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Shop sustainably to avoid palm oil

The Problem with Palm Oil

When you eat packaged food, chances are you’re eating palm oil. Now the most widely produced edible oil, palm oil is used in cosmetics, fuel and foods (like cereal, soup, frozen meals, or potato chips). Orangutans, Sumatran tigers and Sumatran rhinoceros all face an extreme risk of extinction within our lifetime, largely due to habitat loss from palm oil plantations. 

You can help by shopping sustainably!


You can make a difference by:

  • Shopping sustainably: Scan barcodes while you grocery shop to select products that use certified sustainable palm oil (download the free mobile app) or check out Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping Guide.
  • Looking for the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) trademark on products you purchase.
  • Taking action against corporations sourcing material from endangered forests. Learn more on the Greenpeace website.
  • Contacting political representatives to advocate for the mandatory labeling of palm oil.

The Problem with Palm Oil

Nearly 90 percent of palm oil is grown in the tropical countries of Indonesia and Malaysia. Today, Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, with under half of the country’s original forest cover remaining.

Palm oil plantations are also taking their toll on the environment: large-scale rainforest destruction releases greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, significantly contributing to climate change.

With the demand for palm oil predicted to more than double by 2030 and triple by 2050, it’s time for action.

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