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There are many ways you can help the Sumatran Orangutan Society. Download our SOS Fundraising Guide and A-Z of fundraising ideas or click on the options below for more ideas:

Following the steps below will help to reduce pressure on the world's natural resources, helping to protect the habitat of the orangutan and many other endangered species. 

  1. Buy certified wood.
    The greatest threat to the orangutan is habitat loss, and one of the main causes is illegal logging. This is fed by the high demand for timber in Europe and in countries such as Japan, the United States and China.  Use recycled paper and avoid timber products that have not been sustainably produced. Not all eco-labelling is reliable, so it is best to avoid all tropical hardwoods, such as teak, mahogany, ebony, sandalwood, ironwood, or ramin.
  2. Encourage your supermarket to ensure products use sustainable palm oil.
    A large amount of remaining orangutan habitat is under threat of being converted into oil palm plantations. Palm oil is found in one in ten products on supermarket shelves (including bread, crisps, margarine, cereals, lipstick and soap) yet the vast majority of manufacturing companies don't even know where their palm oil comes from. Encourage your supermarket to take action to source more sustainable palm oil by joining the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Boycotting products containing palm oil is not the solution - you should instead demand that the palm oil in the products you buy comes from genuinely non-destructive, sustainable plantations. If you are not sure whether a product contains palm oil or has been sustainably produced, ask the retailer for details. Expressing concern about where products and ingredients come from encourages companies to be environmentally sensitive. Click here to find out more about how oil palm plantations are contributing to the loss of orangutan habitat in indonesia.
  3. Reduce your carbon footprint.
    Electricity is one of the biggest producers of carbon emissions. Turn off electrical devices when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc.), unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging and fit energy saving light bulbs.
  4. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
    Reducing consumption lowers energy use and waste generation, and can make a great impact on protecting our environment. Use reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags. Try purchasing durable, long-lasting goods and seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxins as possible. Reusing items is the next best choice, better than recycling because no processing is required. Consider repairing, donating or selling an item before you throw it away. Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. In addition, it generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits. Materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper can be collected, separated and sent to facilities that can process them into new materials or products. Visit the SOS Online Shop for a range of environmentally-friendly products, mostly produced by local people in Indonesia.
  5. Support conservation projects.
    Click here to make a donation to the SOS.