Palm Oil – is its use ethical?

image of a palm oil plantation in Indonesia, courtesy of hydrogencommerce.com

 

Did you know that widespread use of palm oil, a common ingredient in soap and many other products, is believed to be damaging our poor planet? 

Most frequently cited is the plight of the orangutan and other wildlife, wiped out from widespread deforestation; this deforestation also is said to directly contribute to climate change. 

It’s a hot topic of debate as to whether there can be a truly “sustainable” palm oil, and some parties even argue that palm oil harvestation has no negative consequences.  Still, persuasive and very heated arguments exist on all sides.

While the personal care industry is said to only comprise 7% of worldwide palm oil consumption, it’s still well worth seeking the best strategy.  

This is a complex issue, and I’ll try to break down the options concisely.   By necessity, this is a drastic oversimplification of the matter at hand.

Some personal care products companies choose to “give back” by donating a portion of their profits to organizations which support and help rehabilitate depleted geographical areas. We at Sarva want to be ABSOLUTELY sure that what we give to these associations… in essence, your money…  would be truly spent wisely and effectively. 

Other personal care products companies eliminate palm oil completely from all of their formulations. While this prevents further damage to the environment, it has the potential to rob countless harvesters of their sole source of income and support for their families.  

Sustainable palm oil is said to be available, but again, there is disagreement as to whether it is truly sustainable, and it is certainly higher in price.

Sarva does not take a definitive stance on the palm oil issue.  In fact, I personally believe that all sides offer a piece of the truth.  Nonetheless, decisions must be made.

As the owner of Sarva, I am personally researching this matter and carefully considering the following options in the coming months:

1. participating in a responsibly delegated “giving back” program
2. sourcing truly sustainable palm oil
3. reformulating all soaps which presently contain palm or palm kernel oil
4. a combination of the above

I’ll keep you informed here at Soap Leaves, the Sarva Soaps blog, as well as on the Sarva page at Facebook.  

I welcome your input, and ask that any comments remain compassionate and helpful for all involved.

It’s rebatching time

As I discussed in an earlier post, I’m often asked, “what do you do with all of your soap scraps?”   Sometimes the result can be very, very beautiful.  However, the most correct answer is, “it depends.”  Some soap scraps are beautiful additions to new soaps.  Others, however, have a different fate. 

I’m going to show you a soapmaking project that you can do yourself!   No worries… the lengthy instructions belie the absolute simplicity of the project. 

Rebatching is a fun way to transform ugly odds and ends of soap, otherwise destined for your garbage, into perfectly usable, cool-looking soap.   There are as many methods are there are soapmakers, but this is what I find to be easiest.  

Please note that this process can only be done with REAL soap.  Save your Sarva Soaps scraps, or any other handcrafted or “true” soap.   Detergent bars or “moisturizing bars” or the like are NOT soap (and aren’t biodegradable!).  If the ingredient label lists “sodium hydroxide”, or says “saponified oils of…”, then you’re good to go.

 

Tools:

• food processor with grating blade,  or a hand grating tool
• a “soap mold” (some ideas:  small cardboard or wooden box, clean milk carton with one side cut off, or a glass baking dish without a lid )*
• parchment paper to line your mold
• glass baking dish with lid (the lid is important) (and if you use a glass baking dish for your mold, you need a separate one with a lid too)
• bowl or bucket to collect soap scraps
• bowl or bucket to hold soap after you’ve grated it
• oven 
• stainless steel spoon (MUST be stainless steel!)
• stainless steel blade (MUST be stainless steel!)
• time and patience (this is best done over a weekend)

*Alternative mold idea:  Silicone ice cube or muffin “tin” – you don’t need to line it!  But please don’t use it for food after you’ve used it for rebatching.

 

Ingredients:

• soap scraps (for personal use, it is fine to save scraps from used soaps, but for my purposes, I rebatch only clean, sanitary scraps that have been in long-term sealed storage)
• water (distilled is best, but tap will do)
• optional: essential oils (or fragrance oils if you are so inclined; I personally do not use synthetic substances)
• optional: milk (cow’s milk works best but is not vegan; substitutes are coconut milk or soy milk)

 

Procedure:

1.  Collect all of your scraps of soap.  I suspect you’ll have a lot less than I do!   

2.  Run scraps through your food processor with the grating blade in place.  I use my studio’s food processor, which is dedicated solely to soapmaking.  But it’s okay if you use your own kitchen food processor as long as your soaps are for personal use.   Just be sure to soak it until all of the soap rinses off, then wash it thoroughly.   You may also use a hand grating tool.   You’ll end up with grated soap, below: 

3.  Add water to moisten your grated soap and stir it with  your hands to distribute.  How much water, you ask?  Um… I eyeball it.  Not a lot.  Enough to make it a bit slick, but you don’t want to start sudsing your soap or have pools of water in your container.   Even if you add too much, it’s okay.  The worst that will happen is your rebatched soap will take longer to harden.   Maximum amount would be 1/4 cup total liquids (water plus milk) to pound of soap.   If you’re adding milk, wait until you are just about to put the soap in the oven.  Don’t let the soap sit out overnight with milk in it!  (Sorry, no photo here)

 

3a.  Cover your shredded soap and let it sit, ideally overnight.  This lets the water sink in and soften your scraps. 

 

4.  Here’s the “quick and dirty” method to deciding what size mold you’ll need:  Take your grated soap and pack it into the mold you have in mind.  See if it fits, maybe overflowing a bit.  Does it work out?  Great, you have your mold!   No?  Find a different one!   

Here’s my method:  I weigh my soap shreds on my soapmaking scale.  Since I know how much soap (in pounds) each of my molds yields, I can easily choose a mold.  In my case, I have about 15 pounds of scraps this time around. 

You’ll need to line your mold completely with baking parchment.  I didn’t take a photo of this step – everyone has their own method.  

 

5.  When your grated soap is softened (just a little squishy), turn on your oven to about 200 degrees.  Pack the soap scraps into the lidded glass baking dish.  Put the lid on, and put your soap in the oven.   Don’t leave the house, don’t take a nap, don’t forget about your soap!  Plan some meals, read the paper, have a cup of coffee with a loved one, do a puzzle… enjoy time in your kitchen, what used to be the center of our homes.  Dawdle!  It’s a lost art. 

Check your soap now and then.  Take it out and stir it with your stainless steel spoon every 20-30 minutes.  Oh dear… it looks like shreds of soap in some really weird mashed potato-like gel!  Yes… that’s good!  And after a couple hours (give or take; this is not a scientific process), despite the funny smell (hey, it’s cooking soap), nearly all of the soap will be “gellified”, like below: 

You can let it get really gellified if you want, but you must watch it carefully so it doesn’t boil and make a mess of your oven.  I like to keep it “less gellified”, because then I still see little flecks of color in the finished product.   I took mine out of the oven at this point.  

 

5a.  This is where you’d add any fragrance or essential oils.  Your first time, I suggest you don’t add anything.  But once you get comfy with the process, you can add about 1 tsp or so of scent per pound of soap.  Stir thoroughly!  (side note:  you can “superfat” by adding extra oils too, if you want, such as almond, olive, or castor… add only 1/2 tsp per pound of soap)

 

6.  Glop the soap into your mold.   Glop really is the best word.  

Now, because I care about you, I must warn you.  This is HOT.  It was in the oven for a couple hours, it holds heat, it’s gooey like candle wax, and it’s HOT!   I know… I know… it’s obvious.  But it’s easy to just think, “oh hey, soap” and forget that it’s HOT!  

Put on an oven mitt, put a piece of parchment over top of the soap, and press it down, down, down so that it packs into the mold.  Otherwise you’ll get big air gaps, and that looks funny.  Take out all your frustrations on your poor soap.  It can handle it.  But you must work fast!  

I ran several molds of this size over an extended period of time, so here’s one of mine: 

7.  Let this cool for several hours… or overnight is fine… and cut into slices, chunks, whatever you like.  Use a kitchen knife or any clean stainless steel blade.  It doesn’t have to be sharp.    I used my super fancy industrial soapmaker’s slicer, and here’s what I got:  

8.  When you first slice it,  it will be a bit soft.   No worries.  Let it harden for at least 1-2 weeks, maybe longer.   It’s usable right away, but the longer it hardens, the longer it lasts.  

Cleanup:  Be sure to soak all of your dishes, spoons, etc., for a long time in water.  Once the soap has softened and rinses right off, just wash everything thoroughly.  If you do this often, you really should dedicate a set of utensils and bowls specifically to this task.

 

9.  Use and enjoy!   And save the scraps from these soaps, because you can keep on rebatching. 

Since I accumulate so many scraps, I routinely donate my rebatched soap to the local homeless shelter association. This time around, I had enough to make about 130 mini bars for them.  Our homeless shelters are very much in need these days.  While I don’t recommend you donate your rebatched soap (because it’s made of used soap scraps), do please consider contacting your local agencies to see what they need, be it supplies, a donation, or even the gift of your time.  If you’re like me, it’ll make your spirit smile. 

Be well!

Happy Valentine’s Day

 
The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.

J. Krishnamurti

For Valentine’s weekend, dear Soap Leaves readers, please enjoy 20% off your purchase at Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps.   Enter Discount Coupon code SOAPYLOVE at checkout.  One per customer.  Offer expires at midnight Eastern time on Sunday, February 15.   

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

The essence of balance

I feel a strong sense of responsibility toward the word Sarva. It is generally used as a prefix in the Sanskrit language, representing “all” or “whole”. As in “all pervading”… “all encompassing”… the Universe. Everything.

It literally took months to settle upon Sarva as the name of my business. I chose Sarva to represent the sense of wholeness we feel when we are unified, grounded, balanced in all ways… thoughts, feelings, energy, body, spirit. That, to me, is health. It is a point of balance. I create my soaps to be whole and balanced in the same ways, too… in all ways possible… pleasurable to the senses, uplifting to the spirit, intelligent in design, and good for the body.

Most of my customers don’t know that I have multiple chronic health conditions, some of them painful and mildly disabling. I have had many reasons for keeping this to myself: I didn’t want to create the image of being untrustworthy, especially given the low-functioning days I inevitably have. I wanted to project the image of health, balance, and positivity for my customers. I wanted to transcend the daily physical struggles I face. In a way, my life felt antithetic to the very name of my business. I overlooked the simple fact that there is no singular definition for “balance”.

I’ve always been a proponent of full disclosure, though–as long as there is positive value in it. And here, I have realized there is indeed great value.

In the last couple of months, I have been hospitalized, receiving at last a diagnosis for a 20-year mystery and yet another chronic condition to add to the list, so I am trying to balance the demands of my schedule and my health while facing some scary medical bills. To this end, I have maintained a second job in addition to overseeing Sarva.  Sadly, this second job exacerbates two of my conditions.

Lately, as Sarva has continued its amazing growth (thank you!), I’ve found myself wondering how I can do it all and still care for myself. I get such immense joy from soapmaking, and even more joy from bringing joy to you. I have no intention of giving that up.  I love what I do.

Daily, then, I look at balance from a deeply personal framework. It’s much bigger than just saying, “great! I’m healthy and I’m all caught up today.” You see, I will never be conventionally healthy, and who among us is ever caught up?

And herein I have discovered an important teaching.

It’s about discovering the truly necessary–the essential–and eliminating the rest. The essence of who I am and what I do. Every single moment.

Obvious? Simple? Yes, it is. But not easy.

How about those times where you are exhausted from a long workday and you mindlessly zone out in front of the computer and surf for a while? Would you benefit instead from deep relaxation or at least resting your tired hands so they (and the rest of you) can be more productive tomorrow? Perhaps instead you are stress eating, gnawing on something mindlessly that is not essential to your health or your appetite. Maybe you bought something that wasn’t needed but filled a void. Will it help you in the long term, especially in this economy?

Admittedly, I’m forced, in a sense, to have the “luxury” of examining these things. Many people don’t have the time or urgent need to think about it. But if you did examine your life this closely… just for one day, assessing the true value and necessity in every single action you take… what would you see?

In this time of deep and frightening economic struggle, so many of us need to cut back. Isn’t that a really awful-feeling thing to think about? Cutting back. Giving up. Going without. Deprivation.

What if, instead, we looked at it from the perspective of “returning to the essence” of life? There’s a peace there, a simplicity.

As I pare back my life and eliminate what doesn’t serve my health, I find that my purpose and goals become much clearer because they are the very decision point for what must stay and what must go. What matters most to me? What am I willing to let go of? Would I even really miss it?  I find myself even more motivated to find an even clearer, more basic essence.

I have discovered that the things which are not essential to my life and my path fall away, whether I want them to or not.  And I cherish the things that do matter much, much more than I did before.  I am slowly teaching myself to befriend and stay open to this natural process.

My situation doesn’t have a resolution, and I can’t wrap this very long post up in a nice, tidy, uplifting way. This is an open-ended message I share with you. But I share it with you in the spirit of finding the gifts in what life hands us. And I hope it inspires you to spend just a little time looking at your essence. Your dreams. What you really treasure. And how you can learn from your “limitations”.

May we all find our own balance and realize our own true gifts.

Sarva’s web site is now carbon neutral!

Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps proudly announces membership in the CO2Stats carbon offsetting program!

CO2Stats monitors the total electricity used by computers visiting Sarva’s web site, the servers providing it, and the networks that connect them. CO2Stats then helps to make the site more energy efficient (and load faster), and purchases renewable energy to neutralize the carbon emissions due to generation of that electricity.

Think a web site doesn’t use much energy?  Think again.  Per the CO2Stats FAQ page:

Does the carbon footprint of a website really matter?

Very much so! According to a Gartner study, in 2007, for the first time in history, the carbon emissions due to information and communication technologies exceeded that of the entire aviation industry.

Noteworthy users of CO2Stats include Harvard University and Segway. CO2Stats has been widely featured in media outlets such as CNN, Scientific American, and Reuters.