Published on: May 20, 2021
A Partnership to Raise Awareness of Sustainable Palm Oil and the Importance of Protecting Wildlife and Preventing Deforestation
Boulder, Colo. May 19, 2021 — Mission-based educational platform Palm Done Right® is proud to announce a new partnership with Denver Zoo encouraging consumers to Shop Smart to Save Sloths. Sloths are native to the tropical forests of South and Central America, regions affected by deforestation. While many sloth species are threatened by the destruction of the trees that they rely on for food and shelter, species like the pygmy sloth are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
A pervasive ingredient, palm oil can be found in nearly 50% of the packaged products on supermarket shelves – from shampoos and soaps to donuts and chips. It comes from the fruit of oil palm trees, which are part of the precious rainforest ecosystem in which sloths live. Unsustainable palm oil production can be devastating to these forest ecosystems, threatening the wildlife that lives there.
Palm Done Right is helping communities harvest in harmony with nature, so local farmers can support their families — and sloths can keep their treetop homes. When you choose products with the Palm Done Right logo you’re supporting hundreds of other smart choices that help the environment…and wildlife too.
“Species diversity is crucial to preserving our living planet for future generations,” says Monique van Wijnbergen, Sustainability and Corporate Communications Director at Natural Habitats. “That is why we support and train farmers to manage their plantations and surrounding conservation areas such that wildlife is protected. Zoos, in turn, play an important role in wildlife conservation and educating their visitors to make choices that protect our planet. We are delighted to be partnering with Denver Zoo to raise awareness about palm oil and its impact on wildlife around the globe. And to show how we can all help raise the bar on sustainable and ethical practices by making smart choices.”
Denver Zoo is dedicated to providing its more than two million guests with the information they need to make choices that support a healthy planet. The new exhibit aims to create awareness for Palm Done Right and help spread the word about the importance of sustainable palm oil production. Visitors will learn about the importance of protecting the sloth’s natural habitat and how they can contribute by making conscious product choices that help protect the planet. The “Adopt-an-Animal” Program will feature several brand partners committed to sustainable palm oil sourcing, like Nutiva, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Yum Butter, Way Out Wax, and Oregon Soap Company.
Denver Zoo will be launching its new Sloth Exhibit at the end of May 2021 in Tropical Discovery, at the northeastern corner of the Zoo’s campus. This will be home to the Linne’s two-toed sloth power couple, Elliot and Charlotte.
Linne’s two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
“Denver Zoo’s biggest focus is on developing an appreciation for the interconnectedness between humans, animals, and the environment and to help people see the connection between what they do and what happens in nature,” says Dr. Amy Harrison-Levine, Director of Field Conservation Programs at Denver Zoo. “This requires awareness-raising, education, and activities at the conservation sites, but also at the Zoo, where over two million visitors are educated every year. Appreciation for nature is deeply rooted in people’s values and starts at a very young age. This is where zoos serve an important role of planting the seeds in young people to develop an appreciation for the diversity, uniqueness, and connectedness of life”.
Consumers can do their part by shopping smartly and checking product labels. Be sure products are made with sustainable palm oil and demand ingredient transparency. Voting with your dollar makes a big impact and supports our shared mission to protect our planet and the people and animals in it. Look for products with the Palm Done Right logo.
Click here to learn more about Denver Zoo’s Adopt an Animal program that includes the Linne’s two-toed sloth. Your symbolic adoption helps to provide cutting-edge care for the Zoo’s sloths and the rest of their 3,000 wild animals—while also supporting their mission of Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations.
Learn more:
https://denverzoo.org/zootales/sloths-branch-out/
https://denverzoo.org/up-close-look-sloths/
“Join @DenverZoo and @PalmDoneRight to celebrate the grand opening of the New Sloth Exhibit and #ShopSmartToSaveSloths”
Check out stories about how palm oil can be done right: www.palmdoneright.com
Home to 3,000 animals representing more than 450 species, Denver Zoo is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and the city’s oldest and most passionate advocate for the natural world. The Zoo is among the most visited cultural destination in Colorado, serving almost 2 million people per year, and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which assures the highest standards of animal care. With the mission of inspiring communities to save wildlife for future generations, Denver Zoo dedicates almost $2 million annually to Zoo-led programs aimed at protecting animals within their natural habitats around the world. For more information, visit DenverZoo.org.
Natural Habitats Group is leading positive change in the palm oil industry by proving that palm oil can be grown for good. This approach demonstrates that palm oil grown organically and third-party certifications, can preserve the environment and native species, bring positive economic support to local communities and create sustainable livelihoods for everyone involved. Palm Done Right, a movement, aims to connect the benefits of organic, responsible palm oil, with brands, suppliers, manufacturers, media and consumers, to change the conversation about palm oil and bring positive impact to scale. For more information, visit www.palmdoneright.com.
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Natural Habitats USA, Inc. is a group fully committed to the sustainable production of Certified Organic and fairly traded products, including organic palm oil. Natural Habitats products are cultivated using 100% organic practices by independent farmers in South America and add organic credibility to food, personal care, and animal nutrition products. Natural Habitats USA, Inc. supports the communities in which it operates through Fair for Life fair trade partnership, social programs for farmers, workers, and communities, and funding for services including support to local schools, health care, and housing to improve the quality of life for all stakeholders in the supply chain, from Farm to Fork. For more information, visit www.natural-habitats.com
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Contact
Susan Fecko, Black Dog Studio, 307-690-8381, sfecko@blackdogstudiopr.com
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