How Branch Basics Is A Healthy & Sustainable Cleaning Line

By Branch Basics |

How Branch Basics Is A Healthy & Sustainable Cleaning Line

There are many natural and “green” cleaning products available these days. But, as we’ve covered in previous articles, “natural” doesn’t always mean “sustainable”...or even very natural in some cases.

That’s because the cleaning product industry is very poorly regulated regarding labeling, marketing, ingredient testing, transparency, and greenwashing.

This means it is up to us as health-conscious consumers to vet our cleaning products for safety, purity, and sustainability.

So, what makes a natural cleaning product truly natural, human-safe, and sustainable?

In this article, we’ll share all the ways we’ve designed Branch Basics to be a healthy and truly sustainable cleaning product line.

Whether you use this information to vet our product line or another company’s, we aim to empower you with the knowledge to find the right products to help you create a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

#1: Sustainable Refill Model

There’s no way around it. If you sell liquid and powdered cleaning products, they must come in a package.

And the most sustainable workaround for that is to use a refill model.

When you order a Branch Basics Starter Kit, it comes with high-quality glass or plastic reusable and refillable spray, hand soap, and laundry bottles (the exact mix of bottles depends on the starter kit you choose). 

Just add water and the recommended amount of Branch Basics Concentrate, use, and refill as many times as you wish.

Refillable bottles are sustainable because they:

  • Eliminate single-use plastic cleaning bottles, trigger sprayers, squirt lids, etc.
  • Save on shipping
  • Save on water
  • And save all the fossil fuels and energy that go into creating and disposing of single-use packaging.

Plus, choosing refillable glass bottles will help reduce plastic production, pollution, and waste. Which brings us to our next point...

#2: Sustainable Packaging & Bottles 

We put a lot of thought into the packaging of our products.

Not only have we been working toward the most sustainable packaging possible, but we also knew it needed to be functional, durable, and affordable.

Here’s how we’re striving to make that happen with sustainable packaging and bottle choices.

You Choose Your Refillable Bottle Type

In our perfect world; everyone would use glass bottles to clean their homes. However, we understand this may not be your ideal scenario for natural cleaning.

Therefore, you choose the types of refillable bottles you want based on your budget, lifestyle, and sustainability goals.

  • Branch Basics Plastic Bottles: Our single-use and refillable plastic bottles are all BPA-free and recyclable. They’re also made from durable, high-quality plastic to ensure longer-lasting sprays, pumps, and pours.
  • Branch Basics Glass Bottles: Glass is better for the environment in terms of recyclability and chemical footprint and tends to last longer than plastic. Our glass bottles are reinforced with silicone sleeves to help prevent shattering. provide sturdiness and an easy grip. 

But we didn’t stop at the bottles. Here’s the scoop on the rest of our sustainably packaged products.

  • Oxygen Boost Pouches vs. Canisters: Our best-selling Oxygen Boost now comes in a 4 lb pouch vs. plastic canister. This packaging weighs 89% less while holding twice the amount of product. This allows us to ship more product with fewer truckloads, ultimately helping us reduce 14.6 TONS of CO2 emissions a year. Plus, it creates less waste at home. Who knew a little pouch could make such a difference?
  • Wool Dryer Balls: These hand-made reusable dryer balls reduce drying time, wrinkles, and static while eliminating the need for fabric softeners. They’re made from 100% sustainably sourced United States wool from organically-raised sheep. For real! Learn more here.
  • Natural Scrub Brush: A good scrub brush is a necessity for effective cleaning and is multi-purpose. Our natural scrub brush is made with a 100% untreated and unsealed solid beechwood handle and natural fiber bristles from the Agave Lechuguilla plant that last and outperform plastic bristles hands-down.
  • Dishwasher Tablets: Our dish tabs come in a lightweight pouch and contain no plastic wrap or film, no fillers or plastic in the formula (versus those that do have a plastic wrap, film or filler contribute to microplastic pollution). 
  • Gel Hand Soap:  Consciously crafted for the whole family using only healthy ingredients like chamomile and meadowfoam oil to soothe and hydrate skin with every wash. Our 32oz refill pouch of Gel Hand Soap refills two Branch Basics Hand Soap bottles, saving you money and protecting the planet.
  • Laundry Detergent: Our powerful Laundry Detergent effectively lifts stains and removes odors with just one scoop. The laundry powder comes in a 4 lb pouch (just like our Oxygen Boost), providing you with enough to clean 90 loads of laundry. We also include a reusable plastic scoop! This powerful product is safe for all washing machines and septic tanks. The formula's high performance in cold water not only saves energy but also preserves the integrity of fabrics.

We're proud of how far we’ve come in implementing sustainable packaging…but we’re not done yet! 

There is still more work to do, but we are committed to improving our packaging, reducing our emissions, and creating healthy homes and a healthy planet.

#3: Sustainable, Biodegradable, Human-Safe Cleaning Products

There is no shortage of companies claiming to offer healthy or green cleaning products. Unfortunately, our industry is rife with greenwashing—the practice of making a product appear safer, greener, or more natural than it truly is.

We cover this in-depth in: Are They Greenwashing? How To Decipher A Brand’s Sustainability Claims.

At Branch Basics, transparency in labeling, marketing, and ingredient selection has been our #1 goal since our inception.

We know the word “transparency” is thrown around a lot these days, often with very little meaning behind it.

However, we're very serious about this -- and we want to give all the details. You can read even more about our process in The Journey To Our New Formula.

In that spirit, here’s a breakdown of how each Branch Basics formula is sustainable and human-safe.

Branch Basics Concentrate 

    • Certified Made Safe
    • EWG-Verified
    • Cruelty-Free Verified/Never tested on animals
    • Independently, third-party tested as a non-skin or eye irritant
    • Plant and mineral-based human-safe formula that contains:
      • Purified Water: Reverse osmosis (because you can’t have a human-safe product made with toxin-filled water).
      • Decyl Glucoside: A naturally-derived surfactant cleanser derived from coconut and/or corn.
      • Organic Chamomile Flower Extract: An organic flower extract with Allergen (IFRA) Certifications, which certifies it is nonallergenic and is not a fragrance. 
      • Coco-Glucoside: A naturally-derived surfactant derived from coconut suitable for baby and pet products.
      • Sodium Citrate: A plant-derived, biodegradable sodium salt that acts as a water softener.
      • Sodium Bicarbonate: A mineral-based water softener, also known as baking soda.
      • Sodium Phytate: A natural chelator, phytic acid is found in plant seeds and is often used commercially as an antioxidant preservative.
    • 100% biodegradable
    • Safe for the most sensitive skin
    • Non-GMO
    • Dye-free

Oxygen Boost

This Certified Made Safe, EWG-verified, cruelty-free, third-party-tested, non-GMO, mineral-based brightener contains just two ingredients:

  • Sodium Percarbonate: A mineral-based brightener, deodorizer, and stain lifter. Rated “1” on EWG’s Skin Deep Database.
  • Sodium Bicarbonate: A mineral-based water softener, also known as baking soda.

Oxygen Boost is also 100% biodegradable and free from synthetic chemicals, preservatives, or fragrances.

Dishwasher Tablets

  • 100% biodegradable 
  • PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-free
  • Plastic-free
  • EWG-Verified
  • Cruelty-Free Verified/Never tested on animals
  • Non-GMO
  • Dye-free
  • Ethoxylate free (no 1,4-dioxane)
  • Plant and mineral-based formula contains:
    • Sodium Carbonate: Mineral-based water softener
    • Sodium Percarbonate: Mineral-based brightener and deodorizer - lifts stains
    • Methylglycinediacetic Acid (aka MGDA), Trisodium Salt: Plant-based cleanser and water softener
    • Sodium Citrate: Simple sodium salt of citric acid
    • Sodium Silicate: Mineral-based cleanser
    • Poly(itaconic acid-co-AMPS) Sodium Salt: Gentle and stabilizing dissolvable salt
    • Citric Acid: Plant-based rinse aid, descaler, water softener and disinfectant (due to pH)
    • TAED: Cleanser and stain remover booster
    • Protease: Enzyme cleanser
    • Amylase: Enzyme cleanser
    • Magnesium Stearate: Plant-based binder
    • Decyl Glucoside: Plant-based cleanser from coconut and/or corn

Laundry Detergent

  • Fragrance-free and safe for sensitive skin
  • Safe for standard and HE washing machines and septic tanks
  • No 1,4-dioxane, phosphates, sulfates, ethoxylates, optical brighteners, preservatives, VOCs or SVOCs, bleach, or ammonia
  • Dye-free
  • Non-GMO
  • Not harmful to aquatic life
  • 100% biodegradable
  • Plant and mineral-based human-safe formula includes:
    • Sodium Carbonate: Mineral-based water softener
    • Sodium Percarbonate: An environmentally safe alternative to bleach. This mineral uses oxygen power for effective stain removal and natural brightening.
    • Sodium Gluconate: A chelating agent that binds and removes minerals and metals from water and surfaces.
    • Decyl Glucoside: Derived from coconuts and corn, decyl glucoside lowers surface tension and helps our detergent remove dirt, grime, and even grease!
    • Sodium Metasilicate: Acts as a laundry booster and enhancer by softening water
    • TAED: Cleanser and stain remover booster
    • Enzymes Protease & Amylase: Enzymes act as detergent boosters, targeted for specific stains.
    • Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate: A surfactant that removes oil, dirt, and bacteria from fabric by reducing surface tension.
    • Poly (itaconic acid-co-AMPS): A plant-based cleaning aid that softens water and eliminates stains while maintaining the quality fabrics.

What You WON'T Find In Branch Basics Sustainable and Human-Safe Cleaning Products

Want more details on what goes into our products and why? Check out:

We’re Not Done Yet!

So much thought, research, testing, formulating and re-formulating, packaging, and repackaging (of product and ideals!) goes into making truly sustainable, effective, and natural cleaning products.

After all these years, we are proud of what we’ve achieved and how far we’ve come in our commitment to sustainability.

Are we 100% where we want to be as a company? Not yet! But we are committed to working towards that goal and appreciate your feedback and support along the way.

Our founders are also personally committed to walking our talk through our health, family, community, environmental, and lifestyle choices.

Discover more resources to help you create a sustainable and healthy home on our blog, podcast, and online #Toss The Toxins course.
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