Who Owns Burt's Bees?

Burt's Bees has built its brand identity around natural ingredients and environmental responsibility. Several certifications and commitments are independently verified.

Cruelty-Free Certification: Burt's Bees has been certified cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny Program (CCIC) since 2008. The certification requires annual recommitment and independent audit of the brand's supply chain to verify that no animal testing occurs at any stage of product development. The brand is also listed on PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies database as cruelty-free. Burt's Bees does not test its products on animals and does not ask others to do so on its behalf.

Vegan Status: Burt's Bees is not vegan-certified. Some products contain animal-sourced ingredients including beeswax, honey, lanolin, royal jelly, and carmine. The brand does not label products as "vegan" or "vegetarian" because many products are manufactured on shared lines. Ingredient information is published on packaging and the brand's website.

The Greater Good Business Model: Burt's Bees operates under a "Greater Good Business Model" that emphasizes environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and natural ingredients. The brand has committed to sending zero waste to landfill from its Durham facility. It has achieved a 90% waste diversion rate as of its most recent sustainability report.

Packaging: Burt's Bees has committed to making 100% of its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2030. The brand has introduced post-consumer recycled content in lip balm tubes and has piloted refillable packaging programs. Current progress toward the 2030 target has not been independently verified.

Palm Oil: Burt's Bees uses palm oil derivatives in some products. Clorox is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The company has committed to sourcing 100% RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil.

B Corp Status: Burt's Bees is not a certified B Corporation. Its parent company, Clorox, is also not B Corp certified.

Burt's Bees has received recognition from independent beauty and consumer publications:

• Allure Best of Beauty: Burt's Bees has been featured multiple times in Allure magazine's annual Best of Beauty awards, including for its Beeswax Lip Balm and Coconut Foot Cream.
• Consumer Reports: Burt's Bees lip balm has been highly rated in Consumer Reports' lip balm testing, consistently scoring above many competitors for moisturization and longevity.
• Leaping Bunny Certification (2008): One of the first major personal care brands to achieve Leaping Bunny certification, which is recognized as the gold standard for cruelty-free verification in North America.
• PETA Beauty Without Bunnies: Listed as a cruelty-free brand on PETA's database, confirming no animal testing at any stage of product development.

2011 Anti-Aging Cream Lawsuit: In 2011, a class action lawsuit was filed against Burt's Bees alleging that the brand's "Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care" line made misleading claims about being "natural" when it contained synthetic ingredients. The lawsuit was settled in 2012. Burt's Bees agreed to modify its marketing language and provide clearer ingredient disclosures. The settlement did not include an admission of wrongdoing.

"Natural" Labeling Disputes: Burt's Bees has faced periodic criticism regarding its use of the word "natural" on product packaging. Consumer advocacy groups have argued that some products contain processed or synthetic ingredients that do not meet a strict definition of "natural." The brand has responded by publishing detailed ingredient glossaries on its website and adopting the Natural Products Association's definition of natural for its product formulations.

Clorox Ownership Controversy: Some consumers and advocacy groups have expressed concern about Burt's Bees being owned by Clorox, a company that manufactures bleach and chemical cleaning products. This concern has been particularly focused on whether Clorox's ownership compromises the brand's natural positioning. Burt's Bees has maintained its Leaping Bunny certification and natural ingredient standards under Clorox's ownership. No regulatory body has found the brand's claims to be deceptive.

2015 Sunscreen SPF Claims: In 2015, Burt's Bees was among several sunscreen brands cited in a Consumer Reports study that found actual SPF protection was lower than labeled on some products. Burt's Bees responded by reformulating affected products and conducting additional third-party SPF testing. The issue was resolved by 2016.