The Honest Company is a new line of environmentally conscious baby items.
This company is a prime example of greenwashing because individuals usually feel better when using ecologically friendly items for their children.
This company qualifies as greenwashing because they are introducing a fresh perspective on all baby items, not only eco-friendly diapers and wipes.
The Honest Company has reached a new level of eco-friendliness by developing waste-reducing shampoos, soaps, detergents, healing balms, cleaning products, detangling sprays, etc.
They produce both plant-based items and packaging made from sustainable resources.
It is believed that The Honest Company is attempting to become the new and improved eco-friendly baby product company by recommending that practically every aspect of baby products be altered.
They anticipate that others will follow in their footsteps and revamp their entire dynamic.
At their debut, they offered goods for the baby care, house cleaning, and personal care categories. In 2015, they created Honest Beauty, a separate company that offers skincare and cosmetics.
With a name like “The Honest Company,” the firm is voluntarily subjecting itself to scrutiny, and this has a cost. Several lawsuits have been filed against them over the years, and it has been proven that some of their products are not as eco-friendly or non-toxic as they claim.
Let’s examine the Honest Company in more detail and the debates they have faced over the years.
Lawsuits Against Them
Throughout the years, The Honest Company has been the subject of numerous disputes and litigation. Let’s look at them more closely:
2015
In 2015, the firm updated its sunscreen, which resulted in an avalanche of complaints from users alleging they sustained severe sunburns after following the instructions. This led to many lawsuits, which finally resulted in the business discontinuing its whole range of sunscreens.
2016
In 2016, the company was sued over its infant formula. The formula was certified organic by the USDA and branded as such. In the end, the action was dismissed due to the company’s compliance with the law and the legitimacy of its organic product under US law.
2017
In 2017, the firm settled a class-action lawsuit for $1.55 million over allegations that it misled customers about the chemicals in its laundry detergent, dish soap, and all-purpose cleaner.
This lawsuit is a result of a renowned journal study that discovered their products contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) despite the company’s claims to the contrary.
The company swiftly responded to the study by asserting that their products do not include SLS, but rather Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS), a less irritating and safer chemical.
However, the company ultimately decided to settle the lawsuit, arguing that it had committed no crime and that continuing the case in court would be time-consuming and costly.
Are Their Wipes An Example Of Greenwashing?
The wipes from Honest are another issue. They are not environmentally friendly, despite what the brand would have you believe.
The front of the package states that they are biodegradable, while the fine language on the back states that they “will biodegrade and compost in municipal/industrial facilities in accordance with ASTM D5338 and OECD 331 criteria.”
The difficulty is that they are composed of rayon. True, rayon is generated from plant fiber, but according to the legal definition of the term, rayon is not biodegradable.
For a product to be fully biodegradable, it must “totally disintegrate into naturally occurring elements in a reasonable amount of time,” which rayon does not.
Since these wipes end up in a landfill, it would be a stretch to call them environmentally beneficial.
Presence Of Harmful Substances
Limonene and linalool are two problematic chemicals found in a number of Honest products. Limonene is found in citrus peels, while linalool is present in a variety of flowers and plants. Both are commonly utilized as scent ingredients in personal care products.
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Union has identified limonene and linalool as allergens with a high level of concern.
The allergic reaction often occurs upon contact with the skin, hence it is of greatest significance in the personal care items manufactured by Honest.
The products listed below contain either limonene or linalool (besides unscented versions)
- Every bubble bath
- Every shampoo plus body wash
- All conditioner
- Baby cream
- Baby shampoo + body wash
- Prime + flawless face mask
- Everything Basics
- 3-in-1 detox mud mask
- Deeply Hydrating Face Lotion
Although they are not necessarily substances to avoid, it is useful to be aware of them.
Not So Eco-Friendly
Diapers from The Honest Company are a popular product that is frequently praised for being eco-friendly and non-toxic. However, the diapers are not nearly as environmentally friendly as the firm claims.
Even while they do certain things better than their conventional competitors, such as using chlorine-free wood pulp from regenerating forests, they still use polypropylene and polyethylene, plastics produced from petroleum, for the inner layer.
Not only does this layer come into direct contact with your baby’s skin, but diapers made with plastics could never be called truly eco-friendly, despite what their website’s frequently asked questions would have you believe.
Several companies are doing an excellent job of making non-toxic, eco-friendly diapers; in fact, some diapers are biodegradable and composed of bamboo. The Honest Company has a long way to go before it can declare its diapers environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
The Honest Company is not a horrible business, but they are guilty of greenwashing. Even the company’s name is intended to make you assume the brand is eco-friendly and reliable. This is not the case.
Due to the fact that their diapers and wipes are not compostable or recyclable, the company’s claim that they are environmentally friendly is deceptive. In addition, they use a great deal of plastic in their packaging.
In the past, the company was found to have used SLS in their soaps and detergents, despite the fact that they do not use any harmful substances at present.
Simply by existing, The Honest Company has likely done a great deal to inspire people to think more about the items they use and to encourage other firms to consider the impact of their products on our health and the environment.
