What is Palm Oil? And why does it matter?

WHAT IS PALM OIL?

Palm oil is a type of edible vegetable oil derived from the palm fruit, grown on the African oil palm tree. This tropical tree species originated in West Africa, but now grows as a hybrid plant in many parts of the world, including South East Asia, Central America and South America.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

As an ingredient, palm oil is found in at least four out of 10 household products. Worldwide palm oil consumption is doubling every 10 years. This oil is produced from palm oil plantations that continue the practice of cutting down critical wildlife habitat to expand operations, mainly in Malaysia and Indonesia. More than 85 percent of all palm oil globally produced and exported is from Indonesia and Malaysia, where the palm oil industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty and human rights abuses.

Large-scale deforestation linked to unsustainable palm oil practices is pushing many species to extinction. Animal species worldwide that are connected to your favorite Zoo animals - including Asian elephants Savannah and Juno, Sumatran orangutans Ibu, Khaleesi and Butch, and Malayan tigers Seri, Belahat, Melor - could go extinct in the wild if nothing changes and the palm oil industry continues its current practices.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Be a consumer conservationist: Conservation is people. Sustainable agriculture is the only way to stop the damage to the rainforest while helping farming communities.

• .       Only purchase certified sustainable palm oil products, or products that are palm oil free.

• .       Write to restaurants and companies and ask them to support certified sustainable palm oil and palm oil free products.

Visit the Zoo! When you come to visit or join as a Zoological Society member, you help us contribute to conservation efforts worldwide.

Candy with A CAUSE - Halloween 2015 Shopping List!

How your trick-or-treat candy can help orangutans worldwide!

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend more than 2.1 billion dollars on candy this Halloween, so this is the perfect opportunity to become a consumer conservationist with the El Paso Zoo. We take pride in creating opportunities to show our support and contributions to preserve our natural world!

Boo at the Zoo is El Paso’s largest and WILDEST trick-or-treat celebration! We are also excited to share the unique opportunity to present the fourth palm oil conscience Boo at the Zoo. This means we will only be handing out candy from brands using certified sustainable palm oil, or no palm oil. We are asking you to join us by only passing out certified sustainable palm oil candy too!

Palm oil is a type of edible vegetable oil derived from the palm fruit. As an ingredient, palm oil is found in at least four out of 10 food, candy or personal care products. This oil is produced from palm oil plantations that continue the practice of cutting down critical wildlife habitat to expand operations, mainly in Malaysia and Indonesia. More than 85 percent of all palm oil globally produced and exported is from Indonesia and Malaysia, where the palm oil industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty and indigenous rights abuses.

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. Habitat loss and deforestation is the No. 1 threat to orangutans worldwide!

Many of the animal species like the ones at our Zoo – including Sumatran orangutans Ibu, Khaleesi and Butch, - could go extinct in the wild if nothing changes and the palm oil industry continues its current practices. Meanwhile, the world's consumption of palm oil is doubling every 10 years.

Helping orangutans is easy! 

1) Support a sustainably sourced and deforestation free palm oil industry as a consumer conservationist by only purchasing certified sustainable palm oil candy! Check this list of certified sustainable palm oil candy as you prepare for Boo at the Zoo and Halloween.


2) With our Boo at the Zoo candy sponsor Walmart, we are also challenging you to participate in ONEday Monday. By changing one palm oil product in your home to one that is certified palm oil free, you can help save the rainforest – and orangutans! We have also provided a list of names for palm oil and its derivatives so next time you’re shopping at Walmart, you can easily make the switch.


3) Also, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has an app to help as you shop for certified sustainable palm oil candy - and more! Available on IPhone and Android, you can download the app at http://www.cmzoo.org/index.php/palm-oil-app/.




So join us in consumer conservation … AND join us at Boo at the Zoo for Halloween fun for everyone at El Paso’s WILDEST trick-or-treat in town!

Boo at the Zoo is 10a.m. to 4 p.m. October 24th and 25th. All activities included with regular Zoo admission. First 2,000 kids each day get a FREE trick-or-treat bag …

We’ll be waiting for you … at the El Paso Zoo!

PALM OIL DERIVATIES:
arachamide mea

capric triglyceride

caprylic triglyceride

caprylyl glycol

cetyl alcohol

cocoa butter equivalent (CBE)

cocoa butter substitute (CBE)

elaeis guineensis

emulsifier (some can be palm oil derived)

epoxidized palm oil (UV cured coatings)

ethylene glycol monostearate

ethylhexyl palmitate

fatty alcohol sulphates

glyceryl stearate

isopropyl

isopropyl palmitate

mono-glycerides of fatty acids

myristoyl

octyl palmitate

oleyl betaine

palm kernel oil

palm oil

palm olein

palm stearine

palmitate

palmitoyl oxostearamide

palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3

peg-100 stearate

peptide complex

saponified elaeis guineensis

sls

sodium lauryl

sodium lauryl sulphate

sodium lauryl sulfate

sodium lauryl sulfoacetate

sodium palm kernelate

sodium palmate

sodium stearate

sodium laureth sulfate

sodium laureth sulphate

sodium lauroyl lactylate

stearamidopropyl dimethylamine

steareth-2

steareth-20

steareth-21

stearic acid

vegetable oil

vitamin A palmitate