Palm oil: What's the big deal?

Greenpeace and other environmental groups are pushing for government legislation instead of industry certification, which they say dumps the "responsibility to assess the quality for a certified product onto the customer."

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In having official regulations, they reckon there is a greater chance that the products we eat and use will not come at the cost of environmental destruction and violations of human rights.

In the meantime, business owners can also do their bit by checking no-one along their supply chains is contributing to deforestation.

As for the rest of us, we can find out which of the products on our shopping lists contain palm oil, check out whether companies are keeping their promises. And we can make noise to push for greater transparency and cleaner products.