When I was young,I was very into environmentalism. There wasn't a cause I wasn't willing to get behind. Call me a sucker,but I just love a good underdog. I just love to have hope we can change the world. When I moved on to University,I became bitter. I felt like the world was a lost cause,I gave up on most of my environmental values and felt like I couldn't make a difference.I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work and improvement to be made. As an adult,I didn't make the concious decision to re-take up my earth loving ways. However,I have bit by bit been making some pretty eco-friendly habits lately,my most ambitious being reducing my palm oil intake.
Why Give Up Palm Oil?
According to saynotopalmoil.com :
"The industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty and indigenous rights abuses in the countries where it is produced, as the land and forests must be cleared for the development of the oil palm plantations. According to the World Wildlife Fund, an area the equivalent size of 300 football fields of rainforest is cleared each hour to make way for palm oil production. This large-scale deforestation is pushing many species to extinction, and findings show that if nothing changes species like the orangutan could become extinct in the wild within the next 5-10 years, and Sumatran tigers less than 3 years. "
What is Palm Oil In?
Evvverything! Foods, Body Products, Cosmetics & Cleaning Agents. Anything that is cheap,greasy and delicious. Anything that foams or suds. It is also in many beauty products like mascara,and concealers.
This link has a comprehensive list :
http://drpongo.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/productpalmoillist2012flexweek.pdf
However,I found reducing my palm oil intake is as easy as choosing a different brand in most cases. It just takes the extra work of looking into the ingredients. On the plus side, I've found by switching to natural formulas, I am also avoiding a huge list of carcinogens on a daily basis as well!
What Other Names Are There For Palm Oil?
This is where is gets complicated!! There are over 30 different names for palm oil. The confusion IS intentional. See the link above for the full list and more details.
- Vegetable Oil
- Vegetable Fat
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate (in almost everything that foams) ^
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ^
- Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS) ^
- Palm Kernel#
- Palm Oil Kernel #
- Palm Fruit Oil #
- Palmate #
- Palmitate #
- Palmolein #
- Glyceryl Stearate #
- Stearic Acid #
- Elaeis Guineensis #
- Palmitic Acid #
- Palm Stearine #
- Palmitoyl oxostearamide #
- Palmitoyl tetrapeptide3 #
- Steareth 2 *
- Steareth 20 *
- Sodium Kernelate #
- Sodium Palm Kernelate #
- Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate *
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate ^
- Hyrated Palm Glycerides #
- Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylaye ^
- Cetyl Palmitate #
- Octyl Palmitate #
- Cetyl Alcohol ^
- Palmityl Alchohol #
# These ingredients are definitely palm oil or derived from palm oil.
* These ingredients are often derived from palm oil, but could be derived from other
vegetable oils.
^ These ingredients are either derived from palm oil or coconut oil.
My Experience!
DAY 1
- Remove all food from cupboards and fridge that contain palm oil. Start looking at ingredients when I am purchasing new food.
- Get new dish soap! Obviously Palmolive has got to go! I replaced all my household cleaners with ATTITUDE brand.
DAY 2
- Find earth friendly laundry detergent & softener. I choose Bio-Vert, although I am sad to see my Tidepods go :(
- Find body soap that is palm oil free & that my boyfriend will also use!! I bought Kiss My Face Olive & Honey Soap,and ditched my Dove . It leaves a bit of green film in my shower from the bar,but I can deal. I find Dove shady as a brand so I am happy to see them go !(thats a blog post for another time!)
DAY 3
- Ugggh Its in my shampoo and conditioner too! Replaced with Kiss My Face Everyday shampoo & conditioner. I will try nicer brands like John Masters, or Rahua in the future when I am flush with cash. Surprisingly I don't miss the suds that much!
- No more Oreos allowed.
DAY 4
- Look in my make-up bag,realize its in EVERYTHING except my Jane Iredale Mineral Powder and promptly give up for the day.
DAY 5
- My Lactose-free Milk has Vitamin A Palmitate :( I will have to research if there is such a thing as Lactose -free milk without this.I didn't even think to look at my milk when I did the fridge clean...
- Cold medicine has it too! What the.
I am a realistic person. I know I can't be 100% perfect all the time. That is why my pledge is to significantly reduce my palm oil intake. I can't say that I wont give into to pressures of wonderful smelling Mcdonalds fries for the rest of my life. But for me,it isn't about ultimatums. It is about doing what I can within reason. That is the most realistic way to achieve a long term goal. I will keep you up to date as my adventures without Palm Oil continue. :)
