Grace Morton RPI EcoEd Research Program Middle School Research Program Spring 2012
Palm Oil Every year over 1,800,000 hectares of forest is burned to make way for palm oil plantations Palm oil is used in a variety of food products, personal care products, cosmetics and pet foods Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm tree.
Palm Oil
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Palm Oil Introduction Palm Oil is in almost EVERYTHING Palm oil production is a major factor in deforestation in Indonesia Developing palm oil plantations releases carbon and inhibits its reabsorption Palm oil consumption is unhealthy
Palm Oil Overview of Research Online sources Scientific Articles The EcoEd Group
Palm Oil Stakeholders Animals Orangutans Tigers Elephants Rhinoceros Leopards Various small monkeys Banteng (an Ox)
Palm Oil Stakeholders Indigenous Peoples Indonesia is a poor country Palm oil sells for $555 a ton – it is in very high demand. This is too much for Indonesia to give up, and it’s too cheap for the rest of the world to ignore
Palm Oil Stakeholders Plantation Owners Companies Consumers Harvesters and Processors
Palm Oil Carbon Carbon is the main component in most greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming Carbon is usually stored in ‘carbon sinks’ such as the forest, where it is stored in the cells of plants Carbon is released when the forest is burned to make way for palm oil plantations, or when unused parts of the oil palm trees are burned. Indonesia releases more greenhouse gases than any country besides China and the US.
Palm Oil Biofuel Biofuels are used as a substitute for petroleum based fuels Palm oil can be used to manufacture biofuel Fortunately, a lot of other materials can be used for the production of biofuels
Palm Oil Human Health Palm oil is loaded with polyunsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat is a particularly bad type of trans fat
Palm Oil Solutions Sustainable production of palm oil, such as Herakles Farm Labeling More Sustainable Oils Alternative Products
Palm Oil - Alternatives PRODUCT CURRENTLY USEDALTERNATIVE PRODUCT JOHNSONs Baby ShampooProctor & Gamble made sustainably Colgate Palmolive ConditionerProctor & Gamble made sustainably BODY SHOP soapIVORY made sustainably Makeup, Great Lash Mascara, Revlon LipstickLOREAL products are made sustainably Grilled Cheese with VELVETA cheeseLocally made Cheese on Local bread NutellaThere is a Nutella Variety without the palm oil. All Natural JIF Peanut ButterSkippy does not contain palm oil. Pre Packaged Rice Crispy TreatUse homemade rice crispy treats OreoUse two slabs of crunchy chocolate and some frosting! FLIPZ Chocolate Covered PretzelsDip a organic pretzel in sustainably produced chocolate Table Talk Individual prepared PieMake a pie with locally grown fruit TwinkieFill homemade cake with your own frosting (butter from a local farm) PEDIGREE Pet FoodsFeed the cat……to the dog
Palm Oil Conclusion Palm Oil is bad for everything but the economy, and even the economic benefits are short term. All products containing palm oil have more sustainable alternatives.
Something to Remember…..
Special Thanks to Maureen for her time and effort in helping make this project enjoyable!