What is palm oil, and why should you care about whether or not you are consuming it? You may have heard some buzz about why palm oil is bad and that we should avoid it, but do you actually know why it's so controversial?

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is used in many food and personal care products. The African oil palm can grow in any climate that is hot and rainy, but is mostly found in Malaysia and Indonesia. While palm oil can be cultivated responsibly and sustainably, it often results in deforestation. These hot, rainy forests are the home of many plants and animals, so the deforestation results in detrimental losses to biodiversity. Plus, according to EcoWatch, this tropical deforestation accounts for 10 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions. Habitat destruction is a huge problem for many endangered species, and tropical forests such as these are quickly becoming some of the rarest natural environments left. That sad truth is, many of us are contributing to the destruction of these forests without even knowing it.

There are many companies that use palm oil, but there are some who take more precautions to prevent deforestation than others. You can easily search out companies that have a high commitment to using only responsibly resourced palm oil. For example, companies like Safeway, Dunkin', Nestle, Kellogg's, Proctor and Gamble, and L'Oreal have all been given high marks in regards to their commitment to sustainable palm oil as of April 2016; other companies have shown little to no commitment:

As you can see, not all companies are equally committed. In addition, there are many ways companies can hide the fact that a product contains palm oil on the label, aiding less-committed companies in hiding their dirty secret from both indifferent and concerned consumers alike. If you are a concerned consumer, you can search for products that do not contain palm oil at all, or do a quick search online to see if your favorite products and companies are up to your standards. If they aren't it, it might be time to make some changes!

So why is this important? Conscious consumption is a huge driving factor to encourage business to continue sustainable resourcing. Dollars are a form of speech, and buying something is a vote for that company and the way they do business. By doing research and buying in accordance with values, consumers can have a positive impact on business.

Conscious consumption is applicable to more than just palm oil. Business affects many causes, from deforestation to pollution, waste production, child labor, pollution, and even the condition of workers. Business is always a competition, and dollars from conscious consumers help green companies win the race. It takes more time and effort, but it is really one of the most important ways you can help change the world.