Big Business

Oil for ape scandal

In 2005 we revealed that palm oil plantations are behind rainforest destruction in South East Asia.

Palm oil is an ingredient in one in 10 supermarket products, from soaps to snacks. It's a popular vegetable oil that's growing in demand.

To grow palm oil companies have been clearing rainforest in Indonesia and Malaysia. We know this because we work with people who live there.

The loss of habitat to palm oil plantations could drive the orang-utan to extinction and with it, a whole life-support system.

Forests not only keep our climate stable, they also help provide a living for over a billion of the world's poorest people.

We created a burst of media coverage, generated growing public support and had face-to-face conversations with key companies.

Result? The biggest UK supermarkets are now working towards making palm oil in a way that's better for the apes, the trees and the people.

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