We make sure that all our rinse-off formulas are readily biodegradable and do not harm the environment when flushed down the drain. A product is considered as readily biodegradable when 60% fully degrades into simple compounds within 28 days. This is in line with OECD Guidelines.

Aluminium salts are derived from aluminium, one of the most common elements on Earth. Aluminium salts are the active ingredient used in anti-perspirants to control excessive sweating.

Aluminium salts are natural antimicrobial agents, they control bacteria on the skin, reducing unpleasant odours. Unfortunately, many people believe that aluminium in anti-perspirants increases the risk of breast cancer. Experts and health authorities have concluded there is no scientific evidence of such a connection, and that aluminium salts are safe for use in cosmetics. If you'd prefer not to use a product with aluminium salt, we advise you to choose a deodorant like The Ritual of Namaste natural deodorant stick, which does not contain aluminium salts.

Microplastics are solid, insoluble small plastic pieces less than five millimetres in length which are not biodegradable. These enter the environment via the breakdown of larger plastic materials or directly via microbeads used in products such as cosmetics, personal care products and laundry and dishwasher tablets.  

We decided years ago not to use microbeads in Rituals products. Instead, we use natural alternatives, such as sea salt, sugar, pumice (volcanic rock) and bamboo, giving you the confidence that your Rituals face or body scrub does not contribute to the accumulation of microplastics in the world's oceans. Eliminating microbeads is the first step for us. Cosmetic and personal care products, in general, can also contain dissolved and gel-like synthetic polymers – also called 'liquid plastics'. These synthetic polymers have been included in the microplastics debate in some countries. However, these substances differ considerably from microplastics according to scientific knowledge, but also from definitions that experts and independent organisations share widely. According to the current state of the study, dissolved and gel-like polymers are not part of the global water pollution problem with plastics. However, we support further research into the environmental impact of synthetic polymers and have decided to increasingly use so-called biopolymers.

Palm oil is extracted from the fruit pulp of the oil palm. It's the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, found in many consumer goods, including cosmetics. It's by far the most efficient vegetable oil to grow as it takes less land to produce than other vegetable oils.

Though it is the most efficient source of vegetable oil, it has significant environmental and social impacts, including deforestation, habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. The personal care products industry is responsible for a small part of global palm oil usage, and a relatively low-volume user of palm oil and palm kernel oil. However, Rituals is sensitive to the issues and complexity surrounding its sustainable production and waste. Therefore, we are committed to responsible sourcing of palm oil. We support the initiatives of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a nonprofit organisation that unites stakeholders from the palm oil industry to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil. At this moment, more than 92% of the palm oil and palm kernel oil-based ingredients used in our products are from a certified sustainable source (RSPO Mass Balance). Our target is to use 100% certified palm oil-based ingredients by 2021.

Parabens are used as preservatives in personal care products to prolong shelf life by preventing the growth of mould and bacteria. Parabens come in many forms, some of which can be found in nature.

Although the latest scientific findings show that some parabens are safe to use as preservatives for personal care products, concerns regarding parabens still exist. Therefore, we decided years ago to ban all parabens from our assortment. 

Silicones are a group of synthetic ingredients which exist in the form of oils or gels, often used in hair care products and deodorant sticks, for example, because of their softening and glossy effect.  

All silicones present in our products are safe to use in our personal care products. Though studies show that silicone is safe to use on your skin, recent concerns have surfaced regarding some silicones. Erring on the side of caution, we have decided to remove all cyclic silicones (such as Cyclomethicone) from our products and will stop using these entirely by the end of 2020.

Phthalates can be present in fragrances and plastics. In general, phthalates are claimed to have 'hormone-like activity' which may affect the reproductive system. All Rituals products and fragrances are free from phthalates.

Mineral oil is a by-product of the distillation of petroleum. We do not use mineral oil in our body and skincare products, but some mineral oil derivatives are used in functional categories such as make-up and hairstyling. The mineral oil used in our products is of pharmaceutical quality and therefore very pure.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) is ethoxylated alcohol and acts as an anionic surfactant. Due to its effective cleansing, foaming and thickening properties, it is mainly used in cleaning, bath and shower products such as hand soap, shower gel and shampoo. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) has identical characteristics, but prolonged contact with SLS may cause irritation, which is why we do not use SLS. In our foaming formulations, we only use SLES (Sodium Laureth sulphate).

MIT is used as a preservative in personal care products to prolong shelf life by preventing the growth of mould and bacteria. MIT has been found to have sensitising potential, meaning that it can cause allergic reactions such as skin inflammation and itchiness – that increase in severity as a result of repeated exposures. Rituals has always produced products without MIT, and the EU has now also banned its use in leave-on products.

Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers are used as a preservative in cosmetics. Their function is to prevent microbiological growth and spoilage of cosmetics by releasing small amounts of formaldehyde over time. A common side effect of formaldehyde in cosmetics is skin irritation, and therefore we do not use formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers in our products.

For our home, yoga and sleepwear, we often work with TENCEL ™ Lyocell. These fibres are derived from sustainable wood sources and produced in a closed-loop production, re-using the solvents and water to prevent water pollution. The fibres are certified as compostable and biodegradable.

Paraffin wax is widely used in candles and derived from crude oil. We have succeeded in minimising the amount of paraffin in our candles, by replacing this with more sustainable plant-based alternatives like sunflower wax and rapeseed wax. However, a minimum amount of paraffin is still required for optimal burning behaviour and to prevent candles from melting during transport, but we are continuously searching for more sustainable alternatives.  

The Soulwear Collection allows Rituals to embrace a better way of producing cotton. We are a proud member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which strives to improve global cotton production for the people who produce it, the environment around us and the future of the industry we work in. By purchasing any of the cotton products made by Rituals, such as our Soulwear Collection, you are supporting the Better Cotton Initiative. By 2023, 100% of the cotton for our Soulwear collection will be sourced through BCI.

All the paper, carton and wood we use for our packaging and our stores is FSC/PEFC certified. This means it comes from sustainably managed forests.