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Palm Oil Statement

We have had a lot of interest in our use of palm on social media after our invite to Ethical Hour and other media broadcasts over the years, so we wanted to write an update on here to keep all the information in one place…

1

Commitment To The Environment

When I first created Little Soap Company back in 2008 I was only too aware of the controversy over the use of palm oil in a wide range of consumer products. Because of this, and my genuine passion about and commitment to the environment I heavily researched the topic and from day one have carefully sourced all our oils from sustainable organic plantations and in the case of palm oil from accredited organic, RSPO-certified sustainable plantations.

Yes this has made our soap more expensive but also allowed me to produce the most wholesome, rich and lathery organic, natural soap I believe is possible.

2

Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS)

The whole sustainability issue is vast and for that reason we have teamed up with our pals at the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) to explain why and how we’re playing our part in breaking the link between palm oil and the destruction of orangutan habitat.

Since day one, I have raised my head over the parapet and been vocal about the fact I consciously chose to use RSPO Sustainable Palm in my bars. This is important. As the business grew it would have been a lot easier to follow the trend, eliminate it altogether and plaster “palm free” over our packaging.

It would have been easier but it wouldn’t have been right.

3

Improve The World

Because on several occasions I refused to do this, some of the major retailers we are with now initially said they wouldn’t stock us. I remained firm and fast realised we weren’t just a soap producer. With the underlying belief that the business of a business is to improve the world we became a voice to help educate.

Several of the major retailers have since amended their ‘no palm’ policies after consultation with us and the conservation trusts we support. I am proud to say that none of the UK major retailers support a blanket boycott. This is why.

4

Sustainable Palm

It’s such a complex issue and not one that can be replied to in a single sentence or social media post… the big issue is deforestation and lack of local alternatives. Not palm. If there was no palm, there would STILL be deforestation. And on a far larger scale sadly as palm is a faster yield that needs less space.

The locals can’t just pack up and put down their tools – they need an income. We absolutely welcome the debate and soap has become a vehicle in which we are able to educate about the need for sustainable palm and that a blanket boycott of all palm would be even more devastating.

5

Information To Help Inform

We have a policy to leave all the threads up on Insta and Facebook because we want people to be able to hear from all sides in this matter and make their own informed choice…. we hope in each thread that you see there will be information to help inform you to be able to make your own choice.

We work closely with many conservation trusts and charities who all back the need for sustainable palm…

Palm Oil Information

Little Soap Company Pledge

Little Soap Company has pledged to use only organic, certified sustainable palm oil in our products, which means that the palm oil has been produced without harming the rainforests that orangutans and so many other species depend on for their survival.

We recognise that the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the body that oversees certified sustainable palm oil, is not perfect. The Sumatran Orangutan Society and others are working hard to make it as strong a standard as possible, and by supporting SOS, and insisting that our suppliers source palm oil only from traceable plantations that have not contributed to deforestation, we can be confident that our business and our customers are helping to keep forests standing and orangutans and other wildlife safe.

Read More About Palm Oil

Sumatran Orangutan Society

SOS is our chosen conservation charity working to secure the future of the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan and their forests. They support frontline conservation programmes and campaign on issues threatening the survival of orangutans in the wild. Their projects include rainforest restoration (something we donate specifically to), orangutan rescue and developing community conservation initiatives which support the protection of the Leuser Ecosystem, empowering local people to become guardians of these precious forests.