|Praises, no criticism|
|Some praise, no criticism|
|Praises, some criticism|
|Criticism, some praise|
Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies.
They are not a comment on the product itself.
|Outstanding Product Feature|
|Animal Ingredients Alert|
|The Guide > Personal Care > Toiletries > Soap|
Palm oil is found in one out of every ten supermarket products including shampoos, cooking oil, chocolate, cosmetics, chips, biscuits, margarine and soaps. The UN estimates that palm oil plantations are 'now the primary cause of permanent rainforest loss'. This threatens the survival of the Orang-utans, the Sumatran tiger and the Asian rhinoceros. Additionally, burning after deforestation accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions -1,400 million tonnes of CO2 every year in Indonesia alone.
- Learn about the issues, find sample letters to write to retailers and the government, and sign the petition for compulsory labelling [Palm Oil Action Group]
- Check the ingredients, if the product contains palm oil, avoid it, send a letter to the manufacturer telling them of your action. (Note: it may be labelled as simply "vegetable oil")
- See the 'Helping you buy responsibly' section for a list of manufacturers who are committed to avoiding the use of palm oil. [Boreno Orangutan Survival]
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is the foaming agent commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, and toothpastes. It's also found in industrial products including engine degreasers, floor cleaners, and car wash soaps. Although used in low concentrations in bodycare products, it ends up on the most sensitive areas of our bodies almost every day. It is well known in the scientific community as a common skin irritant. In stripping away oil and drying the skin's surface, it reduces the skin's ability to effectively regulate moisture, and increases the skin's absorption of certain other chemicals such as preservatives, fragrances and colour additives. It's used in our products primarily because it's cheap, often derived from palm oil. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is the alcohol form of SLS. It is slightly less irritating than SLS, but may cause more drying. There is mixed opinion as to whether SLS and SLES are carcinogenic (cancer causing), however, it is possible both may be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is a probable carcinogen. [Living Toxic Free]
- Avoid if you have sensitive skin. Read the product label and seek and alternative product without SLS, where possible. (i.e. ammonium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant).
- Seek out products that claim to be 1,4 dioxane free or SLS/SLES free.
Collagen, fatty acids, glycerine, sodium tallowate and bovine extracts. (Information compiled by Aduki)
|Dr Bronner's||Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps
Distributor: Lateral Food
|Priya||CTD In The Bag||2|
|Solvol||WD-40 Australia (WD-40 Co.)||USA||2|
|Red Seal||Red Seal Natural Health||NZL||3|
|Cashmere Bouquet||Colgate-Palmolive Australia (Colgate-Palmolive)||USA||4|
|Palmolive||Colgate-Palmolive Australia (Colgate-Palmolive)||USA||4|
|Dettol||Reckitt Benckiser Australia (Reckitt Benckiser)||UK||4|
|Dove||Unilever Australia (Unilever)||UK NLD||4|
|Lux||Unilever Australia (Unilever)||UK NLD||4|
|Pears||Unilever Australia (Unilever)
|Simple||Unilever Australia (Unilever)||UK NLD||4|
|Gamophen||Johnson & Johnson Pacific (Johnson & Johnson)||USA||5|
|Cussons||PZ Cussons Australia (PZ Cussons)||UK||5|
|Imperial Leather||PZ Cussons Australia (PZ Cussons)||UK||5|
|Nivea||Beiersdorf Australia (maxingvest)||GER||6|