Palm oil; a type of vegetable oil existent in many types of food and cosmetic products is derived from the fruit of palm trees often native to Africa and Southeast Asia. It is highly prevalent in the manufacturing of most supermarket products and this prevalence is naturally increasing year after year. However, the cultivation of palm oil is disastrous to the ecosystems in which it comes from, as is with any kind of deforestation or exploitation. The extraction of this oil contributes to both social and environmental issues, including but not limited to: habitat degradation, threat of extinction of native species, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and endangerment to indigenous people's rights. Different forms of deforestation pose the same threats, but unsustainable palm oil is a solvable problem. In contrast, sustainable palm oil is essentially deforestation-free and eradicates the risk of social and environmental harm.
The following seven companies use certified sustainable palm oil in the manufacturing or producing their products, determined by data from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and World Wildlife Fund's 2016 Scorecard.
1. Nestlé
Culinary products such as baby foods, cereals, coffee, dairy, etc.
2. Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate hygiene products, Palmolive dish soap, Murphy oil soap, and Irish Spring.
3. Estée Lauder
Cosmetic products such as skin care and makeup.
4. Hershey
Candy and drink mix products.
5. Kellogg's
Culinary products such as cereals, cookies, crackers, pastries. Associated with the brands Eggo, Pringles, and Gardenburger.
6. Procter & Gamble (P&G)
Hygiene and cleaning products associated with the brands Old Spice, Covergirl, Tide, Bounty, Tampax, and Dawn.
7. General Mills
Culinary products such as cereals, dough, pasta, pizza, and produce.
On the contrary, brands such as Yum! (associated with Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell), Starbucks, Target (Archer Farms and Market Pantry), and even Whole Foods are known to have made little to no effort in carrying or using sustainable palm oil. As a consumer, it is essential to make environmentally sustainable choices with one's everyday purchases because every dollar is a vote.
