Are Coconuts Ethical?

Organic and Fair Trade coconut products support sustainable farming without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. And they also provide fair wages for the farm workers. Most importantly, research the company from which you’re buying coconut products to learn about their ethics.

Are coconuts bad for the environment?

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), coconut threatens some 20.2 species per million metric tonnes of oil produced, followed by olive with 4.1 species, oil palm with 3.8 and soybean, 1.3. In fact, coconut cultivation has directly contributed to the extinction of some species.

Is coconut milk unethical?

Consumers expect coconut milk to be cruelty-free since it doesn’t come from animals, but in reality “there is a lot of cruelty involved in terms of using monkey labor.” PETA has documented how pig-tailed macaques are trained, sometimes in “monkey schools,” to climb trees to pick coconuts.

Is coconut oil unethical?

But is it healthy for the environment, too? The good news is that in general, the environmental impact of coconut oil is very low. Growing coconuts doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides, and coconuts are harvested by hand, instead of by a giant tractor. So far, so good.

Are coconuts grown sustainably?

Coconut production is moderately sustainable. There is no significant damage to air or water but land, soil and forests may be affected. Growing coconuts doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides and coconuts are harvested by hand, instead of by tractor.

Is coconut oil worse than palm oil?

Coconut threatens 20.3 species for every 1 million tons of oil produced, they report. For olive oil and palm oil, those numbers are 4.1 and 3.8 species respectively; for sunflower oil, it’s 0.05.

Is coconut oil destroying rainforest?

A new study found that coconut oil production, by some measures, is more destructive than palm oil production, with coconuts affecting 20 threatened species per million liters of oil produced, and palm oil only affecting 3.8 species per million liters.

Which coconut brands use monkey labor?

Chaokoh, a coconut milk brand that’s sold in some stores across the U.S., is among those that sell coconut products made using forced monkey labor.

Why are coconuts not vegan?

Coconuts and products made from coconuts like coconut milk are plant-based. After all, coconuts grow on trees and can be produced without the use of animals. However, unfortunately monkeys are often used to help harvest coconuts which means coconuts often aren’t vegan.

Is coconut oil cruelty free?

While all coconut oil is vegan by definition, you might be surprised to know that some coconut oil farms use a controversial harvesting method: rather than humans hand-picking the coconuts, monkeys are trained to climb up the trees and harvest the fruit.

Is coconut a fair trade?

Fairtrade works with coconut farmers in parts of West Africa and across Asia and the Pacific, including Sri Lanka, Philippines, Samoa, India and Ghana, to ensure a fair price for their crops.

Does delicious use monkey labor?

In addition to Essential Trading, the following companies state that their suppliers do not use monkeys: 3 Buddhas, Aunt Patty’s, BetterBody Foods, Carrington Farms, Dr. Bronner’s, Earth Circle Organics, Harmless Harvest, Maison Orphee, Naked Coconuts, Nutiva, Ojio, So Delicious, Silk, and Spectrum Organics.

Are most coconuts picked by monkeys?

They do not use monkeys or human children to harvest coconuts. Companies that responded but did not clarify whether monkeys were used: Taste the Dream (Hain-Celestial) – stated that their products are fair-trade but did not clarify that only adult humans harvested coconuts.

Are coconuts biodegradable?

You will be glad to know that coconut husk is biodegradable.
You can place the husk, along with the shell and its flesh onto your compost heap. But you should be aware that a coconut could take months or up to a year to decompose.

What do coconut trees do for the environment?

Forests and tree plantation crops, such as coconuts, are especially useful as carbon reservoirs because trees hold on to significantly more carbon per unit area than other types of vegetation. Coconuts and other perennials are also more resilient to climate change impacts such as droughts, high winds, and floods.

Is coconut palm sugar ethical?

The report found that coconut palm sugar is, therefore, a sustainable industry, with a minimal environmental impact when harvested using traditional techniques. In fact, the FAO found that palm sugar tapping produces a more sustainable sweetener than traditional sugar cane farming.

Why is palm oil not vegan?

Palm oil is made from all plant-based ingredients and no animal products are used in the process. However, since farming of palm oil trees has been linked to an overall negative impact on the planet, including mass deforestation many believe it is not cruelty-free.

Which oil is most sustainable?

The Most Sustainable Cooking Oils to Keep in Your Kitchen at All…

• Olive Oil. Source: Getty.
• Vegetable Oil. Source: Getty.
• Canola/Rapeseed Oil. Source: Getty.
• Palm Oil. Source: Getty.
• Sunflower Oil. Source: Getty.
• Coconut Oil. Source: Getty.
• Avocado Oil. Source: Getty.

Which is healthier palm or coconut oil?

However, coconut oil is relatively richer in minerals, while palm oil contains more vitamin E and vitamin K. Research suggests that palm oil is a healthier choice than coconut oil for cardiovascular health due to its lower saturated fat content.

What is the carbon footprint of coconut oil?

coconut oil has a moderate carbon footprint.
It takes around 2.1 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of coconut oil, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers.

Can coconut oil replace palm oil?

Coconut oil is another popular choice as a substitute for palm oil. This highly saturated fat has been shown to increase good cholesterol and help reduce the risk of heart disease.