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In the food production business, palm oil is a major issue.

It’s a common ingredient in lots of processed foods, but many consumers aren’t aware that the product has caused devastation on an environmental and ethical scale. Thanks to the growth in palm oil plantations, rainforests are being razed, animals are losing their homelands and climate change is worsening.

When irresponsibly sourced, it’s a major no-no.

To help lessen the negative consequences of palm oil’s imprint, Earth Balance is stepping up with a commitment to switch to 100% responsibly sourced oil by the end of 2015. While the company’s usage is pretty small-scale (20 million pounds per year), making this pledge means it’s setting a positive example for other organizations.

“The issue with palm oil revolves around the serious problems irresponsible palm oil production creates, including habitat loss, water pollution, indigenous community dislocation, workers’ rights abuse and forest degradation,” says Adriane Little, category director for Earth Balance.

“As the global population increases, so does the demand for vegetable oils, which are used for everything from food products to detergents, cosmetics and even biofuel,” says Little.

Palm oil is an ingredient that, while technically vegan, is indirectly leading to a lot of animal deaths. Estimates suggest that 50,000 orangutans have already died due to deforestation for palm oil production, and animals such as Sumatran Tigers, Sumatran Rhinoceroses, Sun Bears, Pygmy Elephants, Clouded Leopards and Proboscis Monkeys have suffered as well.

Earth Balance has been working towards this goal for the past five years, Little says.

She adds: “In 2014, we were the first manufacturer to pledge support for the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG), which builds upon the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and is working to elevate responsible palm oil standards throughout the supply chain, including producers, suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.”

Moving forward, the company plans to work with conservation groups to help further the cause.

“Earth Balance will be working closely with respected international agencies like Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network (RAN), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Orangutan Land Trust, among others, to develop leading standards and help drive demand for innovation in palm oil sourcing technologies and practices that will change the face of the palm oil industry.”

Every step towards sustainability is a step in the right direction.

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