Palm Oil & Our Commitment to Sustainability

Have your products always been palm oil free?

Yes, since day one, we’ve proudly created products that are 100% free from palm oil and its derivatives. This has been one of our core sustainability principles and something we’ve worked hard to maintain.

 

So, why are you now using palm oil–derived ingredients?

In a few select formulations, we now use ingredients that contain RSPO-certified (Responsibly Sourced Palm Oil). This decision was made thoughtfully and carefully.

 

As a small, independent brand, sourcing completely palm oil free alternatives has become increasingly difficult. Many manufacturers just source and use palm-derived ingredients as industry standard and requesting bespoke palm oil free options often comes with significant costs and limitations. Unfortunately, this makes it challenging for us to continue launching new products, but also the viability of us staying and growing as a business.

 

Before making this change, we spoke to a range of our customers to gauge their thoughts and feelings. The feedback was overwhelmingly supportive, our community understood and welcomed the inclusion of responsibly sourced palm oil when it ensures product quality and sustainability.

 

By choosing RSPO-certified palm oil ingredients, we can maintain the performance, stability, and quality of our products while ensuring that any palm oil we do use supports responsible, traceable, and ethical production. This approach allows us to continue developing effective, environmentally-conscious skincare without compromising our values or the trust of our community.

 

What does RSPO-certified mean?

RSPO stands for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. It’s a global certification system that ensures palm oil is produced in a way that:

• Protects forests, wildlife, and biodiversity
• Respects human rights and local communities
• Supports smallholder farmers
• Promotes transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain

 

We only source RSPO-certified palm oil ingredients approved by the Soil Association, which holds some of the strictest environmental and ethical standards in the world.

 

Which of your products contain RSPO palm oil?

The vast majority of our collection remains 100% palm oil free. However, a few select products now include ingredients made with RSPO-certified palm oil. For example:

• Fragrance Free Natural Deodorant: contains Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, which is derived from RSPO-certified palm oil.
• Organic Bio-Retinol Anti-Ageing Night Cream
• Organic Creamy Face Scrub with Walnut Shell

 

Does this change your brand values or environmental commitment?

Not at all. Our goal remains exactly the same, to create effective, environmentally responsible skincare with complete transparency. By using only RSPO-certified sources, we’re helping drive positive change in the palm oil industry rather than contributing to unethical practices.

 

Will you continue to develop palm oil free products?

Absolutely. We remain committed to developing and maintaining palm oil free formulations wherever possible. For certain ingredients, RSPO-certified palm oil currently provides the only viable option  but we’re constantly researching alternatives as new innovations emerge.

About Lucy Bee

Founded by Lucy, a beauty therapist and mum, Lucy Bee is an independent British skincare and wellness brand dedicated to creating effective and unique formulations. Customer care is of prime importance to us and we have a V-I-Bee reward credits scheme for our account holders as thanks for their loyalty. All of our products have a focus on sustainability, organic, natural, vegan and cruelty free. Since launching in 2012 with fair trade coconut oil, Lucy Bee delivers uncompromising quality to conscious beauty.