Can a nose-full of chicken antibodies ward off coronavirus infections? eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'citizensustainable_com-netboard-2','ezslot_22',153,'0','0'])); Coconut has been described as a ‘time bomb’ because demand is high but supply is low, and 50% of the world’s coconut trees are old, low-productivity trees. The company has become one of the largest sellers of organic coconut water – found on shelves in Whole Foods, Sprouts and numerous other supermarkets. (+5 Simple Tips to Buy Responsibly), Is Quinoa Sustainable? Consumers: focus on how the product is grown. The truth is, as with most products, how it is grown and how it gets from the farmer to your dinner table or bathroom matters more than whether it not it's coconut oil or palm oil. While far too much palm oil is grown on plantations that are responsible for deforestation, human rights abuses, and illegal land grabs, some palm oil is grown more sustainably. "Consumers need to realize that all our agricultural commodities, and not just tropical crops, have negative environmental impacts," said study co-author Douglas Sheil, professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'citizensustainable_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_19',607,'0','0']));Meijaard’s controversial findings were that coconut oil threatens 18.3 species per million tons of oil produced. Sunflower oil and rapeseed oil rank the best for conservation thanks to being grown in less biodiverse, temperate climates. In the Philippines, around 40-60% of coconut farmers live in poverty, earning little more than a dollar a day. Namely, for any given area, oil palm trees produce more quantity of food oil than any other plant – coconuts, soy, sunflower or canola. From nearly the beginning, the company says it wanted to make sure that it was sourcing coconut water sustainably. Because coconuts must be plucked from trees, they are plucked by hand and heavy machinery is typically not involved in the harvesting process. Unfortunately, many of the positive health claims about coconut oil are based on studies that were done with a special formulation of coconut oil (100% MCTs) and not with the commercial coconut oil that we buy from the grocery store. People have found creative ways to use each part of the coconut: The husks can make rope, mattresses and car seats, The crude form of the oil can be used for eco detergents, The copra (the dried, white meat inside of the coconut) can be eaten. Palm oil imports for food consumption are dropping in Europe and have stalled in the United States. – found on shelves in Whole Foods, Sprouts and numerous other supermarkets. Fat cats profiting off of the coconut oil industry. Harmless Harvest says it also sources 100 percent certified, traceable fair trade coconut water, and sees ethical sourcing as a winning business proposition. Visit coconut and oil palm plantations in the top of the top growing regions of Southeast Asia and you’ll notice several key differences. Oil palm, coconuts, and soy often grow in tropical regions where biodiversity and carbon stock are high, meaning the impact to the environment of a hectare could be greater than a temperate crop like sunflower or, When comparing coconut vs. oil palm, biodiversity is one important factor, Consumers: focus on how the product is grown, Of course, this is not universally true. But 18.3 is still a very high number. The saturated fat in coconut oil is healthy. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'citizensustainable_com-netboard-1','ezslot_21',154,'0','0']));It can be hard to know what to believe about coconut oil when little objective research has been done. Experts are Betting on It, Ocean Plastic Bike Grips: Another Step Toward a Circular Economy. While far too much palm oil is grown on plantations that are responsible for deforestation, human rights abuses, and illegal land grabs, some palm oil is grown more sustainably. Like any discussion on sustainable commodities, there’s no simple answer. But this isn’t a strong enough reason to deem palm ‘as sustainable’ or ‘more sustainable’ than coconut oil yet. Similar, if coconut is grown with the use of child labor, or, as is the case in part of Thailand. What You Should Know, The 5 Best Mineral Sunscreens (+ Facts About Zinc Oxide), Is Babassu Oil Sustainable? All rights Reserved. In the past few years, coconut oil has become a popular cooking and cosmetic choice, appearing on more and more shelves and ingredient labels across the country. Then there’s the fact that coconuts, at least in Southeast Asia, grow primarily in mixed-use plantations. When taken in controlled proportions in your diet, it has an array of health benefits. Virgin? Oil palm produces, as its name says, basically only oil. Another brand taking a stand is Harmless Harvest, based in San Francisco. Researchers suggest that consumers rely on information provided by the media when making purchasing decisions. The company saw what happened in the palm oil industry, and when it started sourcing coconuts, Lucy Bee said it wanted to ensure it was not just using another oil with the same, just less known, issues. (12 Key Elements to Check), 7 Eco-Friendly Transportation Methods to Help Reduce Air Pollution, Is Zero Waste Actually Sustainable? “There's always a lag between a trend or a fad, and then knowledge about what that really means in the greater scheme of the food system.”. (& Why You May Change Your Diet), 6 Eco-Friendly Razors & Sustainable Shaving (Complete Guide), Is Sustainable Farming Cheaper? Photo by Palm oil imports for food consumption are dropping in Europe and have stalled in the United States. The company saw what happened in the palm oil industry, and when it started sourcing coconuts, Lucy Bee said it wanted to ensure it was not just using another oil with the same, just less known, issues. Wake up daily to our latest coverage of business done better, directly in your inbox. “Oil palm is still a huge threat to biodiversity,” she says. However, its melting point is 95°F (35°C), which is considerably higher than 76°F (24°C) for coconut oil. Unrefined? Co-author Douglas Sheil, a professor of tropical conservation at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, says the authors didn’t seek to vilify coconuts but instead want to enable consumers to make better judgments about which vegetable oils to buy. When you buy fair-trade coconuts, the middlemen are cut out of the supply chain and farmers can receive a higher wage. (Facts You Should Know), Eco-Friendly Backpacks: The 8 Most Sustainable Brands, Is Quartz Sustainable? Deforestation on such islands is more likely to disrupt the habitat of rare and vulnerable plants and animals. Brands with fair-trade and organic labels go through a rigorous auditing process by accredited third-party certification bodies. Lucy Bee, for example, is a United Kingdom-based seller of natural ingredients and gifts, many of which use coconut oil. Sales in the U.S. have soared over the past decade before declining in recent years over health concerns. “We need a finer spatial analysis to discern which crop drives deforestation,” she says. Coconut oil has long been considered beneficial for not only for the environment, but, . Overall, however, the coconut-based products industry is bullish on its future. “They also have control over how the money is spent and there is complete traceability.”. The Harvard School of Public Health and the American Heart Association have begun to warn consumers that, although not as bad for you as butter, coconut oil has been proven to raise total cholesterol and LDL levels.