ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW SOAP RECIPE — 2018 marks a time of change for the aromagregory and Soap by the Loaf company. After 18 years, it has become necessary to reformulate our soap recipe. The decision is not only based on dwindling supplies but also to further improve the quality of our product and to join the latest movements towards more earth and health friendly ingredients.
Homogenized soybean has been a major ingredient for us since 1999. It was chosen because of the stable lather it provided in the overall recipe. However, with growing health concerns in the food industry, which supplies the same oils for soap makers as restaurants, soybean in this form is no longer readily available because of the FDA ban on trans-fats in foods. Also, this soybean was listed as a GMO, a concern for a small group of our customers, even though this end product (soap) was not consumed.
Beginning in 2018, the soybean in our soap will be replaced with sustainable palm oil. There were two choices available to us to keep our recipe as close as possible to the original. They were palm or tallow. We knew that the animal product beef tallow was simply not an acceptable option for our customer base or our company. With that in mind, we sought out SUSTAINABLE palm.
What is sustainable palm?
The Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global certification organization formed to set the standard for sustainable palm oil, which includes a set of environmental and social criteria that companies must comply with to produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
One of the most important RSPO criteria states that no primary forests or areas which contain significant concentrations of biodiversity (e.g. endangered species) or fragile ecosystems, or areas which are fundamental to meeting basic or traditional cultural needs of local communities (high conservation value areas), can be cleared.
Other RSPO principles stipulate a significantly reduced use of pesticides and fires; fair treatment of workers according to local and international labor rights standard, and the need to inform and consult with local communities before the development of new plantations on their land.
How will this change our soaps at aromagregory and Soap by the Loaf?
1. will create a harder bar of soap
2. will create a bar of soap that is longer lasting
3. no GMO oils present in our soap
4. no issues for customers who have a problem with soybean products
We hope that you will join us in embracing this new formula, which will create a better quality bar of soap that is both earth-friendly and supports fair labor rights. We are excited to “up our game” and take our great soap to the next level. Better and longer lasting? What’s not to love about that?
Roy and Greg
www.aromagregory.com
www.soapbytheloaf.com