Auckland Zoo - Conservation - Buy Palm Oil Free

Buy Palm Oil Free

Auckland Zoo says Buy Palm Oil Free!

Buy Palm Oil Free Join us and help slow the uncontrolled expansion of oil palm plantations - causing the destruction of vital rainforests and loss of animal species. By reducing our palm oil consumption, we can help reduce demand for this oil.
As consumers, the power is in our hands!

Click here to find out more about why Auckland Zoo says Buy Palm Oil Free (pdf).

Shop in style when you buy palm oil free!

Palm Oil Free Bags - Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhino

This stunning new range of calico shopping bags, designed exclusively for Auckland Zoo by artist Greg Straight, are now available at the Zoo's WildZone gift shop. Get yours today!

We've chosen to feature the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhino and Asian elephant on these bags because they're all animals threatened with extinction due to the loss of their rainforest habitat to oil palm plantations. And they urgently need our help.

By purchasing these bags and shopping palm oil-free, you will be helping make a big difference. 90% of all profits from bag sales go to the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund. This Fund supports wildlife conservation projects for endangered animals in the wild in places like Sumatra, as well as here in New Zealand. To help you shop palm oil-free, see our Buy Palm Oil Free Shopping Guide.

Exclusively available at WildZone gift shop

WildZone gift shop is located in Auckland Zoo's front entry plaza and is open to Zoo visitors and non-Zoo visitors alike, from 9.30am - 5.30pm daily.

Palm oil and the power of public pressure

The Progressive chain of supermarkets operation in Australia and New Zealand has announced that it will label palm oil on all its private label food and non-food products, including Homebrand and Select.

For Australians, this will mean private label food products at Woolworths stores, but in New Zealand, where Progressive operates two other chains, this will also extend to private label food products at Woolworths, Foodtown and Countdown.

Progressive has also committed to switching to certified sustainable palm oil by 2015. The company had earlier stated that they would not make this shift in policy unless it is clear that there was public demand for it.

Auckland Zoo and other organisations and individuals throughout Australasia have publicly voiced their concerns over palm oil production and its devastating effect on wildlife and the environment. This is a great example of how public opinion can positively influence corporate policy.

With continued action by the public, hopefully more New Zealand retailers and manufacturers will follow suit.

A call for labelling of palm oil and its derivatives

Auckland Zoo wants to see compulsory labelling of palm oil and its derivatives on product packaging in New Zealand so that all New Zealand consumers can make an informed choice about whether or not they want to buy products that contain palm oil. Currently in New Zealand, there is no legal requirement for such labelling.

You can join us in expressing your concerns about the lack of labelling of palm oil in New Zealand to your local MP and supermarket. It's easy! Just use our template letters.

Click here for Woolworths press release and palm oil policy. For Auckland Zoo's Palm Oil Free Shopping Guide, click here.