Featured Supplier: Friendly Soap
04/05/2023
Hello from Friendly Soap
We are Friendly Soap, an award winning, 20 strong team dedicated to the sustainable manufacture of vegan soap, shampoo and shaving bars in the beautiful hills of West Yorkshire.
Along with the quality and performance of a wide range of products, our solid ethical credentials are one of the big attractions for our many UK and international customers. All Friendly products are cruelty-free and eco-friendly every team member is paid more than the living wage, with a company wide ‘profit share’ scheme in place.
All aspects of Friendly’s manufacturing process is squeaky clean too, from the meticulous sourcing of ingredients, right through to low-energy production techniques. We manufacture our bars on-site using the Cold Process Method which requires very little energy and produces zero by-products.
Our packaging is made from recycled, recyclable card, packing and shipping is fulfilled without the use of plastic and together with Good Shipping, we are decarbonising the Friendly Soap supply chain by actually replacing freight fossil fuels with truly sustainable alternatives.
We know that team work makes the dream work so we are proud participants of The Living Wage Foundation and have earned a Fair Tax Mark ensuring all employees are given a fair wage that stays in line with inflation whilst we pay the right amount of tax in the right place at the right time.
Friendly Soap has been audited and verified as a sustainable ethical brand by both Ethical Consumer Magazine (providing all the tools and resources consumers need to make choices at the checkout simple, informed and effective) and Ethy (listing verified ethical businesses in the UK making it easier to avoid green-washing). We are currently in the process of becoming B-corp certified (a network of businesses as a force for good).
We love to get involved with other kind innovators. Our contributions to the charity Just A Drop helps to provide global communities with hand washing stations and the materials to make their own soap, mitigating the impact of waterborne diseases. More locally, we are partnered with Slow The Flow and Forus Tree, two not for profit, social enterprises with a focus on managing the environment in the Calder Valley and beyond. (Friendly staff are given the opportunity to get their hands dirty and help out with tree planting, balsam control and hedging.)
Our company’s expansion has been encouragingly rapid, a sure sign that it really is possible to run a successful business in a way that is both, responsible and sustainable. We use a well-established network of loyal distributors to get our products to market, particularly through independent shops and sectors like leisure, tourism and hospitality.
Click here to explore Essential's range of Friendly Soap products