By Taylor Stirling
Here at Scoop Marketplace, we have very high standards for our vendors and their products! We prioritize organic, plastic-free, vegan, and local, among others. One of our non-negotiables is palm oil. Nothing on our shelves will ever contain any direct or indirect forms of palm oil. Why is this? Palm oil is an extremely destructive industry, and the demand for this incredibly efficient and versatile crop is only growing.
Palm oil plantations require massive inputs of fossil fuels- first for deforestation, then for planting, and finally for harvesting and producing the palm kernel oil itself. Not only is this industry energy intensive, but it also affects many critically endangered species and indigenous tribes in the lush habitats of Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Deforestation is one of the largest drivers of global climate change, and palm oil products push the needle further on this issue. While there have been leaps and bounds in sustainable palm oil, there is still a lot to be learned and there seems to be a very grey around in regards to how this is regulated. Because of this Scoop Marketplace does not recognize palm oil as a safe ingredient for the planet at this time.
So how can you avoid this harmful product in your shopping habits? Well, shop at Scoop! Of course, we realize you can’t get everything you need in our four walls, but we are here to help you regardless. Palm oil can be found on just about every shelf of the grocery store, from cosmetics and detergents to ice cream (you read that right!). While it may seem simple to avoid by just reading ingredients, palm oil-derived products are hidden by many different confusing names, all of which I have come across while researching new products for Scoop.
The next time you are shopping for new lipstick, deodorant, or even your favorite pint, be on the lookout for these nicknames palm-oil goes by:
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Organic Palm Fruit Oil Cetearyl Alcohol Capryloyl Glycerin Sebacic Acid Copolymer Glyceryl Caprylate Cetearyl Glucoside Organic Coconut Oil (Source could be palm) Cocamidopropyl Betaine Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Sodium laureth sulfate (Source could be palm) Sodium lauroyl lactylate/sulphate (Source could be palm) Sodium lauryl sulfate (Source could be palm) Sodium palm kernelate Stearate Stearic acid (Source could be palm) Vegetable fat (Source could be palm) Vegetable oil (Source could be palm) |
Elaeis guineensis Etyl palmitate Glyceryl Hydrogenated palm glycerides Octyl palmitate Palm fruit oil Palm kernel Palm kernel oil Palm stearin Palmate Palmitate Palmitic acid Palmitoyl oxo stearamide Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3 Palmityl alcohol Palmolein Sodium kernelate |
Don’t worry- you don't have to memorize these names! Download our Palm Oil Nickname Guide below and keep it handy for your next trip to the grocery store.