Our Values
For the Animals
Everything we make exists for one reason: to fund the rescue and lifelong care of farmed animals at Steampunk Farms Rescue Barn, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sanctuary. No salaries. No overhead. Every dollar from every bar goes directly to hay, grain, vet visits, and safe shelter for animals who had nowhere else to go.
The Short Answer
Our values are the same ones that run the sanctuary: radical transparency, no greenwash, and ingredient choices that do not trade one animal's suffering for another's convenience. We formulate without palm oil (orangutan habitat), without phthalates in fragrance (endocrine concern), without plastic glitter (microplastics), and with fair-trade and ethically sourced inputs wherever possible. Packaging is biodegradable today with a clear, documented path to garden-compostable. We tell you exactly where we are and what is still in progress.
Key Takeaways
- Palm-free by choice — full avoidance, not RSPO certification, because the data on habitat loss is clear.
- Phthalate-free fragrances only; we require documentation and do not rely on "parfum" masking.
- Shimmer from mica and mineral colorants only — never plastic glitter.
- Current wrap is biodegradable; paper option available at checkout; garden-compostable transition actively sourced.
- Colorants are ethically sourced (no child labor). Oils are fair trade where we can secure them.
- If something is not perfect yet, we say so on the page and in the Soap Lab notes.
What Goes In
Every Cleanpunk product is made by hand in small batches with ingredients we stand behind:
- 🌿 Cruelty-Free — No animal-derived ingredients, no animal testing, ever.
- 🦧 Palm-Free — We never use palm oil. Save the orangutans.
- 🧪 Phthalate-Free Fragrances — No endocrine disruptors. Gentle on you and the environment.
- 💖 Plastic-Free Sparkle — Our shimmer comes from mica and mineral colorants — never plastic glitter. No microplastics harming our oceans.
- 🖍 Ethically Sourced Colorants — No child labor, ever.
- 🤝 Fair Trade Oils — Premium shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil sourced from fair-trade suppliers.
How We Wrap It
We care about what happens to our packaging after you unwrap your bar. Here’s where we are and where we’re headed:
- Biodegradable plastic wrap — Our current soap wrap is biodegradable, meaning it breaks down significantly faster than conventional plastics. It’s not perfect, but it’s already a better choice than the standard shrink wrap most soapmakers use.
- Garden compostable — coming soon — We’re actively sourcing garden-compostable plastic so you can toss your wrapper right into your backyard compost pile. When we make the switch, you’ll be the first to know.
- Paper wrapping available — Every soap order gives you the option to choose paper wrapping at checkout if you’d prefer to skip plastic entirely.
How We Ship It
Our shipping materials are plastic-free: recycled cardboard boxes, shredded paper fill (no packing peanuts), and paper tape. We stuff every box with care — and a handwritten note.
What We Don’t Do
We don’t test on animals. We don’t use palm oil. We don’t use plastic glitter. We don’t pay salaries — we’re 100% volunteer-run. And we don’t greenwash. If something isn’t perfect yet (like our packaging), we’ll tell you exactly where we are and what we’re working on.
The Bottom Line
We believe soap should be as delightful as it is kind. Bold, colorful, unapologetic — and made with intention from the first ingredient to the last piece of packaging. Every purchase funds animal rescue. That’s the Cleanpunk promise.
References & Further Reading
- About Us — the $5-per-bar impact math and the 501(c)(3) structure.
- Soap Lab — Krystal’s deep dives on the specific ingredients and the “why” behind each choice (INGREDIENT_FILES and WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU pillars).
- Meet the Animals — the residents whose care is funded by these standards.
- Rescue Barn transparency and welfare resources (linked from the sanctuary side of the same mission).