An Ethical and Sustainable Swap to our Soap

We have used aloe vera as the main water component in our soaps. We have recently had to look for a new supplier of aloe vera and in the frustrating process, we learned this ingredient may no longer align with our values. Aloe vera is in high demand and producers aren't able to keep up with that demand. This has driven prices up but also revealed that this demand is being exasperated by climate change and health trends. Bringing into question if continuing to use aloe vera is ethical and sustainable. Leading to a choice to make an ethical and sustainable swap to our soap.

Close-up of aloe vera leaves highlighting their thick, fleshy texture

Environmental Impact of Aloe Vera Farming

Aloe vera is often praised for its drought resistance and ability to grow in arid conditions. However, large-scale commercial farming can still have significant environmental consequences. Due to climate change, it is becoming harder to grow aloe vera. It takes up to a year for aloe vera to mature enough to harvest and use. Climate change is making the harvesting of the plants smaller because the crops aren't as healthy.

• Water Usage

While aloe vera requires less water than many crops, intensive farming in regions already facing water scarcity can strain local water resources. For example, some farms in parts of India and Mexico, where aloe vera is widely grown, have been criticized for over-extracting groundwater.

• Soil Degradation

Continuous aloe vera cultivation without proper crop rotation or soil management can lead to soil depletion. This reduces land fertility and can cause erosion, making the land less productive over time.

• Pesticides and Chemicals

To meet high demand, some producers use pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. These chemicals can contaminate soil and water, harming local ecosystems and biodiversity.

Fair Labor Practices in Aloe Vera Production

The aloe vera industry relies heavily on manual labor, especially during harvesting and processing. Ethical concerns arise when workers face poor conditions or unfair treatment.

• Low Wages and Exploitation

In some aloe vera farms, especially in developing countries, workers receive wages below living standards. Reports have highlighted cases where laborers work long hours without adequate breaks or safety measures.

• Child Labor and Forced Labor

Although not widespread, there have been instances where child labor or forced labor practices were linked to aloe vera production. These practices violate human rights and international labor laws.

• Lack of Worker Protections

Many workers lack access to healthcare, fair contracts, or the ability to unionize. This leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe working environments.

Supporting brands that are transparent about their supply chains and committed to fair trade principles can help improve labor conditions. Certifications like Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance indicate adherence to ethical labor standards.

Health and Safety Concerns in Aloe Vera Products

While aloe vera is generally safe, ethical concerns arise around product safety, labeling, and marketing claims. Since 2020 people have been looking at health in a new way and some have turned to aloe vera to help with gut health, to improve overall health. (These are claims that haven't been studied enough to confirm one way or another)

• Product Purity

Some aloe vera products contain additives, fillers, or contaminants that reduce effectiveness or cause allergic reactions. Ethical producers ensure high purity and quality control.

• Accurate Labeling

Misleading claims about aloe vera’s benefits or exaggerating its healing powers can deceive consumers. Clear, evidence-based information is essential.

An issue we have found in finding a reliable supplier for our aloe is they can't tell me whether or not the naturally occurring latex (aloin) has been removed or not. Apparently, it isn't standard to test for this, and we are trying to reduce allergy risks as much as possible.

Our Ethical and Sustainable Swap

Introducing Sodium Lactate

We are no longer using aloe vera in our products. We have decided to switch to using distilled water with the addition of sodium lactate. Sodium lactate is derived by fermenting sugar usually found in beets. We get our sodium lactate from a US supplier, that focuses on quality ingredients from ethical sources. Sodium lactate is going to help us maintain the qualities you love about our soaps, and fit our value for ethical and sustainable ingredients. Similar to aloe vera it will help make our bars hard, increase the lather and act as a humectant (help draw moisture into the skin). Aloe vera may have provided some additional vitamins and minerals, but after going through the saponification process it is questionable how much makes it through to the final bar of soap. We are hoping this change goes unnoticed but if you do notice something, good or bad, please let us know. We want to continue to provide the best product possible. We will be starting our soap making in the coming weeks and should have the new recipe in all of our soaps by the end of the year. We still have some soap from last year and plan to slowly phase it out. Our website will be updated as we update the varieties. Thanks for reading! Please use code: CHANGES for 5% off your order.