oil palm
Tropical fat source
Oil palm is a tropical tree cultivated for its fruit, which yields palm oil—one of the world's most widely used vegetable oils.
The oil appears in foods, cosmetics, and biofuels.
Oil palm plantations, concentrated in Southeast Asia and Africa, are controversial for driving deforestation: Vast tracts of rainforest have been cleared for oil palm.
Large-scale farming operation
- harvestGathering mature crops
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- seedlingsNewly germinated plants
- fertilizerSoil nutrient supplement
yield · pruning · germination · smallholder · estate · nursery · fronds · bunches
Fatty alkali cleanser
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
- cosmeticsSkin-applied beauty substances
- lubricantFriction-reducing substance
- glycerinViscous moisturizing compound
surfactant · emulsifier · biodiesel · biofuel · feedstock · pharmaceutical · candle · lipstick
Large-scale woodland elimination
- peatlandWetland with accumulated plant matter
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- orangutanLarge red-haired Asian ape
carbon · emissions · monoculture · biodiversity · slash-and-burn · clearing · degradation · endangered
Southeast Asian federation
- IndonesiaSoutheast Asian archipelago nation
- BorneoSoutheast Asian mega-island
- SumatraIndonesian island, sixth largest
- West AfricaContinent's western bulge
Nigeria · Cameroon · Papua New Guinea · Colombia · Thailand · equatorial · tropical · humid
Attestation of qualification
- traceabilityVerifiable origin and path
- sustainableAble to endure long-term
- smallholderFarmer of limited land
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
supply chain · transparency · stakeholder · NGO · boycott · greenwashing · eco-label · corporate
Preparing food with heat
- fryingCooking in shallow fat
- refinedPurified or cultured
- unrefinedNot processed or polished
- stearinSolid fat mixture
shortening · margarine · cholesterol-free · saturated · vitamin E · carotene · smoke point · deep-frying
plantation
Large-scale farming operation
- harvestGathering mature crops
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- seedlingsNewly germinated plants
fertilizer · yield · pruning · germination · smallholder · estate · nursery · fronds · bunches · hectarage
soap
Fatty alkali cleanser
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
- cosmeticsSkin-applied beauty substances
- lubricantFriction-reducing substance
glycerin · surfactant · emulsifier · biodiesel · biofuel · feedstock · pharmaceutical · candle · lipstick · shampoo
deforestation
Large-scale woodland elimination
- peatlandWetland with accumulated plant matter
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
orangutan · carbon · emissions · monoculture · biodiversity · slash-and-burn · clearing · degradation · endangered · wildlife
Malaysia
Southeast Asian federation
- IndonesiaSoutheast Asian archipelago nation
- BorneoSoutheast Asian mega-island
- SumatraIndonesian island, sixth largest
West Africa · Nigeria · Cameroon · Papua New Guinea · Colombia · Thailand · equatorial · tropical · humid · lowland
certification
Attestation of qualification
- traceabilityVerifiable origin and path
- sustainableAble to endure long-term
- smallholderFarmer of limited land
moratorium · supply chain · transparency · stakeholder · NGO · boycott · greenwashing · eco-label · corporate · accountability
cooking
Preparing food with heat
stearin · shortening · margarine · cholesterol-free · saturated · vitamin E · carotene · smoke point · deep-frying · bleached
- cash cropscotton, tobacco, sugarcane, sugar cane, coffee
- Palmsmajesty
- tropical treesbanana tree, mango, papaya, papaya tree, kapok
- African farmingmaize, cassava, sorghum, millet, yams
- African plantsacacia, acacias, baobab, protea, rooibos
- African rainforestCongo rainforest, canopy layer, forest floor, rainforest floor, understory
oil palmrainforest
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
primary forest · tropical rainforest · old-growth forest · natural habitat · wildlife corridor