Palm oil... why don't you use animal fat instead...

"evil biofuels which are a major contributor to global food shortages"
Rubbish. Exploitations within trade agreements between 1st and 3rd world countries are the major problems in regard to food shortages. But I bet you never go hungry.

Walking down your diesel dust covered streets its quite clear you have more to worry about than what is in soap.

I just dont get it... we can build an atomic bomb, fly to the moon etc... but cant find a sustainable, environmentally safe alternative to palm oil to use in our soap!

Use some of those profits to make everyone happy (and safe) and simply find an alternative. Or am i missing something?

As for food shortages , i agree , that's clasping at straws, we could feed the world population and create all the biofuel's we wanted with no problems... its not a question of ability , .. its a question of greed and economics (as is generally the case in almost all environmental and social issues).

Ok .. im depressed now... time to go.

"But their shower gels and soaps are packed full of palm oil from Indonesian producers, who are destroying precious rainforest to make way for the palm plantations."

How about complaining to the Indonesians for destroying their own resources instead of guilt tripping western women? Why not harangue west-african cooks instead, who use palm oil in far more copious amounts than bathers do?

There are many ways to earn money in this world, the Indonesians don't have to turn their country into a desert... but then again, that is up to them, it's their country and their future -- and none of your business.

I agree that Dove is simply adding to the glut of products being sold by using half-dressed women, to make a profit. It's the same old objectifying dressed up as women's empowerment. I have no problems with using half-dressed women or sex to sell products - it's the preponderance of these types of ads and its affect on the culture that is problematic.

The world is smaller than we think. The decisions on what we buy as Americans does affect the environment and way of life of those in far away places. American consumers have a responsibility to choose wisely, for the sake of others as well as our own. Unfortunately, sooner or later, in one way or another chickens do come home to roost.

All Lush soaps are now made with a palm-free soap base. This development was a collaborative effort between Lush and Kay’s – a family owned business in Lancashire who have been making soap for over 100 years.

These palm-free soap flakes and noodles, which are used as the base for soap production, are commercially available for all companies to purchase, and Lush encourage Unilever – who currently use 3% of total world palm oil production – to start using this new base, or develop palm-free soap base of their own. We stand ready to provide them with assistance should they need it.

The majority of palm oil use is currently attributed to the food sector, so they too need to cut their consumption. To this end, Lush are setting up an industry forum, called Actively Seeking Alternatives to Palm (ASAP) to encourage the sharing of information and expertise between manufactures, retailers and NGOs.

It is imperative that we find alternative oils that can be grown, harvested and processed in a truly sustainable manner – and animal tallow does not meet those criteria.

Until global demand for palm oil is dramatically decreased for food, cosmetics and biofuels, then there is little hope for the animals, people or environment of Indonesia, Malaysia and PGN.

"Dove doing great things for women?" What about the women in Bangladesh and the Island states whose homelands will disappear under water from rising sea levels? Indonesia is now the world's third largest producer of greenhouse gases due to the burning of its forests - to make way for palm oil plantations. Shame on you Unilever.

Glad to see your questioning of Dove's campaign!

I used to be a real fan of the Dove campaigns. Effective, socially responsible marketing that appealed to women all over the world, regardless of age or culture. The key here however, is 'used to be'.

Dove's award-winning campaigns - and associated initiatives such as the 'real beauty' TV shows, pro-age calendars, etc convinced us ('us' being women) that the brand really cares about women. That it wants to correct, protect and educate us and our daughters about realistic expectations of beauty, a healthy self-esteem, about self-worth. I was impressed by what I thought was one of the very few socially responsible brands who shouts out for what it believes in against the stream of cosmetic brands toting airbrushed, Photoshopped perfection above all else.

But it seems I was wrong. Dove actually isn't a very socially responsible brand. It just developed some good marketing campaigns. So what's my problem with Dove you wonder?
Simply this: it tests its products on animals. (Dove belongs to the Unilever group, which is black-listed by many animal rights groups for testing on animals.)
I wonder how many of Dove's female consumers know this...

If Dove really was a socially responsible brand; if it really wanted to take its 'campaing for real beauty' to the next level, it would also take a stand and stop testing its products on animals.

If only Dove realised the opportunity it is missing. It could become The Bodyshop of the 21st century, the vanguard of all the values we hold dear privately but miss so often in this age of want-more-for-less globalism.

So don't believe Dove just yet. They may have an ethically responsible approach to women, but behind the scenes they do not accord the same principles of ethical behaviour toward animals. So until Dove stops using animals to test and develop the products that pamper, cleanse and moisturize our bodies into a ripe (and hopefully beautiful) old age, they are nothing more than just another brand that has some great advertising campaigns.

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