Captain Blankenship
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The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
overview
about
Captain Blankenship is a U.S.-based haircare brand focused on botanical, organic formulations.
• Certified B-corp
• Recyclable aluminum packaging
• MADE SAFE® certified
• Leaping Bunny certified
• 1% for the Planet
sustainability
details:
Packaging
The company chose aluminum as its primary packaging material due to aluminum's infinite recyclability. Nearly all products now come in reusable, recyclable aluminum bottles or containers, and the brand is introducing larger size options for certain haircare products to reduce packaging waste per use. Additionally, to promote packaging circularity the company joined the Pact Collective recycling program: customers can return hard-to-recycle components (such as plastic pumps and sprayers) so they can be properly recycled instead of ending up in landfills. Still, details regarding shipping packaging are lacking.
Ingredient Sustainability
Overall, ingredients are highly sustainable. The formulas rely on botanical ingredients (plant oils, seaweed extracts, aloe vera, starches, clays, essential oils) that are renewable and biodegradable, with minimal use of synthetic or petroleum-derived substances. Notably, all fragrances are from essential oils rather than synthetic chemicals, and there are no microplastics, silicones, or non-biodegradable polymers. Many ingredients (aloe, coconut oil, shea butter, etc.) are certified organic, indicating they are grown without harmful pesticides and often sourced via sustainable agriculture. Captain Blankenship actively works with suppliers practicing regenerative organic farming and wild-harvesting.
Captain Blankenship also strives to be palm-oil free to avoid deforestation impacts; in fact, the only palm-derived content is a small component of a gentle surfactant in the shampoo, and even that is sourced as RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil.
Energy Use and Footprint
Most notably, the brand's products are manufactured in the U.S. at an organic-certified facility that runs on renewable energy. While the brand has not published a formal carbon footprint or carbon-neutral claim, it does participate in initiatives to mitigate climate impact (for example, it donates 1% of revenue to environmental causes that include climate action).
Waste Management
A core strategy is the use of deadstock and upcycled materials. The company actively prioritizes Beyond packaging waste (covered above), Captain Blankenship shows some awareness of reducing waste in its production and day-to-day operations, though concrete data is limited.
Business Model
Captain Blankenship's business model strongly encourages mindful consumption and long-term sustainability over short-term sales tactics. Captain Blankenship has deliberately kept a tightly curated product line focused on haircare essentials.
Mindful consumption is further reinforced through several of the brand's practices. For instance, Captain Blankenship is beginning to offer refillable or larger-size options for its products.
non-toxic
details:
All formulas are free from the common classes of harmful chemicals often found in conventional personal care. According to the brand's own disclosures and certifications, they avoid using parabens (endocrine-disrupting preservatives), phthalates (often hidden in synthetic fragrances), PEGs and ethanolamines (irritating surfactant by-products), formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, synthetic “fragrance” blends, sulfate detergents like SLS/SLES, and silicones among many other concerning ingredients.
Importantly, Captain Blankenship's products have earned reputable third-party safety certifications. The brand is MADE SAFE® Approved, meaning its ingredients have been vetted by an independent nonprofit for human and environmental safety.
social responsibility
details:
As a Certified B Corporation, the company's social impact, including treatment of workers and suppliers, has been assessed to meet high standards. The brand's Sourcing Commitment states that every supplier must maintain healthy working conditions and align with Captain Blankenship's social and environmental values.
The company is 100% cruelty-free, meaning no animal testing is done at any stage of product development or production. This is backed by the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny certification.
Captain Blankenship goes beyond its own business interests to have a positive impact on communities and the environment, showing a strong sense of social responsibility. A cornerstone of this is the brand's participation in 1% for the Planet. Captain Blankenship has highlighted support for GreenWave, a nonprofit advancing regenerative ocean farming (seaweed and shellfish farming that improves ocean health). Beyond financial contributions, Captain Blankenship engages the community through education and advocacy.
