Washing Our Hands of Palm Oil April 17 2017, 0 Comments

Did you know Palm Oil is the most commonly used vegetable oil in the world? Palm and its derivatives are in about 50% of all packages products on store shelves and 70% of all cosmetics. It’s also a primary ingredient in soap. It’s inexpensive, easy to use and helps make a great bar of soap. But it comes at a steep cost to the environment.

You are probably aware of the bad rap Palm Oil is receiving. Palm Oil production is now one of the world's leading causes of rainforest destruction and driving a number of species like the Sumatran Rhino, Sumatran Elephant and the Sumatran and Bornean orangutan to the brink of extinction. https://www.ran.org/palm_oil

At Earth Soap Company, we have always used Sustainable Palm Oil, but RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certified Palm Oil has been under fire for several years from environmentalists and organizations who feel it is not doing enough to protect the forests or animals and is nothing more than a greenwashing scheme. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/Forests-Reports/Certifying-Destruction/

Therefore, over the last year, we have switched all of our soaps over to a Palm-Free formula and we are thrilled with the results. The premium oils and nut butters we are using to replace palm oil lend to an even creamier more luxurious lather!

We realize there is no easy answer on the palm oil issue https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-palm-oil-successful-rspo-certification and we will continue to put pressure on producers to improve the sustainability of palm oil production.

Until we are certain that RSPO certification does mean protection of forests, human rights and species, we will continue to be palm free.

More Resources:

http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/Whats_the_issue.php

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil#start

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6059