Salt & Stone
brand rating & evaluation
overall rating:
Conscious
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice). See How We Rate
The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
certifications:
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overview
sustainability
non-toxic
social responsibility
6.3 out of 10
7 out of 10
6 out of 10
about
Salt & Stone is a Los Angeles-based clean skincare and personal care brand offering natural, high-performance products with an emphasis on sustainable sourcing and non-toxic ingredients.
highlights
Ocean-inspired ingredients and formulations
Sustainable and organic sourcing
PCR packaging
Renewable energy production
Upcycled ocean plastic packaging
sustainability
score:
6.3 out of 10
details:
Packaging
The brand uses recycled and upcycled materials extensively: all packaging is recyclable and made from post-consumer recycled content. the deodorant and sunscreen stick containers are made from recovered ocean plastic. Salt & Stone incorporates Eco Smart biodegradable technology into its plastic packaging, which enables the material to break down much faster in biologically active environments (i.e. landfills) compared to conventional plastic. Other packaging materials include glass and aluminum, used for certain products (e.g. candles in glass jars, lotions or creams in metal tubes), all chosen for their recyclability.
The use of mixed materials (e.g. plastic caps or pump components) could potentially complicate recycling, and the biodegradable plastic claims lack third-party certification or detail – it’s unclear under what exact conditions and time frame the “biodegradation in days” occurs, which could be seen as optimistic without further data. Additionally, there is no refill or reuse program in place: customers must dispose of and repurchase containers, meaning circularity is not fully achieved. The brand also does not mention use of compostable or plastic-free packaging alternatives (like paper or bio-based packaging) for most products, so it falls short of truly plastic-free packaging.
Ingredient Sustainability
The formulations leverage botanical ingredients like seaweed, spirulina, kelp, plant oils and herbal extracts, which are generally sustainable to produce (when not wildharvested) and biodegradable after use. The brand explicitly avoids environmentally problematic inputs: it claims to use no pesticides in cultivation of its ingredients. Additionally, Salt & Stone formulators exclude common unsustainable or high-impact ingredients – for example, there are no palm oil or palm-derived surfactants listed.
They also avoid petrochemical-derived substances; notably, no mineral oils, petrolatum, or other petrochemicals are used in products. By focusing on plant-based and ocean-derived actives, the brand taps into ingredients that are generally renewable (algae can be farmed sustainably, and plant oils can be grown annually), provided they are sourced responsibly.
One noteworthy ingredient is ozokerite wax found in the natural deodorant formula. Ozokerite is a mineral wax (akin to microcrystalline wax) that is petroleum-derived. Its inclusion is somewhat at odds with the “no petrochemical” ethos. While used likely as a vegan alternative to beeswax for consistency, ozokerite is a fossil resource and not renewable; its presence suggests a minor sustainability gap.
No third-party certifications (like COSMOS Organic, Fair Trade, or RSPO for any palm derivatives) are cited to substantiate sustainable sourcing. However, given the ingredient profile, the risk of egregiously unsustainable inputs is low. Ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and algae extracts can be very sustainable if sourced well, but they can also have hidden impacts (coconut farming can involve labor issues; wild-harvested algae could harm ecosystems if overdone). The lack of detailed sourcing info leaves some ambiguity.
Energy Use and Footprint
All products are manufactured using renewable energy. The brand partners with facilities powered by solar and hydroelectric power. Additionally, the use of recycled materials (PCR plastic, recycled paper, etc.) in packaging carries a lower carbon footprint than virgin materials, and the brand’s focus on local natural ingredients (like California-grown botanicals, if applicable) could also reduce transportation emissions (though specific ingredient sourcing locations aren’t disclosed).
However, Salt & Stone has no publicly stated carbon targets or emissions data. There is no evidence of carbon footprint calculations, no carbon offset or neutrality claims, and limited transparency on distribution logistics.
Waste Management
On the production side, the use of recycled and upcycled inputs (like ocean-bound plastic) is a form of pre-consumer waste mitigation – it gives new life to waste materials from other streams. Likewise, by avoiding excess packaging and using durable containers (e.g. sturdy deodorant canisters, glass jars), the brand ensures its packaging waste footprint is inherently lower than that of brands using single-use, virgin plastics.
Being a relatively small company may inherently limit Salt & Stone’s waste output (small batches, less overstock, etc.), which the Shifting Gaia framework views favorably.
Business Model
Salt & Stone’s business model leans toward sustainable consumption patterns with its stable product line and values-driven marketing, but it hasn’t broken away from the standard retail model that ultimately seeks to maximize sales. It’s a relatively mindful brand rather than a radically post-consumerist one.
non-toxic
score:
7 out of 10
details:
All products are formulated to be non-toxic and gentle for consumers, avoiding the industry’s known harmful chemicals. For instance, Salt & Stone uses mineral sunscreen filters (non-nano zinc oxide) instead of chemical UV filters like oxybenzone or octinoxate.
Across the board, the brand’s formulas contain no parabens (preservatives linked to hormone disruption), no phthalates (often from synthetic fragrance), no sulfates (harsh cleansing agents), no formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and no synthetic dyes. By excluding these classes of ingredients, Salt & Stone eliminates virtually all of the commonly flagged “toxins” in personal care.
Instead, the brand relies on naturally derived and safe synthetic ingredients that have strong safety records. For fragrance, rather than using cheap synthetic fragrance oils that can contain undisclosed chemicals or phthalates, Salt & Stone uses essential oils and naturally derived isolates, and they ensure these scents meet IFRA/RIFM safety standards (the global safety protocols for fragrance compounds).
social responsibility
score:
6 out of 10
details:
The company’s products are “Made in USA” (Los Angeles) according to some retailer notes and the brand’s origin story, which implies that the workers involved in manufacturing operate under U.S. labor laws (ensuring baseline standards for wages, working hours, and workplace safety). Supply chain transparency is essentially absent, meaning consumers are not told what country many ingredients come from or under what labor conditions they were harvested/processed.
The brand is 100% cruelty-free – it does not test on animals at any stage of product development, and it has the gold-standard Leaping Bunny certification to prove it.
Community engagement and social giving appear to be weak spots for Salt & Stone, as the brand has no publicly documented initiatives or contributions in this area. There is no mention on their website of charitable partnerships, donations, or community projects. Unlike some sustainable brands that pledge a percentage of profits to environmental causes or run programs in their local community, Salt & Stone provides no evidence of such efforts.
