Visit the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil website to learn more about the certification process and programs they manage. Check their membership list to see if the companies you support have committed to use of sustainable palm oil in their supply chain
Make a commitment to understand your impact as a consumer when it comes to palm oil. Choose to only purchase products with certified sustainable palm oil or boycott all palm oil altogether if that feels right for you
challenge
Read the ingredients label of every product you purchase for the next two weeks. Become more aware of the added ingredients in our food, and understand what that means for the purchase your impact is having.
The following ingredients often (and almost always) indicate palm oil: Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Fat, Palm Kernel, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Fruit Oil, Palmate, Palmitate, Palmolein, Glyceryl, Stearate, Stearic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis, Palmitic Acid, Palm Stearine, Palmitoyl Oxostearamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Kernelate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate, Hyrated Palm Glycerides, Etyl Palmitate, Octyl Palmitate, Palmityl Alcohol
Resources
World Wildlife Fund article describing the many everyday products which contain palm oil
Green Global Travel article describing palm oil industry and how to avoid products which use palm oil
Rainforest Action Network scorecard describing the top 20 global snack food companies and their initiatives to improve palm oil production and usage
Greenpeace article describing the palm oil industry and its impact on wildlife in Indonesia and Malaysia
Guardian article highlighting fires in the Indonesian rainforest and why it’s crucial that we protect these lands for the health of wildlife and our planet
Starbucks 2019 report regarding palm oil commitments and challenges in building toward sustainability goals via the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil
Starbucks statement regarding sustainability goals for palm oil usage in its millions of products
Treehugger article with orangutan facts
Quartz article outlining how palm oil production is a contributing factor to fires in the rainforests of southeast Asia
Announcement of Dr. Ian Singleton’s recent receipt of the honor of Order of the British Empire (OBE) in late 2020
How Owning Your Environmental Impact Can Save Global Rainforests and Wildlife
Changing the way businesses do business to protect and preserve our precious wildlife and resources, with Dr. Ian Singleton (OBE) of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.