If you do spot this the ingredient (or derivative) on the label, the first thing to do is look for a RSPO symbol or other indication that the palm oil used was sourced sustainably. What does that mean for us and for you? "This is occurring because, in products, there could be palm oil, but in derivative form. To help you in your selection, we have begun indicating every product that is palm-free on our site. It also explores palm oil's pervasive and secretive connection to the beauty industry, which uses it widely in everything from bar soap to shampoo, directly funding the dangerous cycle of deforestation and abuses inflicted on women every day.

Palm’s chemical composition includes: Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Carotenoids, Phytosterols, Lauric Acid, Capric and Caprylic Acids, and Vitamin E. Finding quality, sustainable palm-free ingredients is, in truth, highly challenging. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Required fields are marked *. There are new ingredients listed in many products. Can I sell Essential’s products in my salon? This leads to impressively destructive deforestation as palm farmers simply burn down rainforest to clear land. Q. Further, the palm industry is linked to major environmental issues including habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty, smoke-based pollution, child-labor, indigenous rights abuses and endangering species that rely on the rainforest, including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, elephants and birds. Some of the more common names in cosmetics include Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glyceryl, and Octyl palmitate. In addition, our suppliers are in a select group of international NGO’s and leading producers including the WWF and Rainforest Action Network that form the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG). "Liquid oils can be alternatives; these can include grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, or soybean oil," he said. When we must use it, we source the most sustainable palm products available. Until there are better labor protections in place, it's critical to familiarize yourself with ingredients lists. Our buyers search high and low to find great palm-free options, only to find that something we were ‘told’ was coconut actually contained palm when we reviewed the technical specs, something we are rigorous about. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Organic babassu oil  is a sustainable alternative for palm oil. You likely won't read "palm oil" on a beauty product label, meaning "the ingredient can still fly under the radar," said Petrillo. We have been searching for palm-free alternatives to our most common ingredients and are excited to announce a broad new collection of organic, palm-free butters. Palm oil and palm kernel oil are used in lotions, cremes, washes, serums and gels. These large-scale deforestation required to grow and produce palm oil is pushing many species to extinction, and findings show that if nothing changes orangutan could become extinct in the wild within the next 5-10 years, and Sumatran tigers in less than 3 years. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. We wanted to mention the issues with most palm products, how we source the sustainable alternatives, and highlight our concerted shift away from palm. Rapeseed (brassica capestris sterols) is fabulous for skin and hair. Get your daily beauty fix right in your inbox. Like many of you, we are intentionally reducing our use of palm. Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? We discuss the issues with most palm products, how we source the sustainable alternatives, and highlight our concerted shift away from palm. Palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil …

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If you can't find one (which you very well may not), consider looking for other oils in your hair, skin, and makeup products with similar properties.

Learn how your comment data is processed. "Palm oil can be produced without having to ravage the environment, wildlife, or exploit farmers, but it is such a widely used ingredient that many … While we expect palm oil to remain part of the beauty industry, we want to do our part to reduce our dependence on it and help reduce beauty’s environmental footprint. All of our palm suppliers collaborate with Greenpeace International (one of the suppliers was voted the #1 sustainable palm oil producer) and the Forest Trust. Have you changed your formulas? Q: Can I Get my Label on your Skincare Sample Sets? Harvesting palm oil and other palm products can destroy whole ecosystems and produce smoke-based pollution.

Q: Why can’t I see my product review on your website? Our palm kernel producer has also had a zero deforestation policy since 2001.

Happily there are a few reliable sources for sustainable palm oil. On Nov. 18, the Associated Press published an exposé of the palm oil business, outlining the extreme abuse, exploitation, and sexual assault of women workers on plantations across Indonesia and Malaysia. Palm Oil in Beauty Products Has a Dangerous Backstory — Here's What to Use Instead, Beauty Charcuterie Boards Are a Thing, and While You Can't Eat Them, They Look Damn Good, These Starbucks-Inspired Holiday Manicures Will Score You Major Points With Your Barista, Welp, I'll Be Buying This New Barbie Styling Doll Specifically For the Glitter Comb, Pharrell's Skin-Care Routine Includes a Tip He Once Learned From Naomi Campbell, ColourPop's Newest Launch Is One You'll Be Itching to Get Your Paws On, 7 Chic Nail Polish Shades Our Editors Will Be Wearing on Repeat This Winter, familiarize yourself with ingredients lists, names online for palm oil or its derivatives. "Palm oil can be produced without having to ravage the environment, wildlife, or exploit farmers, but it is such a widely used ingredient that many companies, big and small, sometimes don't know where their palm oil originated from, or perhaps how much deforestation had to take place for that palm oil to get to them," said David Petrillo, cosmetic chemist and founder of skin-care brand Perfect Image. http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/palm_oil_innovators_group_poig_launch_statement_june2013.pdf, Your email address will not be published. For skincare, palm oil is used in three primary categories:  emulsifiers, cleansers, thickeners. "There are organizations that certify palm oil as sustainable around the world, but many people question whether they are doing enough and whether companies are meeting past commitments to protect the environment and the species that live there.". Palm products in themselves are not destructive, but the method of growth and harvest is, and new land is constantly needed to plant new trees. This devastates habitats and burns animals, like the already endangered orangutan, alive. Sign up for our Fashion & Beauty newsletter. For the most part, many beauty brands have remained mum on their sourcing practices and supply chains involving the ingredient, making it all the more important for consumers to be cognizant. By now you probably know that  palm oil is considered unsustainable and that its  harvest and production have a devastating impact on our environment.