How We Source Our Coconut Oil

When we began sourcing ingredients for HK & Sons, we knew that ethics and sustainability needed to be at the forefront of our ingredients suppliers’ mission. Coconut oil is an important base ingredient in our soap that creates a rich, foamy lather and leaves the skin feeling moisturized. Upon trying to find a good source for this oil, it became clear very quickly that coconut oil is often not farmed sustainably or ethically. 

FAIR TRADE

Many of the workers on coconut farms are paid very low wages. Luckily, we found a company that is Fair Trade Certified! This means that we know that the company we source our coconut oil from is treating and paying their workers fairly.

SUSTAINABILITY

We never support the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. These chemicals are not only bad for the environment and deplete the nutrients in the soil, but these chemicals are also bad for the health of the farm workers. Good news - the company we source coconut oil from is also USDA Organic! 

WHY WE DON’T USE PALM OIL

If you look at the ingredients label on many bars of soap, you’ll find that Palm Oil is a common one. Palm oil is a controversial oil because while some people argue that it is necessary for many different products and applications, it’s also caused deforestation and destroyed the habitats of many endangered species. Just like coconut oil, the treatment of the workers at palm oil farms is important to consider. If you choose to buy soap (or other products) that use palm oil, make sure it is RSPO certified (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). This organization ensures that the palm oil is produced in a sustainable and ethical manner. For HK & Sons, coconut oil works best in our recipe and we can avoid the issues that arise from palm oil. To read more about palm oil, check out this article: https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-know-about-palm-oil

SOURCING

Sourcing ingredients takes a lot of time and research. We do not choose the cheapest ingredients, we choose the highest quality we can find from companies that meet our values. Ethics and sustainability will always be the first things we consider when sourcing ingredients! How many big soap companies can say the same thing?