Ask For Choice
Requesting information. Allowing for responsible consumption.
The past 20 years as seen a surge in global palm oil consumption. This demand has driven the large-scale conversion of primary rainforest to monoculture oil palm plantations in south east Asia and parts of central Africa. As a result environmental and social issues have arisen, including endangering native flora and fauna, displacing local peoples and increasing carbon emissions. Bornean Orangutans have now joined their Sumatran cousins on the IUCN’s critically endangered list, and the newly discovered Samatran Tapanuli orangutan, with only 800 individuals remaining. Now at risk of disappearing shortly after being discovered.
Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand is part of the Responsible Palm Oil Network, helping to break the link between palm oil production and deforestation, climate pollution and human rights abuses through educating and empowering consumers, and those involved in the supply chain, to take actions that support the transition towards a truly responsible palm oil industry.
Our vision is that 100% of all products in New Zealand and Australia are deforestation free. Using palm oil as a flagship crop we aim to halt and reverse deforestation globally, and encourage the restoration of forest cover at least to the levels seen in 2010, and protect the world’s last intact rainforests. Our full Joint Position Statement offers further information on our position including our support for responsible labelling.
Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE) in New Zealand
PKE is a by-product of the palm oil industry. New Zealand is the largest user of PKE, importing 10,700 tonnes each year as a supplement to boost milk production in dairy cows. The use of this product by the dairy industry in New Zealand has a significant impact on deforestation.
Campaign objectives
- Raise public awareness about palm oil and the connections between consumer choices and deforestation.
- Promote the use of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) with grocery manufacturers, government agencies and the New Zealand community.
- Press for legislation enforcing specific labelling palm oil on products in New Zealand.
Conservation in Action
The Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand has a vision to transform the palm oil market into one where Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) is the norm.
JGI NZ supports the initiative taken by those companies that have committed to employing sustainable practices and that strive for continuous improvement, and urge all other organisations within the entire palm oil supply chain to do the same. It is our hope that consumers will embrace the ideal of a sustainable palm oil industry, and will use their influence as a buyer to persuade retailers to commit to sourcing only CSPO for their products.
JGI NZ also supports the initiatives taken by governments, independent NGOs and concerned members of the public to incite positive change within the palm oil industry through policy change, public engagement and education. JGI NZ believes that supporting the efforts of both the industry-based RSPO and the non-affiliated organisations/individuals is the most effective way to promote positive changes within the palm oil industry.
Ask For Choice
An Australasian campaign aims to bring about the mandatory labelling of palm oil on consumer goods. Thus bring our labelling legislation up to the same standard as the European Union, Canada and the United States. By having palm oil specifically identified on product labels consumers would be able to demand the use of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
Update on Mandatory Labelling
On the November 25th 2016 Ministers from each federal, state and territorial Government of Australia and New Zealand took a vote on mandatory labelling of palm oil. Coming from this the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has agreed to progress development of a policy for clear labelling of products containing palm oil but they chose not to initiate the formal policy process as hoped. They have ask for further research into how all vegetable oils impact human health to be undertaken before making a final decision.
Seven years on from the start of the campaign and the progress is slow and yet the destruction of habitats and animals lives continues unabated.
Take Action
In Australasia the biggest impact we can make to reduce habitat destruction is through reduced consumption of processed products that contain palm oil, and elimination of products containing unsustainable palm oil. For processed products that utilise palm oil, support/purchase only those that use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
Ask For Choice - Write to our Minister!
Take instant action via our Ask for Choice 1-Click campaign and send a letter to our New Zealand Minister asking that he press for specific labelling on products that are in New Zealand, so that New Zealand consumers can make informed choices, support sustainable palm oil production, and help end unsustainable palm oil contribution to deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal suffering and endangerment of species.
Shop smart!
Palm oil is present in up to 50% of products on our supermarket shelves, yet there is no requirement for the explicit labelling of palm oil.
Until New Zealand is able to have accurately labelled products you can support sustainable palm oil use by using the Palm Oil Investigations App and supporting companies and manufacturers committed to CSPO. Read labels and learn about the different ways that palm oil and its derivatives can be listed on packaging labels.
Some of the ways Palm Oil can be listed include:
- Palm oil kernel
- Palmitate or Palmate
- Elaeis gunieensis
- Hydrated Palm Gylcerides Hexadecanoic
- Palmitic Acid
- Vegetable oil (saturated fats are often palm oil)
- Anything containing stearate or stearyl
- Anything containing acetyl or cetearyl
- Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
- Sodium Laureth Sulphate
- Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)
- Sodium Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate Steareth -2
- Steareth-20 Emulsifier 422, 430-36, 465-67, 470-8, 481-483
Habitat Protection - In Your Home
Palm oil is present in up to 50% of products on our supermarket shelves, yet there is no requirement for the explicit labelling of palm oil. Until New Zealand has accurately labeled products you can support sustainable palm oil use by using the Palm Oil Investigations App and support companies and manufacturers committed to CSPO. Read labels and learn about the different ways that palm oil and its derivatives can be listed on packaging labels.
Habitat Protection - At Your School
Spread the word! Create an informative Palm Oil Poster to inform others about the issue.
Talk to friends, family and community members about CSPO. Many people are not aware of the detrimental effects unsustainable palm oil has on people and the environment.
Habitat Protection - In Your Community
Campaign for CSPO labelling!
Write to the New Zealand Minister, and ask that we have accurate labelling in New Zealand.
Write to manufacturers asking them to explicitly label palm oil and use CSPO. Many companies have committed to sourcing sustainably produced palm oil, with deadlines in place for this to occur. Write to companies that produce your favourite products and ask them about their commitment to sustainable palm oil. If they haven't made a commitment, ask them why and advise them that you will favour companies that are ethical in their acquisition of palm oil.
Join the #Labelme campaign and post a photo of the hashtag on your palm to social media.
For further information about palm oil, or supporting the Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand's efforts to raise awareness about the issues caused by the palm oil industry please contact us.