CBD (cannabidiol) Products

Hemp saplings, CBD | Credit: Unsplash

Includes: hemp-derived CBD products that are legally compliant (oils, salves, creams, etc.)

Company 

Required:

  • Business core purpose includes a “green” business function.  
  • Social and environmental mission and vision statement for your business on its website. 

Preferred:

  • Banking with a community development, minority, or socially & environmentally responsible bank or credit union.
  • Protocols in place (e.g., trainings, HR policies, support group(s), statement of commitment, accountability mechanisms, etc.)  that advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) within the company.

Legal Compliance

Required:

  • Complies with all applicable laws and regulations (local, state, federal)  
  • Complies with FD&C Act
    • cannot be sold as dietary supplements
    • cannot be added to food for animals or humans
  • Website has FDA disclaimer
  • Must comply with state/federal labeling requirements

Cultivation Practices of Hemp

Required:

  • Maximizes biodiversity above and below ground, builds soil health towards resilient soil with the goal of reducing or eliminating synthetic fertilizer and pesticide applications (best if conducted an EIS)
  • Enables water conservation, erosion prevention, and stormwater runoff reduction.
  • Maximizes use of recycled materials in products and designs.
  • Responsible environmental management/procurement policy or practices for all waste materials and manufacturing processes.
  • Apply energy efficient technologies in indoor production facilities
  • All seeds and inputs are non-GMO
  • Transparency around seed sourcing

Materials Used  

Required:

  • Use of local sourcing when available
  • Transparency around solvents used during extraction
  • May not include any of the following:
    • phthalates such as DBP, DEP, DEHP, BBzP, and DMP;
    • chemicals ending or containing “sulfate” or “sulfosuccinate”;
    • parabens or paraben preservatives; (chemicals ending in methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl);
    • petroleum variations including: mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin;
    • nitrosamines (a group of potent carcinogens);
    • synthetic alcohols, fragrances, and dyes.
  • No animal testing and/or acquired Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification.
  • List complete ingredients online where product is sold.
  • No nanotechnology, e.g. , particles below 100 nanometers. Green America is following Europe’s lead and using the Precautionary Principle until further research is complete on this topic.
  • Scented with only natural essential oils.
  • No chlorine bleaching.

Preferred:

  • Produced using certified organic hemp (best if by third party certification such as Clean Green Certified)
  • If animal-based ingredients are used they are derived from sources that are ethical and produced in a way that supports biodiversity and the integrity of the food system (lanolin, honey, milk, stearates, beeswax).
  • Use of Fair-Trade ingredients (shea butter, olive oil, sugar, essential oils).
  • In formulating sunscreen, use only mineral ingredients.

Product Safety

Required:

  • Products are tested in third party laboratories to verify purity and potency
  • Company has traceback/recall protocols in place
  • Product is stored in safe environment
  • Use of child-proof containers

Manufacturing of CBD Products 

Required:

  • Commitment to sustainable labor practices and continuous improvement and transparency in the process. 
  • Country of manufacture disclosed on all products unless everything comes from one country and it is stated clearly on the front page of the website. 
  • Code of conduct in place that addresses social and environmental factory conditions with enforcement mechanism. 
  • Owned factories have an established worker representation mechanism.  
  • Owned factories pay a wage that ensures workers well-being. 
  • Commitment to a transparent supply chain including sub-contracting.   
  • Long-term contracts with contracted manufacturers. 

Preferred: 

  • Owned and/or contracted factories are certified fair labor or fair trade. 
  • Owned/contracted factories are unionized.  
  • Disclosed factory list publicly available.  
  • Factory labor is paid a living a wage. 

Product Packaging

Required:

  • Environmentally and socially positive packaging.  
  • Packaging is recyclable or compostable. 
  • Packaging components are from recycled sources and used at minimum. 

Preferred:  

  • Packaging can be taken back for reuse. 
  • Offers opportunity for refills or receives containers such as bottles for reuse.

Company Employment

Required: 

  • Employees have access to family friendly benefits including high-quality health insurance, sick days, paid parental leave and childcare help. 
  • Offer a flexible workplace culture that encourages work/life balance and makes reasonable accommodations for telecommuting and flex schedules. 
  • Pays a wage that ensures employees well-being. 
  • Has an established non-discrimination policy and procedure, and ensures an inclusive workplace culture. 
  • Governs fairly and in a transparent manner. Is open to employee input. Has a whistle blower protection policy in place. 

Preferred:

  • Living wage is paid. 
  • Has an established program that invests in employee growth and development. 

Education

Required: 

  • Educates consumers on how to properly dispose of product at end of life-cycle. 
  • Use transparent and truthful marketing. 
  • Advocate for green business practices in the CBD industry. 
  • Established program for receiving input from both internal and external stakeholders.  

Preferred:

  • Established take back program for end of product life-cycle. 
  • Actively seeks feedback from industry peers and participates in industry associations and mentor programs. 

Green Office/Facility  

Required: 

  • HVAC system well-maintained, building well-insulated, and smart and efficient climate control employed. 
  • System in place for reducing electricity consumption from lighting and electronics. 
  • Use of Energy Star rated appliances and CFL/LED light bulbs in office. 
  • Use of 100% post-consumer recycled, Chlorine Free paper in the office and in all envelopes, marketing, and print materials. 
  • Systems in place for reducing paper use such as electronic processes, printers set with double sided printing as the default, and more. 
  • Use of only non-toxic cleaning and pest control products. 
  • Maximum amount of waste is reused or recycled including paper, plastic, metals, glass, electronics, and printer ink cartridges. 
  • Action on clean energy such as purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or use of on-site clean energy. 
  • Compost all food waste. 
  • Landscaping done with sustainability in mind, especially considering runoff and stormwater management. 
  • Only fair trade and USDA certified organic coffee and tea served in the office. 
  • Use of green or local caterers for events. 
  • Use of a certified E-Steward for electronics recycling. 
  • Proper disposal of hazardous materials (e.g., batteries, paint, motor oil, etc).
  • Knowledge of recycling/composting guidelines at your local recycling/composting facility.