Toxins Policy

Toxins Policy

What is our commitment?

Hello Charlie is a retailer, not a manufacturer, so we don’t have any control over what goes into the products that we stock. 

However, we can and do check the ingredients and materials for every single product that we stock. All products must meet the criteria that we have developed for each product stream. 

How do we implement this? 

Where possible, every product has a full ingredients listing from the supplier on the product description page of our website. 

For products where manufacturers don’t have to disclose the ingredients, for example, sunscreen, cleaning products and nappies, we give preference to companies that disclose ingredients or have independent certifications. 

We have divided products into categories, and each category has a list of prohibited ingredients. As the number of prohibited ingredients run into the thousands, these are indicative, rather than exhaustive, lists. 

Skincare

As a general guideline, we will not stock any products that contain ingredients on the EU list of Substances of Very High Concern. Specifically, we have prohibited:

• 1,4 Dioxane
• Aluminium Zirconium and other Aluminium Compounds
• Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) and Benzethonium chloride
• Benzyl alcohol
• BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) & BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
• Butyl Acetate
• Carbon Black
• Coal Tar
• Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Diethanolamine (DEA)
• Ethoxylated Ingredients: Cetereath/PEG Compounds
• Formaldehyde
• Formaldehyde releasing preservatives (diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate)
• Fragrance or perfume (synthetic)
• Hydroquinone
• Imidazolidinyl Urea
• Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (3-Iodo-2-Propynyl Butyl Carbamate)
• Laureth-4
• Lead and Lead Compounds
• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
• Microbeads
• Oxybenzone (Benzophone-3)
• P-Phenylenediamine (PPD)
• PABA
• Parabens
• PEG’s (polyethylene glycols) – See Ethoxylated Compounds
• Petrolatum (Petroleum), paraffin and mineral oils
• Phenoxyethanol
• Phthalates
• Propylene Glycol
• Retinyl Acetate and Retinyl Palmitate
• Sodium Laureth Sulphate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
• Synthetic Colours (FD&C and D&C)
• Talc
• Toluene
• Triclosan, triclocarban and Microban
• Triethanalomine (TEA)

Other relevant policies: Plastics Policy; Ingredients Policy; Animal Testing

Baby Wipes

As per skincare ingredients. Fabric in the wipes must also be fully biodegradable. 

Other relevant policies: Plastics Policy; Ingredients Policy; Animal Testing

Nappies

• Fragrances
• Lotions
• Heavy metal dyes
• Chlorine
• Latex
• Phthalates
• Organotins

Other relevant policies: Timber Sourcing Policy; Plastics Policy; Animal Testing

Toys

• All finishes must be lead free, solvent free, water based and non toxic. 
• Glues must be formaldehyde free.
• Any metal parts must be nickel free.
• Natural rubber toys should be nitrosamine free. 

See Timber Sourcing Policy; Cotton Sourcing Policy; Plastics Policy. 

Baby products (including dummies and feeding gear)

• Silicone products must be food grade silicone only (no fillers)
• Plastic products must be safe plastics
• Latex products must be nitrosamine free

See Plastics Policy. 

Cleaning Products

• 1,4 dioxane
• 2-butoxyethanol
• Ammonia (ammonium hydroxide)
• Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
• Borax and boric acid
• Chlorine
• Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
• Dyes (synthetic)
• Ethanolamines (MEA, TEA and DEA)
• Formaldehyde
• Formaldehyde releasing preservatives (diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate)
• Fragrances and perfumes (synthetic)
• Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and Methylchloroisothiazolinione (MCI)
• PEGs
• Phthalates
• Phosphates
• Parabens
• PERC
• Sulphuric acid
• Triclosan, triclocarban and Microban

We specifically prohibit asthmagens and respiratory irritants, which include: formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers; quaternary ammonium compounds; ethanolamines; bleach; and ammonia.

As the majority of our customers are parents of young children, we also prohibit ingredients that are suspected of causing reproductive or developmental issues, including: borax; phthalates; and glycol ethers. 

Other relevant policies: Plastics Policy; Ingredients Policy; Animal Testing

Personal care products

All single use personal care products must be:

• Biodegradable
• Chlorine and dioxin free
• Dye free
• Fragrance free
• Organic cotton
• Plastic free

Relevant policies: Cotton Sourcing Policy; Timber Sourcing Policy

What do we require our suppliers to do? 

We require full disclosure of ingredients (where applicable).

By 31 December 2022, we require all current suppliers to have completed our Supply Chain Questionnaire & Brand Audit. 

All new suppliers will be required to complete our Supply Chain Questionnaire & Brand Audit before we will consider ranging any new products at Hello Charlie. 

Transparency

We always included full ingredients listings on our product descriptions pages on our website. 

As we complete our reviews and Brand Audits, we will make these publicly available on our website. We aim to have all current brands published by 30 June, 2022. 

Questions or comments on this policy? Feel free to get in touch with us at info@hellocharlie.com.au.