Banish's sin bin: our banned ingredients
Banish was born in a bid to help Australian's reduce their waste with the right products and even better information. Our aim at Banish is to give Australians all of the tools they need to reduce their waste and ecological footprint.
Reducing that ecological footprint can be daunting, and companies out there don't make it easy. They relentlessly use greenwashing tactics to trick you into believing you are making an informed decision about a product, when in actual fact they often contain the toxic ingredients and other nasties you are trying to avoid.
This is where Banish comes in. We want to help you outsmart the greenwashers while providing you with sustainable alternatives to help you shrink your ecological footprint. There are countless amounts of nasties out there in many of the things we consume, way too many to keep track of for one person. For that reason, we’ve done all the hard work for you by rigorously vetting all of our suppliers and giving you full transparency behind our process. Listed below are all the banned ingredients and materials that you’ll never find in a Banish product, and why.
This way you can shop with peace of mind, knowing the products you see on Banish are good for you and the planet.
The sinners: BPA, Sulphates, Synthetic fragrances, Microbeads, Palm Oil, Parabens, Oxybenzone, Formaldehyde.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical commonly used in beverage and food packaging to protect food from contamination and extend its shelf life. However, small amounts of the chemical can migrate into the food and beverages from the containers. The widespread use of BPA has led to its proliferation throughout the natural environment and is an environmental contaminant of emerging concern. Due to its prevalent use, BPA has been detected in a range of soils and surface waters which has shown to be toxic towards plants inhibiting seed germination as well as root, stem and leaf growth.
Palm Oil
Palm Oil is not found in any Banish products due to its negative impact on biodiversity. Palm Oil plantations contribute considerably to deforestation across the globe while destroying the unique habitats of many critically endangered and threatened species. The clearing of these forests has also contributed significantly to climate change while devastating many native communities. Banish makes a concerted effort to avoid all products that contain palm oil and other derivatives of palm oil that manufacturers use to deceive consumers such as; vegetable oil, palmitate, palmitoyl.
Sulphates - SLS SLES
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are compounds produced from petroleum and plant sources such as palm oil and is used in many cosmetic products. Petroleum and palm oil products are responsible for many environmental issues such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity and climate change to name a few. SLS has also been known to cause skin irritation particular in people with sensitive and highly irritable skin
Parabens
Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages. Common parabens are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Evidence is growing to support the claim that the absorption of these chemicals through the skin when applied through personal care products may contribute to the development of breast cancers.
Synthetic fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are manufactured fragrances used in many cosmetics and cleaning products. They contain benzene derivatives such as aldehydes, and toluene, which are known carcinogens.
Oxybenzone
Oxybenzone is an organic compound used as a sunscreen agent. Oxybenzone absorbs UVB and UVA II rays, making it a very effective sunscreen. But with 14,000 tons of sunscreen being washed into oceans each year, chemicals like oxybenzone are doing irreparable damage to marine ecosystems. These substances are absorbed by corals which can disrupt their reproduction and growth cycles, ultimately leading to bleaching. Hawaii lawmakers recently passed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in a bid to protect corals and other marine species. Banish supports this move and you can be assured all our products are 100% oxybenzone and octinoxate free.
Insoluble Plastic Microbeads
Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are present in many rinse-off cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. Microbeads aren't able to be captured by most wastewater treatment facilities. If washed down the drain after use, they can end up in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. These tiny plastics have a damaging impact on marine life, the environment and human health. This is due to their composition, ability to adsorb toxins and potential to transfer up the marine food chain to humans much the same as Microplastics.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling, flammable chemical manufactured industrially and used in pressed-wood products, cleaning products and cosmetics. Various studies as well as international authorities have determined there is enough evidence to suggest formaldehyde is carcinogenic to humans. Given the health risks associated with repeated exposure, there is no formaldehyde contained in any Banish product.