Palm oil is one the world’s most important vegetable oils, included in countless items from foods and drugs to personal care items and detergents. It is also a key ingredient in the plant-based surfactants used by Seventh Generation’s cleaning products. In recent years, however, growing demand has led to devastating deforestation and rising greenhouse gas emissions from the felled rainforests of Southeast Asia, and imperiled the indigenous peoples and endangered species living there.

Over the next two years, Seventh Generation’s new programme will identify responsibly managed palm oil sources. Once certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, the company will transition all its purchasing to these new suppliers and create 100% traceable, environmentally-benign palm oil supply chain.