The demand for palm oil around the world has led to unsustainable palm oil production. The mass farming of palm oil is clearing forests in South East Asia at an overwhelming rate and, in the process, orangutans and other animals are forced out into the open where they are vulnerable to poachers or come into conflict with farmers.

Organisations such as Australian Orangutan Project and Borneo Orangutan Survival work towards the conservation and rehabilitation of endangered Bornean and Sumatran orangutans living in tropical rainforest that is being disrupted by the palm oil crisis. The Australian Orangutan Project helps to protect certain forestry from surrounding human activity and Borneo Orangutan Survival focuses on looking after and adopting orphaned orangutans and rehabilitating the land.

Recently, Planet Ark and Aware Environmental Ltd teamed up to help. A percentage of sales of Aware Environmental’s palm oil free laundry products were donated via Planet Ark to specifically assist work with these proactive orangutan organisations. This initiative is one of only a few by large Australian cleaning product manufacturers, but one that offers hope for the conservation of orangutans and their habitat.

Aware Environmental Ltd Managing Director Andrew Chaney said the consumer-focused initiative had given customers a chance to be part of the protection efforts.

"Simply by using palm oil free products consumers are supporting two very important projects; raising awareness of the issues with palm oil production and helping to protect the rainforests where orangutans live," he said.

He said consumers were aware of alternatives to palm oil products and initiatives pushing the industry in the right direction should receive full support.

"We have an ongoing commitment as a leading environmentally 'green' brand to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible products and other companies should be doing the same."

Manufacturers can improve their environmental footprint by committing themselves to environmental groups such as Planet Ark and undergoing assessment by independent bodies like GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) to ensure they are improving their processes. Aware Environmental Ltd – makers of the AWARE laundry powders and Orange Power cleaners – was one of the first Australian homecare product manufacturers to eliminate the use of palm oil derived ingredients.

When consumers see the Planet Ark logo and GECA tick of approval on Aware Environmental Ltd’s Orange Power and AWARE products they can be confident they are not contributing to the palm oil crisis.

Resources for more information:

• Australian Orangutan Project
• Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Australia
• Palm Oil Free – Planet Ark
• Don't Palm us Off - Zoo.org.au
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Palm Oil Action
• Palm Oil Action – Shopping Guide
• Responsible Palm Oil Free Alternatives – Borneo Orangutan Survival
• Aware Environmental Ltd
• Orange Power

Written by: Andrew Chaney
[Disclosure: Andrew Chaney is Managing Director of Aware Environmental Ltd]

All photos: with permission and courtesy of Australian Orangutan Project

Additonal research: Suze Chalmers