Why we're palm free (and why that matters)
What is palm oil?
Palm oil is a type of oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees. It's quite versatile, and is able to produce two types of oil: palm oil (from the fruit) and palm kernel oil (from crushing the kernel, or seed). The trees are commonly found in south-east Asia, the majority of which are in Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil is in many, many things – it’s in close to 50% of the products we find in shops, and can include baked goods, cosmetic, lollies, deodourant, shampoos. Sometimes, it even makes its way into products for animals such as dog food
Palm oil is extremely versatile and has many uses. It has different properties that make it so very and this has lead to its wide use throughout the world. It is semi-solid at room temperature, which leads to it being used in food items as it is easy to manipulate. It resists oxidation and aids in the shelf-life of other products. It also doesn't have a strong odour or colour, ensuring it doesn't interfere with the composition of other products it is complementing. It is also good as a cooking oil due to its cheap price.
In cosmetic products, palm oil can aid in providing moisturising properties similar to other oils like coconut oil and apricot kernel oil. It is also an excellent foaming, softening and solubilizing agent, which is very useful when used in bath products. Lastly, it adds great texture to lotions by thickening products and leaving skin smooth.
What's wrong with palm oil?
Simply, palm oil has been and continues to be one of the major causes of deforestation and is hugely destructive to the world's most biodiverse rainforests. This has lead to largescale destruction of habitats, leading to the endangered status of vulnerable species like the Orangutan, pygmy elephant and Sumatran rhino. Further, the destruction of the rainforests has lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gases been added into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. Lastly, the palm oil industry is often criticised for its exploitation of workers and utilising child labour. Ultimately, there are systemic issues with the industry that many consumers consider breakers.
The key issue with palm oil production is that it can be produced more sustainably than is currently taking place. Many products are on the market that are certified from reputable and sustainable suppliers. These companies are open and transparent in their use and sourcing of palm oil. This enables product producers to know where they are buying from and where the palm oil has been produced.
What do we use in lieu of palm oil?
Palm oil is commonly used in the cosmetics industry due to its low price. However, similar (if not superior) outcomes can be achieved with other quality products. This can include items like sweet almond oil and coconut oil, both of which mirror the properties of palm oil but are harvested in a much more sustainable manner. We also love to use cocoa butter and shea butter, which offer similar consistency to palm oil without the nasty impact on the environment. Lastly, for a more premium outcomes, our gorgeous Body Oils utilise apricot kernel oil and jojoba oil, both of which provide huge benefits to the skin without any detrimental impact to the environment.
Palm oil is unlikely to go away any time soon. It offers huge benefits at a cheap price. However, we want to do our part to reduce the globe's dependence on it and help reduce beauty’s environmental footprint. Until there is systematic change in the production and consumption of palm oil, you won't be seeing it in any of our products.