SPRUCE IMPACT REPORT 2023

A note from our founder..

Mahira here. I founded Spruce because I don’t believe anyone should have to compromise on quality, efficacy, or convenience when making choices that are beneficial to their health or the planet.

Spruce is founded on the principles of circularity, non-toxicity and ending single-use patterns. And as Certified B Corp, monitoring our impact as we continue to grow is paramount, as well as having complete transparency with the people who matter - you guys. 

This year so far has been incredibly exciting and fast-paced. We have recently launched multiple new innovative products, been named “Online Retail StartUp of the Year” at the StartUp Awards, and become available to buy at Whole Foods.

And with all this excitement, comes the need to reflect. We wanted to put a tangible report out for you to see our story so far and the direct impact we are having on people and the planet. I hope you enjoy reading.

Warm wishes,

Mahira

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OUR VALUES

People’s health and the planet’s health are deeply connected. What is detrimental for one is also detrimental for the other.

We think it doesn’t make sense to fight for better health of the planet, without considering the health of the people on it too. Which is why we have designed every part of our products and processes to be optimal for both.

CLEAN AIR FOR ALL

Research shows the air in our homes is up to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Part of this is caused by our home and personal care products which contain cocktails of toxic chemicals that harm our health and the planet. From bleach, to VOCs, to phthalates found in synthetic fragrances (known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors). 

One study even found that exposure to harsh chemical cleaning products can have the same effects on the lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

Our Ingredients: 

At Spruce we believe what we breathe in is just as important as what we eat and put on our skin. Which is why we have created safe, non-toxic formulations without harsh chemicals that still meet high-performance standards. 

Our choice of ingredients for every formulation is of prime importance, with all of them highly rated for both human and environmental safety by reputable organisations such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). 

We use plant-derived surfactants, food-grade preservatives, and organic essential oils for their natural antimicrobial properties.

Switching to Spruce helps our customers reduce their exposure to the following nasties:

SLS  | Phthalates | Phosphates  | Triclosan | Quaternium-15 DMDM Hydantoil  | Parabens  | Ammonia | Chlorine | Formaldehyde  | Bleach | Ethanolamine Compounds (DEA, TEA, MEA)  | Artificial Dyes  | Synthetic Fragrances | Palm Oil | Petroleum

Our Fragrances: 

Synthetic fragrances can hide up to 3000 chemicals all labelled innocently as “parfum”. We wont, and don't, stand for this. That’s why we use only natural and organic essential oils to fragrance our products.

We choose our essential oils carefully, only using those that are sustainable and rated low-risk for endangerment. 

What our customers are saying: 

“I have allergy induced Asthma and Spruce is the only household cleaner I am able to tolerate, it also cleans brilliantly, so I order on repeat.” - Christine on Trustpilot 

“I’ve been looking for an easy non toxic option for a while as I’m dealing with health challenges. Spruce is perfect! Easy to use, they smell & look great and I love the minimal waste.” - Corinne on Trustpilot

"I have a baby with super sensitive skin and since changing to both toilet and kitchen spray her skin has improved! Wonderful products!" - Jody 

“Brilliant cleaning results and doesn't irritate my nose and sinuses.” - Marcel on Trustpilot

“Smells amazing. I've been using it to clean my kitchen for a month and never have to worry about making my family or cat sick. Can't wait to get more!” - Mary on Trustpilot

"Amazing products! Love the smell, works like magic and it’s free from chemicals. I use it on all surfaces - and in the bedrooms as well as on my little’s ones table and chair." - Zehra on Trustpilot

 

PLASTIC PLEDGE

468 million plastic cleaning spray bottles are discarded in the UK every single year. If every household in the UK switched to our products, that number would be zero. Wow, just think of how much cleaner our land and oceans would be if everyone switched to refillable cleaning. 

The reality is that plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose. And we believe the fact that only 9% of plastic is ever recycled is one of the best arguments for choosing to refill and re-use instead.

We don't use any single-use plastic in our products or packaging - and for good reason. Instead we choose to use refillable aluminium bottles and plastic-free compostable packaging. 

Our Partnership with Plastic Bank:

On top of designing our products to end single-use plastic for good, we also invest in the regeneration of social communities. We partner with social enterprise Plastic Bank to remove 25 bottles of ocean-bound plastic waste for every cleaning kit ordered. 

Our Production Lines: 

We have worked hard to achieve zero-waste in our production lines. There’s no point in us offering products that are waste-free only to our customers, if there is plastic-waste created during the production process.

So through careful planning, optimization, and waste management systems, we have been able to eliminate all waste from our production lines so that nothing ends up in landfills or incinerators.

Case Study: 

Jane switches her regular cleaning products to Spruce. Multipurpose Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner, Glass & Mirror Cleaner, Floor Cleaner and Eco Sponges. She uses one refill per month of the cleaning sprays and she uses 3 bags of floor cleaner per year. 

In one year, she saves 39 plastic bottles from landfill. 

At 30 years old, this means Jane will likely save 1950 plastic bottles from ending up in landfill in the next 50 years. That’s over 113 kg of plastic saved just from one person switching to Spruce. 

CARBON EMMISSIONS 

No Water Shipped:

What’s the point in shipping water and creating tonnes of wasteful Co2 emissions? Our concentrated and lightweight products ship waterless and you add tap water at home. Cutting down on our carbon footprint and yours. 

1 Cleaning Spray Refill = 4g - 140 times lighter than water filled sprays. 

1 Floor Cleaner = 50g - 20 times lighter than a regular water filled floor cleaner 

Proudly UK Made: 

We make our products right here in the UK and source nearly all of our ingredients from the UK too. The only exception is a small number of essential oils that we source from the EU.

By producing our products locally and sourcing ingredients from local suppliers, we greatly reduce our carbon emissions. The proximity of our manufacturing facilities to our customer base minimizes the need for long-distance transportation. And by avoiding extensive transportation required for importing products from distant locations, we significantly decrease our carbon footprint. 

Local manufacturing allows us to closely monitor and optimize our production processes, ensuring efficiency and minimizing waste at every stage. 

BUSINESS FOR GOOD

We believe it’s not sufficient to make broad claims about sustainability without having the evidence to back it up. Our third-party certifications help us put our morals where our mouth is!

B Corp Certified: 

We are extremely proud of our B Corp Certification, which we received in January 2022. We applied for this before we even launched our initial product range, as we wanted to ingrain the B Corp values into our DNA, and show how a business can be built around conscious considerations.

We worked hard to achieve an impact score of 94.2, nearly double the average business.

Every year, B Lab recognizes the B Corps that have achieved the highest verified scores in the five impact areas evaluated on the B Impact Assessment. We were named one of the “Best for the World” B Corps in the Area of Governance last year.

Vegan Society Certified:

All our products are certified by the Vegan Society. We don’t, and never will, test on animals or use any animal products in the making of our cleaners. 

FSC Certified: 

All our outer packaging is plastic-free, fully recyclable and and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.  

EN 13432 Compostable: 

Our compostable packaging meets the EN 13432 compost protocol for biodegradation at ambient temperatures within six months.

A BETTER FUTURE

Our mission is an ambitious one. But we believe that when it comes to the wellbeing of our planet and future generations, we have to dream big to accomplish real change. 

We are constantly monitoring every part of our products and process so we can continue to use our business as a force for environmental and social good. 

Looking to the future, we want to continue to set the new standard for all avenues of home and personal care. With our exciting upcoming releases, we'll be making it easier than ever to get the highest quality home and personal care for every part of your routine without it coming at a cost to your health or the planet. 

Stay tuned for lots of exciting things to come by signing up to our newsletter for regular updates!