No nasty* chemicals – Healthier products for you and the environment

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allergy safer

With up to one in three New Zealanders suffering from an allergy at some time in their lives and the rising rates of asthma - we think it’s time to make some changes...

Your health is our first concern

We believe it makes good sense to reduce your family’s exposure to some of the nasty chemicals used in household cleaners and body care products used everyday around your home. One of the guiding principles of our product formulations is that our products have to be better for people’s health as well as for the earth.

The skin is your body's largest organ

One of our biggest concerns is about the possible health effects that can result from wearing clothing with chemical residues next to your skin. Research suggests that absorbing chemicals through the skin can, in some cases, be more hazardous for your health than swallowing them.

Dr Baillie Hamilton MD, PhD* has researched this area of concern extensively, she says, “At least if you ingest chemicals through your mouth, your digestive system can do something towards dealing with them. If they go through your skin they hit your blood stream immediately and are then transported to vital organs such as kidney and liver, where they may be stored for many years.”

Precautionary Approach to Ingredients

If there’s any doubt about the safety of an ingredient we will not use it, searching instead for a safer alternative. To help us achieve this we have invested in an expert research and development team that strives to meet or exceed our stringent criteria. This is not always easy, as there is a common misconception that any natural substances must be better for you. We go to great lengths to identify ingredients which may cause irritation or allergy in a very small number of people. For example, the natural essential oils we use are safe for 99% of the population. If a persons health advisor has isolated a particular natural component they are allergic to, we have now made it easier for them by isolating the sub-component oils that are known to cause allergies in a few. They can then choose not to use that product. That is why on our body product range we not only mention the essential oil we've used e.g. lavender, but also any potentially troublesome components of lavender like 'linalool.' 

No nasty chemicals

To find out more about the ingredients that we avoid and why, take a look at our no nasty chemicals page.

 

*Dr Baillie-Hamilton MD, PhD has more than 20 years experience of academic research and medical practice and currently works as a full time writer and researcher. She is a member of the British Society for Allergy and Environment Medicine.