Route One Pumpkins Expands Sustainability Initiative and Launches New, Local Beeswax and Honey Palm-Free Soap Formula
Half Moon Bay, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- Route One Pumpkins has always had a primary sustainability goal. In 2013, as numerous accomplishments in the last year are reviewed, these efforts on sustainability are being consolidated under the umbrella "Green Footprint", including:
• Extensive use of organic ingredients: even though Route One Pumpkins' facility is not yet certified organic, organic oils are used extensively and they are listed as such on the ingredient panels. At the time of label printing, the pumpkin seed supplier- Tunitas Creek Family Farm - was in the process of certification, having farmed without the use of pesticides or fertilizers for decades, and now they have just received organic certification! 2013 third-party lab testing of the 2012 harvested oil proved absolute purity. Additionally, Route One Pumpkins demands COA's (Certificates of Analysis) that indicate country of origin and purity from all of our suppliers, something many small soap and sundry makers are not aware of and do not require.
• Reduction and eventual elimination of the use of palm oil. Currently, only the handcrafted soap products include palm oil and that has been certified as sustainable by the RSPO and is sourced from Colombia rather than Asia. The company is focusing on complete elimination from our formulas by the end of 2013.
• Solar power is used extensively, in production, in the production of packaging materials (90% of the soap boxes), and website hosting.
• Use of recycled and recyclable packaging and promotional materials whenever possible. Where they are not available, suppliers are encouraged to begin offering them.
• Local sourcing of ingredients and supplies - even at higher costs- to reduce transportation emissions.
• Zero-waste production, with odd-sized remnants and pilot batches are donated to the local Salvation Army.
• Verified cruelty-free by the consumer coalition for information on cosmetics' Leaping Bunny program.
Route One Pumpkins continues to resist the temptation (and numerous) requests for liquid soap / shower gel, but it seems indefensible to take a pure, biodegradeable, beautiful soap bar and shave it down,melt it, add water and stabilizing chemicals and then put it in a plastic bottle for consumer convenience. Bar soap is simply better for skin and better for the planet.
Products are guaranteed to be free of phthalates, parabens, petroleum products, artificial ingredients and detergents. Most are free of animal products, although local, sustainable, beeswax and honey are selectively used.
Route One Pumpkins was founded in 2012 and produces small batches of handcrafted soap and personal care products with high quality ingredients, sourced as locally and organically as possible and packaged, packed and marketed sustainably.
Sandra Klein, Route One Pumpkins, http://RouteOnePumpkins.com, (650) 712-1762, [email protected]
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