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Talking With Your Girl about Palm Oil
Questions have been raised about the sustainability and labor practices used in palm oil production, which is used to make Girl Scout cookies—and almost all other consumer goods. ABC Bakers, our baker partner, is aware of and sensitive to concerns about the sustainability of palm oil production. The world’s food supply is intricately tied to the use of palm oil, which is an ingredient found in the majority of baked snacks sold in North America. Palm oil is used in many of the products on supermarket shelves, from margarine and chocolate to ice cream, soaps and cosmetics. It’s smooth and odorless, making it an ideal ingredient for baked goods. When ABC Bakers eliminated trans fats from their cookies, they evaluated a number of alternatives to partially hydrogenated soybean oil. To maintain product quality, they determined that palm oil was their best alternative, and they continue to evaluate other oils.
ABC Bakers is an official member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). From 2015 to 2020, all the palm oil used in ABC's Girl Scout cookies was sourced exclusively from RSPO members through RSPO Credits, which support sustainable palm oil production practices. In 2021, they completed the next step in their sustainable palm oil journey by elevating their certification of the palm oil used for Girl Scout Cookies to RSPO Certified Mass Balance palm oil. Working in partnership with their customers and suppliers, they continue to evolve their oil supply. This “Discover, Connect, Take Action” approach is exactly what Girl Scouts is about. The following discussion guide contains Girl Scout activities that broadly address “creating a sustainable world,” along with a link to a resource that provides more in-depth information and activities on palm oil issues. The GSWO team created this to support you and your girls as they take the first steps in exploring complex issues.
Girl Scout Guide to Global Issues: Sustainability
Why is palm oil used in Girl Scout Cookies?
Palm oil is an ingredient found in the majority of baked snacks sold in the United States. Per GSUSA's licensed bakers, it continues to be necessary to use palm oil in our cookies to ensure their shelf life, to bring you the highest quality products, and to serve as an alternative to trans fats. While we continue to explore other alternatives, at this time, there are no viable or readily available alternatives on the market.
