True Botanicals

Packaging:

The brand “refuses plastic wherever possible” and uses 100% recyclable glass bottles for all products. Outer cartons are made from FSC-certified paper, supporting sustainable forestry. Plastic is nearly eliminated aside from necessary components like pumps; True Botanicals is even introducing PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic for closures and is “working toward making all…packaging 100% recyclable within the next five years.” The brand’s inks are soy-based and non-toxic. They participate in the Pact Collective recycling program to help customers properly recycle hard-to-recycle packaging.

The brand is plastic-negative certified (through rePurpose Global), meaning it funds the removal of twice as much plastic waste from the environment as it uses.

Ingredient Sustainability:

The formulas avoid environmentally harmful inputs like non-RSPO palm derivatives, heavy metals, or persistent synthetics. In fact, as of Q1 2022 True Botanicals achieved 100% RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil usage for any palm-based ingredients. Ingredients are often sourced through regenerative farming or sustainable wildcrafting. True Botanicals also traces ingredients to their origin to ensure local environmental and community sustainability.

Energy Use and Footprint:

True Botanicals has made broad commitments to reducing its climate and energy footprint, though some specifics are limited. The company conducts an annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment and claims to prioritize “always being carbon neutral.” True Botanicals also emphasizes renewable and lower-impact sourcing as part of its carbon strategy. However, the brand has not shared data on its own energy use or renewable energy adoption.

Waste Management:

Crucially, all True Botanicals formulas are biodegradable. They highlight that their skincare products (even the new Chebula eye masks) are proven not to bio-accumulate in the environment. In terms of production and operational waste, little is publicly disclosed. The brand does not mention upcycling manufacturing byproducts or specific waste-to-landfill reduction metrics. There is also no refill or reuse system for their containers.

Business Model:

True Botanicals’ business model leans more toward slow, sustainable consumption than typical beauty brands, though some conventional practices remain. The brand maintains a relatively small, evergreen product range centered on core skincare needs. Hero products like the Pure Radiance Oil and Chebula Serum have been in the lineup for years, and new launches are infrequent and thoughtful.

They avoid over 15,000+ substances that are potentially harmful to humans or the environmenttruebotanicals.com. Every single True Botanicals product is MADE SAFE® certified, meaning it contains zero ingredients known or suspected to cause human health harm. True Botanicals was actually awarded the Made Safe “Ingredient Integrity” Award in 2023 for its leadership in clean formulations.

There are no parabens, phthalates, or PEGs, no synthetic perfumes, no formaldehyde releasers, no sulfates, no chemical sunscreens. Instead, preservation is achieved with naturally derived agents (like radish root ferment, phenethyl alcohol, ethylhexylglycerin, etc.), and any fragrances come from natural essential oils. True Botanicals even reformulated traditional problematic product types: for example, their Shine & Protect Hair Cream Oil was designed to use plant oils instead of silicones (silicones can bioaccumulate and aren’t biodegradable) and botanical extracts instead of synthetic fragrance.

Many products are certified Microbiome-Friendly (not disrupting the skin’s beneficial microbes) and even National Eczema Association Accepted (e.g. the Chebula Active Serum) for tolerability on sensitive skin.

True Botanicals does not publish a formal Supplier Code of Conduct or detailed supply chain transparency report. The brand’s products are manufactured in California, USAtruebotanicals.com, which means production workers operate under U.S. labor laws. Additionally, True Botanicals has an all-female leadership team and actively champions women in its corporate structure and sourcing initiatives.

True Botanicals is a 100% vegan and cruelty-free brand. They hold certifications from both leading cruelty-free organizations: PETA’s “Beauty Without Bunnies”, and Leaping Bunny.

The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning it pledges 1% of annual sales (not just profits) to environmental and social non-profits. Beyond this, True Botanicals frequently supports causes aligned with its four pillars (Carbon footprint, Plastic reduction, Women’s empowerment, Product safety).