Agricultural commodity ingredients and their derivatives are common in many beauty products. Good On You’s methodology focuses on the ones most used in beauty products: palm oil, soy, coconut, cocoa, shea, vanilla, and sugarcane.  

High demand and the scale of their production can drive deforestation, soil degradation, habitat destruction and ecological damage. Due to the widely documented environmental risks associated with each ingredient, brands with a commitment to sustainability must be able to demonstrate the actions they are taking both to avoid risks and drive positive solutions. 

How we assess risk and impact

We recognise that the commodities in question are not produced exclusively for the beauty industry, therefore we assess the areas beauty brands have leverage over:

  • Whether you have a sourcing policy – and what it applies to
  • How much of the commodity supply chain has been traced
  • Engagement with relevant certifications, standards, and multistakeholder initiatives
  • Engagement with suppliers
  • What responsible sourcing strategies and requirements you have in place
  • What targets you have set (large brands only)

Scoring only applies to answers about the commodities you use – no points are applied for not using a commodity.

The commodities and their derivatives

Hundreds of ingredients may be derived from just one commodity, so it is essential to understand the origins of the ingredients you use. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of example derivatives for each commodity included in our methodology:

Palm Oil

Aluminum Isostearates, Azelaic acid, Behenic acid 85% (C22), Calcium myristate, Capryl Glucoside, Caprylic-capric-stearic triglyceride, ceteareth-20, Cetearyl alcohol, Cetyl alcohol, Citris seed extract, Dilinoleic acid, Distilled Fatty Acids, Elaeis guineensis oil, Ethoxylated lauryl alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl stearate, Glycol distearate, Isopropyl myristate, Myristic acid, Palm kernel oil, Palmitate, Propylene glycol, Propylene glycol monostearate, Sodium laureth sulfate, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sorbitan oleate, Sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan stearate, Steareth – 40, Stearic Acid, Vegetable glycerine, 

Soy

Glycine Soja Oil, glycerin, Genistein, Glycine Max, Phytosteryl Isostearate, Soy Sterols

Coconut

Sodium lauryl sulfate, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, sodium isostearoyl lactylaye, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Coconut butter, Coconut Acidulated Soapstock, Coconut cetyl esters, Caprylic, Caprate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocoglycerides

Cocoa

Theobroma Cacoa Seed Butter, Cocao, Cacoa, Cocoa Caprylate

Shea

Butyrospermum Parkii, Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Shea Butter Glycerides, Shea Butter Oleyl Esters

Vanilla

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Vanilla Tahitensis, vanillin

Sugarcane

Ethanol, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Saccharum Officinarum, Molasses, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Sucrose Polystearate, Sucrose Stearate, Sorbitol