05 Sept 2024
Understanding what is or isn’t in a product is important as well as the reasons behind its inclusion or exclusion. To provide exceptional cleaning, ensure biodegradation and understand impact, we carefully consider all our ingredients.
Aquatic life warning
The aquatic life warning is necessary for concentrated cleaning products. Our formulations are incredibly concentrated (it’s why doses are so small!). They also contain little to no water to cut CO2 transport emissions. If we diluted them with water (like other products) they would not need this label - you would however, need larger doses and our carbon footprint would increase. Once smol products are diluted for use they are not classified as a concern. The warning is solely there to advise should there be a huge exposure of undiluted product to the environment in an industrial accident. This is a very unrealistic scenario.
Acrylic Copolymer
We include this in our dishwasher tablets to counter water hardness, ensure cleaning and give shiny glassware. Acrylic copolymer is a broad description that covers a large group of ingredients all with varying properties. Some are classed as solid microplastics, but not all.
The acrylic copolymer used in our dishwasher tabs is a liquid and not a microplastic. Our smol dishwasher tabs are certified Microplastic Free by Flustix. For more information see here.
Animal Ingredients
We don’t use them in any of our products and this includes the hidden animal fats used in most fabric conditioners. They are often hidden under names such as Tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, Dihydrogenated tallow, Esterquats and Cationic esterquat surfactants but you won’t find any in smol.
Cruelty-free
All smol products are cruelty-free. We do not test our products on animals and we do not allow others to test on our behalf either. Nor will we sell our products in countries that still require animal testing.
Concentrated formulas
Why is it good to concentrate? Because it means we use less materials and in turn less packaging. This means a far smaller carbon footprint through manufacturing and distribution. For example, smol laundry capsules generate 35% less carbon through production & distribution vs benchmark brands. Each tiny dose means better value for you with products like our fabric conditioner lasting our customers months if not years!
Enzymes
These are naturally occurring ingredients that help to digest stains and everyday dirts. Enzymes we use are: amylase, cellulase, lipase, mananase. They are never from animal sources and all our products are vegan.
Essential oils and fragrance
We use ethically sourced essential oils in our fragrance blends alongside some synthetic ingredients. Our formulation is protected as it’s unique to smol and not something we would share with customers. However if you have specific allergens please contact us and we will of course let you know if we contain them. We do contain traces of linalool and limonene.
Palm oil
We sustainably source any palm oil derivatives from RSPO certified supply chain systems and regularly survey our suppliers to ensure compliance. Learn more here.
Phosphates
We do NOT use phosphates in our products. They encourage algae to grow in waterways which can then impact aquatic life through the removal of oxygen from the water.
Phosphonates
Whilst this sounds very similar to phosphates it is NOT the same thing. We do contain phosphonates - however these do not bioaccumulate and do not cause aquatic toxicity.
Polyvinyl alcohol
Our PVA film is fully water soluble and biodegrades via bacteria, yeasts and fungi into CO2 and water. In river water PVA takes no more than 1 month to break down. This process also happens in water treatment plants within the activated sludge.
Optical Brighteners
These keep whites white and stop fabrics from greying or yellowing. They do not fade colours. Our optical brightener (Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate) is readily biodegradable according to the OECD 301F Biodegradation test.
SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
SLS works as a surfactant, trapping oil-based dirt so it can be rinsed away with water. Countless studies have shown over decades that sodium lauryl sulfate is a safe ingredient and it is used by many brands, including “eco brands”.
Vegan
All our products are free from animal products and we are proud to hold a Vegan Choice award.
Some other ingredients we never use…
Methylisothiazolinone, benzenes, parabens, phthalates, zeolites, triclosan, lilial…this list is not exhaustive so if you have a specific question we’d love to hear from you by emailing us at help@smol.com.