Does this contain harmful chemicals, where does it come from ...

Clarity and transparency regarding content and production are very important for virtually all products, from clothing, food, and household goods to the chemical products we use at home. Here at Västerbottenssåpa, we are very, very clear about all of this. Below you will find a somewhat unique overview from a Swedish producer. 
The EU will soon introduce legislation requiring EVERYONE to provide the same level of transparency—that is, to state a product’s climate impact, what it contains, and where it comes from. We already have this in place. Here you go!

 

1. Clear information about contents

 

At Västerbottenssåpa, we are very open about which ingredients we use in our products. For example, we specify that our soap is based on rapeseed oil and does not contain rosin, which may be beneficial for people with sensitive skin or allergies.
Feel free to compare. This is what it looks like on our website. If you click on the green leaf, you will see all the information about the product.

 

 

2. Transparency about manufacturing and origin

 

Västerbottenssåpa clearly communicates where and how its soap is manufactured. They emphasize that their soap is a Swedish product and that the factory manufacturing the soap is located in Vilhelmina, in Västerbotten’s inland region, and that they work with a sustainable production process. Feel free to compare: where are products manufactured, who makes them, and what are they made from? For example, for decking soap, it should be clear which oil forms the basis of the product. Words such as old-fashioned or traditional are not ingredients; ingredients include tall oil, linseed oil, soy, and so on. Feel free to ask questions and investigate. Oils such as tall oil, which is a by-product of paper mills, are not naturally superfatting during saponification, so it should also be stated how superfatting is achieved. Soy-based products have a high climate impact and often contribute to rainforest destruction, which is useful information to have when making a choice.

 

Sara and Magnus Idenfors outside the factory that manufactures Västerbottenssåpa in Vilhelmina

 

3. Openness about chemical content and environmental impact

 

Västerbottenssåpa explains that its products are free from harmful additives and potentially allergenic substances such as rosin. They also describe how their soap works and why they chose rapeseed oil as its base. The website also has a tab containing sustainability information. Västerbottenssåpa also has an environmental policy. What does it mean to have a public environmental policy? 

• Signals environmental responsibility – The company wants to show customers, investors, and business partners that it takes environmental issues seriously.
• Has identified its environmental impact – The company has analyzed its operations and acknowledged that its processes have an environmental impact that it wants to manage.
• Follows legal requirements and standards – Many industries require companies to have an environmental policy in order to comply with laws, industry standards, or certifications, such as ISO 14001.
• Strives for sustainability – A public environmental policy may indicate that the company wants to reduce its climate impact through, for example, more efficient use of resources or greener supply chains.

 

4. Customer communication and safety data sheets

 

Västerbottenssåpa provides access to safety data sheets and other detailed product information for anyone who wants to know exactly what they are buying. If others have limited openness in this regard, making it more difficult for you as a customer to find out what they use, you need to actively ask for this information.

By choosing Västerbottenssåpa, customers therefore get a product whose contents, manufacturing, and environmental impact are presented in a clearer and more transparent way. This makes it easier to make an informed and confident decision when purchasing.

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Questions and answers

1. Is decking soap really made from soy from the Southern Hemisphere?
Answer: Yes, some soaps are made from soy, so feel free to ask about the contents and origin in your store.

 

2. Why is it important to know who manufactures a product?

• Quality and responsibility – Knowing the manufacturer makes it possible to assess the product’s quality and ensure that it meets certain standards. If something goes wrong, you also know whom to contact for support or complaints. Is it a company that manufactures and takes responsibility for a product, or a brand that sells the same products as many others—so-called “white-label products”—where a large factory produces the same product but applies different brands’ own labels?

• Working conditions – Knowing who manufactures the product provides insight into working conditions and ethical considerations. Companies that are transparent about their suppliers and manufacturers can often demonstrate that they comply with labor regulations and take responsibility for their employees’ well-being.

• Environmental impact – The origin of the manufacturing plays an important role in assessing the product’s environmental impact. Some manufacturers may have stricter environmental standards and work with sustainable materials, which affects how the product contributes to resource use and waste management.

• Safety and health – Some manufacturers may have higher safety standards than others, which is important for reducing the risk of hazardous chemicals or materials that could affect consumers’ health.

• Supply chain transparency – Knowing who manufactures the product enables consumers to make informed choices about whether they want to support sustainable or ethical manufacturers. This provides a sense of control over one’s consumption.

 

3. Is tall oil pre-saponified with natural superfatting? Answer: No. Tall-oil soap does not become naturally superfatted; however, resin acids may remain. If tall-oil-based soap is superfatted, an additional process must have taken place to achieve the superfatting.

 

 

Order natural cleaning products here: Västerbottenssåpa