When strolling through the supermarket, how often does one look at the ingredients of the products they are buying? Even further, how often do they see palm oil on the label? Most people overlook palm oil and don’t realize how many products contain it. These products provided to us are being taken advantage of, not realizing the detrimental damages this growing demand is causing. Palm leaves were once seen as sacred to countries in the Mediterranean region. Symbolizing peace and eternal life, the leaves represented immortality. They used to have meaning and be of greater importance rather than the abused products they have become. Palm oil, which comes from the fruit of the oil palm trees, has become the most common vegetable oil in the world.
…show more content…
In order to do so, huge amounts of tropical forests are being slashed and torn down to make way for oil palm plantations. Some of the richest ecosystems on the planet, that held a numerous amount of orangutans, are now destroyed and have fallen victim to the relentless palm oil business. The land that was once inhabited by orangutans is being burned and deforested, leading to the near extinction of the species, all to meet the demand for palm oil. The problem with this high demand for palm oil is that it is killing our closest relatives due to the greed of mankind and our disregard for species other than ourselves. A solution can be found simply by being more aware and finding alternative resources or products for palm oil. From everyone 's favorite sweets such as ice cream, chocolate and cookies, to household necessities such as soap, detergent and shampoo, palm oil is used in almost everything. “Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, and it is in about half of all packaged products sold in the supermarket” (World Wildlife Fund). The need for palm oil is carving away enormous stretches of rainforest in …show more content…
Many of these products force child labor, require employees to do backbreaking work for extremely long hours, and women being exposed to highly toxic chemicals without adequate protection. So what is this ingredient that causes these horrible actions to occur? Palm oil. For the past year, Amnesty International has been investigating one of the largest producers of palm oil in the world; Wilmar, based in Singapore. Where majority of their palm oil is received from Indonesia, they are practically supporting the prevalent abuse of workers and promise consumers that they are delivering sustainable palm oil and that there is no exploitation in the palm oil that ends up in the products, even though there is. The growing demand for this product, as stated many times before, has led to the destruction of the rainforests and considerable harm to wildlife. This huge business, employing millions of people in Indonesia, suffer appalling exploitation. This includes working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for a very low minimum wage, making only six dollars a day. The only way they make this money is if they reach the target set for them. They are given a certain amount to collect, usually around one ton a day, and if they do not meet this target, the company penalizes the workers.Missing the target will only be forgiven a few times. After that, there will be a
In order to do so, huge amounts of tropical forests are being slashed and torn down to make way for oil palm plantations. Some of the richest ecosystems on the planet, that held a numerous amount of orangutans, are now destroyed and have fallen victim to the relentless palm oil business. The land that was once inhabited by orangutans is being burned and deforested, leading to the near extinction of the species, all to meet the demand for palm oil. The problem with this high demand for palm oil is that it is killing our closest relatives due to the greed of mankind and our disregard for species other than ourselves. A solution can be found simply by being more aware and finding alternative resources or products for palm oil. From everyone 's favorite sweets such as ice cream, chocolate and cookies, to household necessities such as soap, detergent and shampoo, palm oil is used in almost everything. “Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, and it is in about half of all packaged products sold in the supermarket” (World Wildlife Fund). The need for palm oil is carving away enormous stretches of rainforest in …show more content…
Many of these products force child labor, require employees to do backbreaking work for extremely long hours, and women being exposed to highly toxic chemicals without adequate protection. So what is this ingredient that causes these horrible actions to occur? Palm oil. For the past year, Amnesty International has been investigating one of the largest producers of palm oil in the world; Wilmar, based in Singapore. Where majority of their palm oil is received from Indonesia, they are practically supporting the prevalent abuse of workers and promise consumers that they are delivering sustainable palm oil and that there is no exploitation in the palm oil that ends up in the products, even though there is. The growing demand for this product, as stated many times before, has led to the destruction of the rainforests and considerable harm to wildlife. This huge business, employing millions of people in Indonesia, suffer appalling exploitation. This includes working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for a very low minimum wage, making only six dollars a day. The only way they make this money is if they reach the target set for them. They are given a certain amount to collect, usually around one ton a day, and if they do not meet this target, the company penalizes the workers.Missing the target will only be forgiven a few times. After that, there will be a