Reprieve for orangutans

By Nicole Williams
GREEN cleaners have helped a Dandenong manufacturing company donate $35,000 to Planet Ark to protect endangered orangutans.
Aware Environmental, which produces Orange Power and Aware cleaning products, dedicated part of its profits exclusively to orangutan protection after it stopped using palm oil derived ingredients in its laundry product six months ago.
Aware Environmental managing director Andrew Chaney said the initiative had allowed consumers to get involved.
“Simply by using palm oil free products consumers are supporting two very important projects; raising awareness of the issues with palm oil production and helping to protect the rainforests where orangutans live,” Mr Chaney said.
“We have an ongoing commitment as a leading environmentally ‘green’ brand to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible products and other companies should be doing the same.”
Planet Ark campaign director Brad Gray said Planet Ark was proud to endorse the palm oil-free products.
“The Palm Oil Free campaign has been a great partnership between Planet Ark, Aware and organisations working on the ground in South East Asia,” Mr Gray said.
Planet Ark has partnered with Australian Orangutan Project and Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation to help protect and rehabilitate endangered Bornean and Sumatran organutans living in tropical rainforests, which are disappearing due to palm oil production.