Palm oil
Which products contain palm oil, why it matters for deforestation, and the best palm-oil-free and certified-sustainable alternatives.
Palm oil hides under dozens of ingredient names. This hub tracks palm-oil-free products, explains RSPO certification, and follows the brands changing their sourcing.
Recommended Palm oil products
Melissa & Doug
Melissa & Doug Recycled Plastic 100-Piece Floor Puzzle (Rainforest Animals) + Matching Activity Cards
$$A giant 4-foot wide floor puzzle made from 100% recycled paperboard and printed with soy-based inks. Depicts a vibrant rainforest scene with 30+ animals. Includes 10 double-sided activity cards for extra learning. A bestseller in the eco-puzzle niche.
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The Truth About Palm Oil and RSPO Certification: A Deep-Dive for 2026
Beyond the headlines: Discover the truth about palm oil, RSPO certification levels, and how to shop ethically without boycotting everything in 2026.
guideThe Truth About Palm Oil and RSPO Certification: A Deep-Dive Guide for 2026
Palm oil isn't the enemy — unsustainable production is. This 2026 guide explains RSPO certification levels, why boycotts backfire, and how to choose truly
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Related controversies
Lawsuit Over 'Natural' Ingredients in CeraVe Products
A class-action lawsuit progressed in 2023 alleging that L'Oréal-owned CeraVe misled consumers by marketing products as having 'natural' benefits while containing synthetic ingredients. The plaintiffs argued that the branding and ingredient lists were contradictory, leading to premium pricing for non-natural products. The litigation highlights ongoing consumer protection risks regarding 'clean beauty' definitions.
Soko Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Misleading 'Clean' and 'Non-Toxic' Claims
In 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against Soko Glam, the retailer behind the Soko brand, accusing it of falsely marketing products as 'clean', 'non-toxic', and 'free from harmful chemicals' when they allegedly contained ingredients linked to health concerns. The suit claimed consumers paid a premium based on these unsubstantiated claims. The case is ongoing in California federal court.
Forbes Advisor Article on Misleading Health Marketing
A 2023 investigation by Forbes Advisor scrutinized Ritual’s marketing tactics, specifically their use of the term 'clinical study' and 'traceable' ingredients. The report highlighted concerns that while the brand emphasizes transparency, its marketing can lead consumers to believe their supplements provide unique health outcomes that are not uniquely supported by their specific clinical data compared to generic alternatives. This raised questions about potential 'health-washing' in the supplement industry.
Soko Glam 'Clean Beauty' Claims Challenged by Consumer Advocacy Group
In 2022, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) raised concerns about Soko Glam's marketing of certain products as 'clean' while the products contained ingredients listed on EWG's 'unacceptable' or 'moderate hazard' databases. The group published a detailed analysis questioning the brand's transparency and greenwashing practices. Soko Glam defended its formulations, but the incident drew media attention.
Class Action Lawsuit Over Misleading 'Natural' Claims
A class action lawsuit was filed against Alaffia in 2021 alleging that the company's 'Natural' and 'Sustainable' marketing claims were deceptive because certain products contained synthetic ingredients. The plaintiff argued that consumers paid a premium for products labeled as natural when they were not. The case was voluntarily dismissed in 2022 after the plaintiff failed to adequately allege damages.
Herbal Essences and Charmin linked to boreal forest deforestation
NRDC and Stand.earth reports repeatedly named P&G as a major driver of Canadian boreal forest degradation via virgin-pulp tissue supply chains.