Most of the world’s oil palm trees are grown on a couple of islands in Malaysia and Indonesia – islands with the most biodiverse tropical forests found on Earth. The problem is that palm oil companies are clearing out ancient forests like these, to plant the highly lucrative oil palm trees. They often use slash-and-burn methods, which cause plants to die, and animals to lose their natural habitat. Sustainable palm oil is more expensive to produce, and purchasers of palm oil—from cosmetic manufacturers to food companies—have traditionally been indifferent toward where their palm oil is sourced. But this is changing: in the first two quarters of 2014 demand for sustainable palm oil has shot up 65 percent, totaling 1.1 million metric tons so far this year. Hopefully this foreshadows what the future holds for sustainable palm oil.
Sustainable palm oil sales skyrocket
More of Today's Solutions
Norway hits pause on deep-sea mining until 2029 amid growing environmental pr...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Norway has hit the brakes on its controversial plans to mine the deep ocean floor, announcing it will ...
Read MoreA gentle way to begin again: the beginner’s guide to loving-kindness (metta) ...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As each new year begins, many of us feel an intuitive pull to slow down, breathe deeply, and ...
Read MoreLove bees but need to relocate a hive? Here’s how to do it sustainably
If you are a longtime reader of The Optimist Daily, you’ll know that our team loves bees (and other pollinators). We've published many stories ...
Read MoreConnecticut passes new gun control law: A step towards safety
Connecticut, known for its strict gun control laws, enacted one of the most stringent firearm rules since the 2013 law authorized in the aftermath ...
Read More
