EVERY INGREDIENT IS IMPORTANT
"The ingredients we choose represent so much—our belief in sustainable farming practices, our rejection of animal testing, our goal of making the most effective products for you without resorting to anything artificial. Because of this, it takes us a little more time and effort to pick the right ingredients and the right sources for those ingredients. Luckily, we have our Stewardship Model, which sets out our definitions for natural, sustainable, and responsible, to guide us through the process of ingredient sourcing and formula creation." Ellen Saksen, Category Leader for Toothpaste
Investment in process and people
We invest millions of dollars each year in people and state-of-the-art equipment in our labs and at our manufacturing facility to ensure the most potent, effective natural ingredients and final products.
High-quality natural Ingredients
Every high-quality ingredient we use is sourced in nature, biodegradable, and subject to minimal processing,and our ingredient suppliers must meet our strict guidelines for safety, purity, consistency, and social/environmental sensitivity. We also seek out organic farms that practice sustainable harvesting.
Ingredient safety
Whenever possible, we use food grade ingredients that have been certified as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the FDA—basically, this means that the ingredient has been proven safe when used as intended. From a toxicological standpoint, we do extensive database searches and follow recommended use levels. Irritation tests (such as EpiDerm, EpiOral) are performed as well.
Vendor "audits"
When we work with a vendor, we perform an "audit"—in other words, we draw up a list of the ways that Tom's and the vendor can best partner together while upholding our standards(such as no animal testing). It's not a confrontational process, but rather a way to ensure that everything Tom's and the vendor does together is high quality, efficient, and in accordance with our shared values. If a vendor can’t meet our standards, we seek other options. This process may take a little longer, but the end result is a partnership that runs deeper and allows us to work closely with our vendors to improve both our and their processes over time.