Support sustainable palm oil
Are your groceries orangutan-friendly?
Orangutans are facing extinction due to the unsustainable production of palm oil – an ingredient that is found in nearly half of the products you see on supermarket shelves.
But from right here in Australia, you have the power to help protect rainforests in Asia that are home to orangutans, tigers, gibbons, otters and more.
Just a few simple swaps in your weekly shop can help put a stop to excessive habitat destruction and make the world safer for these endangered species.
And trust us, your favourite snacks will taste better when you know they’re forest-friendly!
Download the PalmOilScan app to find out if your groceries are orangutan-friendly.
What is palm oil?
Palm oil is the most widely used edible vegetable oil in the world and is found in about 50 percent of the products you buy in a weekly shop.
It’s in packaged foods, shampoo, chocolate, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and even pet food.
There are up to 200 names that can be used to disguise palm oil in a product, such as “palmitate”, “beta carotene”, and even “vegetable oil”.
Why not use a different oil?
Palm oil itself is not the problem. But the production of it hasn’t always been well regulated, causing extensive land clearing.
Palm oil actually needs less land to produce oil than other plants, and when farmed sustainably, it can be one of the most forest-friendly oils.
That’s why certified sustainable palm oil is a great way to protect the environment and the people and wildlife that live in it.
What can I do?
Download the PalmOilScan app and make sure you’re supporting businesses that are committed to using Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.
Using the app, you can scan barcodes or search products and find out whether it uses certified sustainable palm oil or is on a journey to do so.
The PalmOilScan app was developed by zoos around the world, in collaboration with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The app contains thousands
Frequently asked questions
+ What is palm oil?
Palm oil is an ingredient found in many packaged supermarket products and would likely sneak into a lot of the items you buy in a weekly shop. Palm oil is derived from tall plants that need plenty of space and lots of light. They are tall, single stemmed fruit trees that can grow up to 20m in height. Palm oil from the flesh of the fruit is edible can be found in food products, while oil from the kernel or its derivatives are mainly used in cosmetics, detergents and chemicals.
+ Why is palm oil bad for wildlife
Palm oil itself is not the problem. But the production of it hasn’t always been well regulated which has led to extensive land clearing. These plants can only grow in areas 10 degrees north or south of the equator – these are some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. Palm oil actually needs less land to produce oil than other plants and when farmed sustainably, it can be one of the most forest-friendly oils. That’s why certified sustainable palm oil is a great way to protect the environment and the people and wildlife that live in it.
+ How do I know if something has palm oil in it?
Download and use the PalmOilScan app! It will tell you if the product’s sustainable palm oil rating. Without the app, it’s tricky to read labels and determine whether a product has palm oil. Most manufacturers are not transparent about their use of palm oil or their sources. And they can use up to 200 other names to disguise the palm oil in their products – like ‘palmitate’, ‘beta carotene’ and even good old ‘vegetable oil’. The only thing that will compel them to be honest about what they’ve put in their products is labelling laws.
+ Should I avoid palm oil altogether?
No, we shouldn’t boycott palm oil. Instead, we need to make sure we’re using Certified Sustainable Palm Oil. Use the PalmOilScan app to make sure you’re purchasing products that are committed to using Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.
+ What's Perth Zoo doing?
Perth Zoo supports the use of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) – where the oil is produced in a way that aims to protect the last remaining wildlife habitats, but also preserves the livelihood of producers. We also proudly endorse Zoos Victoria’s Don’t Palm Us Off campaign, which advocates for a future where palm oil is specifically labelled on products.