Demand for Palm Oil Creating Environmental Disaster-Tell Starbucks To Stop Using It

Read Time:1 Minute, 39 Second

Man will always find a reason to destroy their environment. While thousands of acres of tropical rain forest are destroyed every day for farming, even more is destroyed for the planting of palm trees which generate palm oil, a substance used in many foods.

From the Sierra Club:

Your morning breakfast could be contributing to the bulldozing of endangered orangutan habitat.

At fault is the demand for palm oil, and the devastation it has wrought throughout Malaysia and Indonesia as rainforests are cleared to make room for palm fruit plantations.

Back in 2013, Starbucks promised to source all of its palm oil from sustainable operations by this year. That never happened.

Urge Starbucks to take immediate steps to go deforestation-free.

The most obvious signs of environmental catastrophe from palm fruit harvesting are deforestation, habitat loss, and plummeting populations of endangered species; including Sumatran orangutans, tigers, rhinoceroses, and elephants. On formerly-lush islands with no room to roam, these animals are under siege.

The environmental impacts extend to humans, too. Decreased climate mitigation, increased soil erosion, and air and water pollution are just some of the disastrous consequences. Palm oil corporations have been displacing indigenous residents in their ever-growing desire for more land.¹ Some operations have even been implicated in human trafficking and forced labor.²

The case for responsible forestry practices is clear-help make the argument to Starbucks. Send your message now.

The tide is changing quickly. After more than 54,000 SierraRise supporters wrote to McDonald’s, the fast food company agreed to cut illicit palm oil from its supply chain. Other corporations-including KFC, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Krispy Kreme-have made the pledge as well.

Recently, Starbucks updated its palm oil policy and announced that 99% of its coffee is now certified as being ethically sourced.³ But it can do more.

A cross-commodity policy would address the company’s role in deforestation across its business. Tell Starbucks executives that the rainforests can’t wait-fight deforestation today!

About Post Author

Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.

professormike05@gmail.com