Pharmacopia

Packaging

Pharmacopia exclusively uses 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic bottles for all product packaging. This means that no virgin plastic is used in its containers, an effort that the brand reports diverts over 150 tons of plastic from landfills each year. All bottles are also recyclable and BPA-free, and the brand’s FAQ confirms that the bottles can be recycled after use. Pharmacopia also offers some products in bulk gallon sizes to facilitate refills and reduce total packaging waste.

Despite these positives, Pharmacopia has not completely eliminated plastic from its packaging, nor does it use biodegradable or compostable packaging materials. The packaging is not plastic-free, and there’s no indication of using glass, aluminum, or biomaterials for primary containers.

Ingredient Sustainability

Pharmacopia’s ingredients are largely plant-based, many of them certified organic. These choices indicate that Pharmacopia prioritizes renewable, plant-based ingredients, many of which can be grown sustainably. The use of organic ingredients suggests lower agrochemical use and more sustainable farming practices for those components. The brand also avoids ingredients associated with severe habitat harm; for instance, it does not use microplastics or non-biodegradable microbeads.

However, some limitations and uncertainties prevent a top score in this category. First, not all ingredients are from the most sustainable tiers. For example, the soap bar formula contains Sodium Palmate and Sodium Palm Kernelate as primary ingredients, indicating the use of palm oil. There is no evidence that this palm oil is certified sustainable (e.g. RSPO certified). If Pharmacopia is sourcing palm oil or palm-derived ingredients (like certain emulsifiers or surfactants) without transparency or certification, this is a notable sustainability gap.

Additionally, some synthetic or semi-synthetic ingredients in the formulas may have sustainability drawbacks. For instance, the conditioner uses amodimethicone (a silicone) and an acrylates copolymer, and the shampoo contains ingredients like PEG-4 Rapeseedamide, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, and Polysorbate-20. While these serve functional purposes and are generally considered safe for consumers, they are petrochemical-derived or highly processed, and not all are readily biodegradable.

Energy & Footprint

In terms of climate impact and energy use, there is little concrete information available about Pharmacopia’s practices.

Waste Management

Pharmacopia’s decision to offer bulk gallon sizes for its products is a commendable waste-reduction strategy. Selling products like shampoo or body wash in gallon jugs (especially for hospitality clients or avid home users) means fewer smaller bottles are needed over time, cutting down on plastic packaging waste per unit of product used. There is less information on manufacturing waste or resource efficiency in the production phase.

Business Model

Pharmacopia’s business model leans toward slow, intentional consumption rather than fast-paced, trend-driven sales, which is a positive indicator of sustainability. The brand has been in business for over 20 years and offers a relatively curated, evergreen product line. Its core collections (e.g. Citrus, Verbena, and Argan Oil lines) consist of staple personal care items ( shampoos, conditioners, body washes, lotions, soaps, and a lip balm) that do not change seasonally or chase short-lived trends.

The brand was founded on the premise that personal care products should be safe for one’s health, free from ingredients that could irritate or cause long-term harm. In practice, Pharmacopia adheres to a strict blacklist of toxins: no parabens, no phthalates, no formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, no synthetic dyes, and no synthetic fragrances are used in any of its products. Instead of synthetic perfumes (which often hide phthalates), Pharmacopia scents its products solely with natural essential oils (such as orange, bergamot, grapefruit, peppermint, etc.), thereby avoiding dozens of undisclosed aroma chemicals that could trigger allergies or sensitivities. 

The inclusion of phenoxyethanol and a silicone (dimethicone/amodimethicone) are the primary reasons we do not award a higher score in this category. While those ingredients are broadly considered safe, some strict clean beauty standards consider them less desirable.

Fair Labor

Fair labor is an area where Pharmacopia’s commitments are not very visible, resulting in some uncertainty. The brand claims it sources ingredients “ethically and sustainably”, which implies an intent to consider the welfare of those involved in harvesting and producing raw materials. For example, argan oil is traditionally produced by Moroccan women’s cooperatives. Pharmacopia mentions the origin (Morocco) and highlights the beneficial qualities of argan oil, but stops short of stating that their argan is purchased from Fair Trade or cooperative sources. Similarly, shea butter, jojoba oil, and other botanicals come from communities around the world (West Africa for shea, perhaps India or Israel for jojoba, etc.). The brand does not indicate that any of these are Fair Trade certified or direct-trade.

Animal Welfare

Pharmacopia excels in animal welfare by being uncompromisingly cruelty-free and vegan in all aspects of its business. This commitment is substantiated by Pharmacopia’s long-standing certification under PETA’s “Beauty Without Bunnies” program. Furthermore, Pharmacopia’s products are now 100% vegan.

Community Engagement

In the area of community and charitable engagement, Pharmacopia appears to have minimal involvement or at least minimal public disclosure. Our research did not find evidence of any ongoing philanthropic partnerships, donations to social or environmental causes, or volunteer initiatives associated with the brand.