Clarity and transparency regarding content and production are very important for essentially all products, from clothes, food, and gadgets to the chemical products we use at home. We here at Västerbottenssåpa are very, very clear about all of this. Below you'll find a somewhat unique summary from a Swedish producer.
The EU will soon roll out a law that requires EVERYONE to have the same transparency, i.e., to disclose the climate impact of a product, what it contains, and where it comes from. We already have this in place. You're welcome!
1. Clear Information About Content
We at Västerbottenssåpa are very open about the ingredients we use in our products. For example, we specify that our soap is based on rapeseed oil and that it does not contain colophony, which can be an advantage for people with sensitive skin or allergies.
2. Transparency About Manufacturing and Origin
Västerbottenssåpa clearly communicates where and how their soap is manufactured. They emphasize that their soap is a Swedish product and that the factory that produces the soap is located in Vilhelmina, in the inland of Västerbotten, and that they work with a sustainable production process. Feel free to compare where products are produced, who manufactures them, and what a product is made of. For example, for wood deck soap, it should be clear which oil is the base of the product; words like 'old-fashioned' or 'traditional' are not content; content is tall oil, linseed oil, soy, and so on. Please ask and investigate. Oils such as tall oil (a residue from paper mills) are not naturally superfatted during saponification, so it should also be stated how the superfatting is achieved. Bases like soy have a high climate impact and often contribute to the clearing of rainforests, which is good information to have when making a choice.
3. Openness About Chemical Content, Environmental Impact
Västerbottenssåpa states that their products are free from harmful additives and potentially allergenic substances like colophony. They also describe how their soap works and why they chose rapeseed oil as a base. There is also a tab on the website with sustainability information. Västerbottenssåpa also has an Environmental Policy. What it means to have a public environmental policy:
- Signals environmental responsibility – You want to show customers, investors, and partners that you take environmental issues seriously.
- Has identified environmental impact – The company has analyzed its operations and acknowledged that its processes have an environmental impact that they want to manage.
- Complies with legal requirements and standards – Many industries require companies to have an environmental policy to comply with laws, industry standards, or certifications (e.g., ISO 14001).
- Strives for sustainability – A public environmental policy can mean that the company wants to reduce its climate impact through, for example, more efficient resource use or greener supply chains.
4. Customer Communication and Safety Data Sheets
Västerbottenssåpa offers access to safety data sheets and other detailed product information for those who want to know exactly what they are buying. Other companies have limited transparency in this regard, which can make it more difficult for you as a customer to gain insight into what they use; as a customer, you need to actively request this information.
By choosing Västerbottenssåpa, the customer thus gets a product where content, manufacturing, and environmental impact are reported in a clearer and more transparent way. This makes it easier to make an informed and confident purchase decision.
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Questions and Answers
1. Is wood deck soap really made from soy from the Southern Hemisphere?
Answer: Yes, some soaps are made from soy; please ask about the content and origin in your store.
2. Why is it important to know who manufactures a product?
- Quality and responsibility – By knowing the manufacturer, you can assess the product's quality and ensure that it meets certain standards. If something goes wrong, you also know who to turn to for support or complaints. Is it a company that manufactures and is responsible for a product or a brand that sells the same things as many others, so-called "White Label Products" where a large factory produces the same product but with different brands' own labels on it.
- Working conditions – Knowing who manufactures the product provides insight into working conditions and ethical aspects. Companies that are transparent about their suppliers and manufacturers can often demonstrate that they comply with labor laws and are responsible for the well-being of their employees.
- Environmental impact – The origin of 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 to reduce the risk of hazardous chemicals or materials that can affect consumer health.
- Supply chain transparency – By knowing who manufactures the product, consumers can make informed choices about whether they want to support sustainable or ethical manufacturers. This gives a sense of control over one's consumption.
3. Does tall oil saponify with natural superfatting?
Answer: No. Tall oil soap is not naturally superfatted; however, resin acids may remain. If tall oil-based soap is superfatted, an additional process to achieve the superfatting has taken place.
Order natural cleaning products here: Västerbottenssåpa