Don’t Palm Us Off is a national campaign urging the community to add their names and addresses to mandate the labelling of products containing palm oil.
Thank you to everyone who signed up. Signature collection is over but you can still help the campaign.
Approximately 6,000 orangutans are killed per year and the United Nations warns that orangutans could become extinct within a generation.
The primary reason for the orangutans’ habitat being destroyed is the increasing demand for oil palm plantations which results in large-scale clearing of rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia. Over 85% of the world’s palm oil comes from these two countries.
Once palm oil is labelled, consumers can drive a market for credible certified sustainable palm oil because they can demand it of manufacturers and retailers.
The campaign collected over 130,000 signatures. Now we are awaiting the report from the Truth in Labelling (Palm Oil) Bill reintroduced to parliament after the election. Public submissions closed on 11 February 2011 and we are awaiting a response.
What you can do?
1) Find out more on the questions and answers page.
2) Write to you local Member of Parliament expressing your support of palm oil labelling.
3) Write to your favourite food and cosmetic manufacturers and supermarkets. Ask them if they use palm oil and if so, whether they source certified sustainable palm oil.
4) Donate money to Perth Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Action, become a member of the Australian Orangutan Project.
In November last year Independant Federal Senator Nick Xenophon introduced a Private Members Bill into the Australian Senate calling for the mandatory labelling of palm oil. Now we are awaiting the report from the Truth in Labelling (Palm Oil) Bill reintroduced to parliament after the election. Public submissions closed on 11 February 2011 and we are awaiting a response.
Perth Zoo encourages any individuals or organisations who feel strongly about this issue and want to help save wild animals such as orangutans and tigers and their rainforest homes to write to their local Member of Parliament to keep the issue at front of mind.
Find out more about the Truth in Labelling bill.
Check out the WWF Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard Australia 2010.
The scorecard is an assessment of the palm oil purchasing practices of six major Food Sector companies in Australia that produce and sell everyday consumer products.
Download the Palm Oil Ingredient Card (pdf).
The wallet size ingredent card contains a list of the most common ways that palm oil can be labelled on products. (Produced by Melbourne Zoo)
