Who Owns Burt's Bees?

• Parent Company: The Clorox Company
• Ownership Type: Wholly owned
• Acquisition Year: 2007
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Stock Ticker: NYSE: CLX

• Founded: 1984
• Founders: Burt Shavitz, Roxanne Quimby
• Acquired by The Clorox Company: 2007

• Founded: 1913
• Headquarters: Oakland, California, USA
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Stock: NYSE: CLX
• Revenue: approximately $7.1 billion (FY2024)
• Employees: Approximately 8,500

Visit The Clorox Company website

• Headquarters: Durham, North Carolina, USA
• Manufacturing / Operations: United States, International markets

Burt's Bees operates under The Clorox Company's sustainability framework, serving as an internal exemplar for sustainable practices across Clorox's portfolio. The brand has implemented comprehensive environmental programs while maintaining its natural and earth-friendly positioning since its 2007 acquisition.

Sustainable Sourcing Leadership: Burt's Bees has pioneered responsible ingredient sourcing practices that have influenced Clorox's broader sustainability strategy. The brand sources natural ingredients through ethical supply chains, prioritizing organic and sustainably harvested materials. Burt's sourcing manager was promoted to senior manager of responsible sourcing across Clorox's entire portfolio, demonstrating the brand's influence in reshaping sustainable supply chain practices company-wide.

Zero Waste Initiatives: Burt's Bees has implemented comprehensive waste reduction programs, including recycling initiatives and packaging redesign to minimize environmental impact. The brand's commitment to zero waste principles extends to manufacturing operations, where waste materials are recycled or repurposed rather than sent to landfills.

Carbon Reduction Commitments: As part of Clorox's broader climate strategy, Burt's Bees has set carbon reduction targets aligned with corporate sustainability goals. The brand has implemented energy-efficient manufacturing processes and reduced its carbon footprint through renewable energy investments and operational optimization.

Natural Product Standards: Burt's Bees maintains strict standards for natural ingredients, avoiding synthetic chemicals and prioritizing plant-based formulations. The brand's commitment to natural products extends to packaging, which uses recycled materials and sustainable design principles to minimize environmental impact.

Supply Chain Transparency: Burt's Bees has established transparent supply chain practices, working with suppliers who meet strict environmental and social standards. The brand conducts regular audits of supplier facilities to ensure compliance with sustainability criteria and ethical labor practices.

Burt's Bees has received significant recognition for pioneering the natural personal care market, product innovation, and sustainability leadership. The brand's influence extends beyond product excellence to broader industry impact in sustainable business practices.

Natural Beauty Pioneer Recognition: Burt's Bees is widely recognized as a pioneer in the natural beauty and personal care industry, having established the standard for natural cosmetics long before the category became mainstream. The brand's early commitment to natural ingredients and sustainable practices has been acknowledged by industry organizations and environmental groups.

Product Innovation Awards: Burt's Bees products, particularly the iconic Beeswax Lip Balm, have received numerous awards for formulation excellence and consumer satisfaction. The brand's ability to create effective natural products without synthetic ingredients has been highlighted as an innovation in the cosmetics industry.

Sustainability Leadership Recognition: Following Clorox's acquisition, Burt's Bees has been recognized for catalyzing positive change throughout Clorox's value chain, from R&D to sourcing and waste management. The brand's role as an internal sustainability exemplar has been acknowledged in business publications and sustainability reports.

Consumer Trust and Loyalty Awards: Burt's Bees has received recognition for building strong consumer trust through transparent ingredient sourcing and authentic natural positioning. The brand's ability to maintain credibility in the natural products market despite corporate ownership has been noted as a significant achievement.

Market Leadership Recognition: Burt's Bees holds a leading position in the natural personal care market in the United States, particularly in lip care where its Beeswax Lip Balm is among the best-selling lip care products nationally. The brand's market leadership has been acknowledged by industry analysts and retail partners.

Environmental Impact Recognition: Environmental organizations have recognized Burt's Bees for its commitment to sustainable business practices and ingredient sourcing. The brand's influence in making Clorox more environmentally responsible has been highlighted as a model for corporate sustainability transformation.

Burt's Bees has faced significant controversies related to product safety claims, natural labeling accuracy, and ingredient transparency. These issues have challenged the brand's reputation for natural and safe products, particularly following its acquisition by Clorox.

PFAS Contamination Lawsuit (2024): Burt's Bees and parent company Clorox faced a class action lawsuit alleging that certain Burt's Bees cosmetic products contain undisclosed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as harmful "forever chemicals." The lawsuit claims that products including Burt's Bees All Aflutter Mascara contain these toxic chemicals without proper disclosure to consumers, contradicting the brand's natural positioning.

Natural Labeling Controversies: Burt's Bees has faced multiple class action lawsuits challenging its "100% natural" and "99.7% natural" labeling claims. One lawsuit alleged that Burt's Bees misleadingly labels some products as "100% natural" despite containing hydrogenated oils, while another challenged the natural claims made about pet shampoo products that allegedly contained mostly synthetic ingredients.

Pet Product Safety Concerns: A class action lawsuit targeted Burt's Bees pet shampoo products, alleging that the 2-in-1 Tearless animal shampoo and conditioner for puppies and Oatmeal Shampoo for dogs falsely claimed to be "99.7% natural." The suit included reports from pet owners about adverse reactions in pets, raising questions about product safety and labeling accuracy.

Consumer Trust Challenges: The various lawsuits and controversies have created challenges for consumer trust in Burt's Bees' natural positioning. The gap between the brand's marketing claims and the reality of product formulations has led to increased scrutiny from consumer advocacy groups and regulatory bodies.

Regulatory Scrutiny: The PFAS contamination and natural labeling issues have attracted attention from regulatory bodies concerned about consumer safety and accurate product labeling. These controversies have highlighted the need for more rigorous testing and disclosure requirements in the natural products industry.

Brand Reputation Impact: The controversies have challenged Burt's Bees' carefully cultivated image as a trustworthy natural products company, particularly following concerns that corporate ownership might compromise the brand's commitment to natural principles and consumer safety.