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

Sara Idenfors

Clarity and transparency regarding contents and production are very important for virtually all products, from clothing, food, and gadgets to the chemical products we use at home. Here at Soapa, 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 a law requiring EVERYONE to provide the same transparency—that is, to state a product’s climate impact, what it contains, and where it comes from. We already have this in place. There you go!

 

1. Clear information about contents

 

Here at Soapa, 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, all the product information appears.

 

 

2. Transparency about manufacturing and origin

 

Soapa clearly communicates where and how its soap is manufactured. It emphasizes that its soap is a Swedish product and that the factory manufacturing the soap is located in Vilhelmina, in the interior of Västerbotten, and that it operates with a sustainable production process. Feel free to compare: where are products made, 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 do not describe the contents; the contents are tall oil, linseed oil, soy, and so on. Feel free to ask questions and investigate. Oils such as tall oil, a by-product of paper mills, do not naturally become superfatting during saponification, so it should also be stated how the superfatting is achieved. Soy-based products have a high climate impact and often contribute to rainforest clearance, which is useful information to have when making a choice.

 

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

 

3. Openness about chemical contents and environmental impact

 

Soapa explains that its products are free from harmful additives and potentially allergenic substances such as rosin. It also describes how its soap works and why it has chosen rapeseed oil as its base. The website also has a sustainability information tab. Soapa also has an Environmental Policy. What having a public environmental policy means:

  • 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 to comply with laws, industry standards, or certifications, such as ISO 14001.
  • Strives for sustainability – A public environmental policy may mean 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

 

Soapa provides access to safety data sheets and other detailed product information for anyone who wants to know exactly what they are buying. If others are less open about this, making it more difficult for you as a customer to gain insight into what they use, you need to actively ask for this information.

By choosing Soapa, 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 purchasing decision.


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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. Feel free to ask about the contents and origin in your store.

 

2. Why is it important to know who makes 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 a complaint. Is it a company that manufactures and takes responsibility 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 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 manufacturing plays an important role in assessing a product’s environmental impact. Some manufacturers may have stricter environmental standards and work with sustainable materials, affecting 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 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: Soapa

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