We now know that we have to cut back on palm oil. But once they reach the supermarket shelf, it is quite a search for palm oil-free products. We will give you a helping hand with tips for a palm oil-free shopping basket.
What is actually the problem with palm oil?
Palm oil is in almost all products that you eat and use every day. From peanut butter and butter to shampoo and detergent (more on that later). The oil has a positive effect on the structure and effectiveness of a product: it makes peanut butter creamy, butter spreadable and shampoo foamy. In addition, it is a cheap raw material that is relatively easy to grow and of which you only need a small amount. So what is actually the problem?
To meet the global demand for this popular 'miracle oil', large areas of rainforest must make way for palm oil plantations. While we need the rainforest so much for biodiversity on our planet and the absorption of CO2. And not unimportant: the rainforest is the habitat of native animal species, such as the orangutan. They are chased away and cornered by the construction of the plantations. This gives that creamy jar of peanut butter a nasty aftertaste.
But banning palm oil makes no sense, because no sustainable alternatives have yet been found for this vegetable oil. Read our palm oil statement. What does help is to drastically reduce the demand for palm oil, so that more plantations are not needed. And you can help with this by purchasing fewer products containing palm oil.
Palm oil-free products & brands
You cannot avoid palm oil in the supermarket. You will see that almost every product you pick off the shelves contains palm oil. Unless you are standing in front of the Marcel's Green Soap shelf, because our range of palm oil-free products is increasing all the time. For example, we were the first in the Netherlands to launch palm oil-free liquid detergent. More palm oil-free gems have now been added, such as our deodorant sticks , shampoo and conditioner bars , dishwasher tablets and fabric softener. Fortunately, in addition to Marcel's Green Soap, there are also other palm oil-free products & brands in the supermarket, such as:
- The Flower Farm: palm oil-free hazelnut spread, peanut butter and butter
- The Peanut Butter Shop: palm oil-free peanut butter
- Tony Chocolonely & Hands Off My Chocolate: palm oil-free chocolate
- Mister Kitchen: palm oil-free pizza bases, pizza sauces and more
- Nakd & Farm Brothers: palm oil-free cookies
- Ben & Jerry's: palm oil-free ice cream
Other tips for a palm oil-free life
- Buy as many fresh and unprocessed products as possible. These do not contain palm oil.
- You can also make many of your favorite snacks, sauces and spreads yourself! Home-made products are often palm oil-free and tastier too.
- It is better not to use biofuel. Despite the name, biofuel is not as environmentally friendly as you might think. Half of all palm oil imported into Europe ends up as biofuel. The most sustainable means of transport remains the bicycle! Of course you can also enjoy a nice walk.
- Check the label of the products you buy carefully. This indicates whether it contains palm oil. To make it easy for the consumer (not), unfortunately dozens of names are used for palm oil...
Different names of palm oil
Palm oil has many different names, which misleads you as a consumer. When you see something with 'palm' on the label (palmate, palmitate, palmitic, palmityl, etc.) you can be sure that it comes from a palm oil plantation. Other names are: Sodium Kernelate, Tetrapeptide-3, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid and Elaeis Guineensis.
