Fall fun is fast approaching, and your choice in Halloween candy can have an impact far beyond trick-or-treating.
Palm oil is found in many popular candies, chocolates, and snacks. How that palm oil is produced can have significant consequences for forests and wildlife, including orangutans.
The Connection Between Palm Oil and Orangutans
Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats facing orangutans, and unsustainable palm oil production is one of the drivers.
Orangutans depend on tropical forests for food, shelter, and survival. Because they spend most of their lives in trees, healthy forests are essential to their futures.
When forests are cleared to make way for oil palm plantations, orangutans can lose their homes and become isolated from the resources they need. Instead, supporting responsible production reduces the pressure on forests and encourages the industry to use better practices.
Protecting orangutans does not necessarily mean eliminating palm oil altogether.
Is There Such a Thing as Good Palm Oil?
Palm oil can be produced in ways that reduce its impact on forests and wildlife.
In order to responsibly coexist with wildlife, the palm oil industry needs to stop deforestation, maximize crop efficiency on existing plantations, plant only on degraded land, and allow wildlife to safely use and move through the landscape. Together, these practices contribute to what is known as sustainable palm oil.
One organization working to advance these practices is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). RSPO is a global, not-for-profit organization that develops standards for more sustainable palm oil production and certifies producers and companies that meet its requirements.
Your Shopping Choices Make a Difference
The products you buy can influence how companies source ingredients and make business decisions.
When shoppers support brands committed to certified sustainable palm oil, they help demonstrate demand for more responsible sourcing.
The Palm Oil Scan app can help you identify companies that support RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil. While shopping for Halloween candy, or other everyday products, you can use the app to look up brands and make more informed choices.
Making Wildlife-Friendly Candy Choices
Halloween is a perfect opportunity to start shopping with orangutans in mind!
Before filling your candy bowl, take a closer look at some of your favorite treats. If a product contains palm oil, check whether the company supports certified sustainable sourcing.
You do not have to give up your Halloween favorites to make a difference, just make sure the sweet treats you choose are sweet for the environment, too.
4 Ways to Help Protect Orangutans This Halloween
Scan Your Halloween Candy: Use the Palm Oil Scan app while shopping for trick-or-treat candy to find products from companies that support certified sustainable palm oil.
Make Sustainable Swaps at Home: Take a look at the products you use every day and see where you can make orangutan friendly choices, from snacks to shampoos.
Support AZA's Saving Animals from Extinction: Join us in helping protect orangutans from extinction by supporting Orangutan SAFE.
Visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Come see orangutans at Brookfield Zoo Chicago and learn more about the ways zoos and conservation organizations are working together to protect this incredible species.
