Frequently Asked Questions

Topics

Company FAQ
Products FAQ
Ingredients FAQ

Questions About Our Company

Where is Burt’s Bees headquartered?
Does Burt’s Bees offer factory tours?
Does Burt’s Bees have a factory store at your headquarters in Durham, NC?
I heard your company was purchased by Clorox. Is that correct?
Is your company publicly traded and if so, what is the stock symbol?
I am interested in a product donation to support our local organization. Whom do I contact?

Where is Burt’s Bees headquartered?

Our company headquarters is located in Durham, NC.

Does Burt’s Bees offer factory tours?

We currently do not offer factory tours. Thank you for understanding.

Does Burt’s Bees have a factory store at your headquarters in Durham, NC?

We do not have a factory store and sell direct to the public only on this website.

I heard your company was purchased by Clorox. Is that correct?

I understand your concern about the Clorox Company taking ownership of Burt’s Bees. Being acquired by a larger company always raises questions about the ability to maintain culture and values, but those have not changed at Burt’s Bees.

In fact, we’re improving every day. Since 2007 we have increased the natural content of many of our products. We’re also proud to send ZERO waste to landfill from our manufacturing facility and office since 2010. We compost most of our waste and we also started reclaiming water from our manufacturing process, so we use less. Additionally, our operations are now carbon neutral. Most of this has occurred since the acquisition, and we are sharing best practices with Clorox too. They have begun “Dumpster Diving” to educate employees about waste reduction and they now have an Eco-team, as we do.

It’s very important to us to carry forward the principles of our founders and what they started back in 1984. I hope you’ll stick with us as we continue to pioneer natural health and beauty care solutions through the power of nature

Is your company publicly traded and if so, what is the stock symbol?

Consumers interested in Burt’s Bees may purchase stock from The Clorox Company, under the stock symbol CLX.

I am interested in a product donation to support our local organization. Whom do I contact?

Much of our philanthropic giving and community outreach is managed through our foundation, The Burt’s Bees Greater Good Foundation, which focuses on supporting grassroots initiatives at the intersection of human and honeybee health. Visit the Sustainability Sustainability section of our website to learn more about some of our foundation partners.

If you are simply looking for an auction item (such as a basket), please go here to complete the survey to submit your request. If you are looking for a bulk product donation, please click here and request the bulk donation there.

Questions About Our Products

I am concerned that I may have had a reaction to one of your products. What do I do?
I am a Vegan. Can I use your products?
I am gluten-restricted. What products are appropriate for my use?
How long will my Burt’s Bees products last, and how do I determine the expiration date of a particular product?
Do you test on animals?
I don’t see my question here. Who can I call?

I am concerned that I may have had a reaction to one of your products. What do I do?

If your experience involves a potential adverse reaction involving one of our products, please speak directly with our Medical Support Line, which can be reached at 888-285-0308 for the US and Canada, and 00-800-3571-0022 for the UK.

I am a Vegan. Can I use your products?

Some of our products do contain animal-sourced ingredients, such as milk, lanolin, honey, royal jelly and carmine. These are all listed on the ingredients section on the packaging and on our website. Please note, many of our products are produced on shared lines, which is why we don’t call out “vegan” or “vegetarian” on our products. If you have a specific product question, please contact us and we would be happy to assist you.

I am gluten-restricted. What products are appropriate for my use?

We cannot provide a list of Burt’s Bees products that are safe for use with your allergy because our products may have been manufactured on a shared line with products containing gluten, or raw materials used in our products may have been processed in a facility that also processes products containing gluten.

Therefore, we are unable to state that any Burt’s Bees products are “gluten-free.” Several of our products are known to contain certain allergens, because raw materials that contain or are made from the allergen are intentional ingredients in those products.

Please carefully review the ingredient list of any product prior to use, particularly because the listed ingredients for a product may change. If you have a known allergy to gluten, you should always consult with your physician if you have questions regarding whether it is safe for you to use a particular product.

How long will my Burt’s Bees products last, and how do I determine the expiration date of a particular product?

Burt’s Bees produces both cosmetic products and “over-the-counter” or OTC products. Products such as our sunscreens and anti-acne products are classified by the US FDA as OTC because they contain specific active ingredients known to prevent or treat certain conditions like sunburn and acne.

Over-the-counter products, such our Natural Acne Solutions line, can be recognized by the drug facts box on their labels. These OTC products list the expiration date on the packaging. Our cosmetic products are intended to last three years from date of manufacture, which can be determined by reading the lot code. We recommend that products be used within 12 months after opening and it’s best to store products out of extreme temperatures and direct sunlight, if possible.

Since October of 2013, we have a common format for lot coding for both the cosmetics and OTC products:

The standard format for the individual container is the following: LLYYJJJS.

LL = a 2 letter location code that represents the location of manufacture

YY = the last two digits of the year

JJJ = the Julian day of manufacture

S = one or more digits that represents any additional information such as a batch number, shift or line, depending on the location.

If you have a lot code that appears different from this code (for example shorter or a “kit” of products with a unique lot code), please contact us and we’d be happy to help confirm the expiration date.

Do you test on animals?

Burt’s Bees does not test its products on animals nor do we ask others to do so on our behalf. You’ll see the Leaping Bunny seal on our packaging to reinforce our commitment. Please know we are absolutely committed to our no animal testing policy.

I don’t see my question here. Who can I call?

If you still have questions about our products or our ingredients please call (800)849-7112 or contact us online.

Questions About Our Ingredients

How can I find out what ingredients are in my product?
Are your fragrances natural?
I’ve read that there is lead in lipsticks. Are your lip color products safe?
Do your products contain alcohol?
What is the origin of your glycerin?
Do your products contain artificial colors?
Why do you use carmine as coloring in your products?
Is comfrey a safe ingredient in skin care products?
How do you source your palm oil?
I’m having other issues and need to speak with someone. Who can I call?

How can I find out what ingredients are in my product?

Each individual product page on this website offers in-depth information about particular products, including an ingredients list. If you have the product handy, our packaging lists all ingredients according to INCI (International Nomenclature for Cosmetics Ingredients) conventions. According to these conventions, we list scientific names and individual components of a blended ingredient or extract, and include parenthetical references to the common name too, so you have visibility to the ingredients in our formulas.

You can also check out Ingredients Guide to learn more about some of our key ingredients, including the benefits they provide and where they are cultivated. Visit the Ingredients Glossary to see an explanation of each ingredient we use.

Are your fragrances natural?

The majority of fragrances in Burt’s Bees products are natural, composed of proprietary blends of essential oils and natural extracts. Some of our heritage and other products contain partially synthetic fragrances. Please call (800)849-7112 or contact us online if you have an inquiry about a specific product.

I’ve read that there is lead in lipsticks. Are your lip color products safe?

Burt’s Bees natural lip color products are composed of botanical oils, waxes, butters, extracts, and essential oils. To impart a variety of shades and effects, we use primarily mineral-based pigments. The mineral-based pigments used in our lip color products are in compliance with global regulatory guidance and legal limits. We adhere to the most rigorous standards set forth by global regulatory bodies. We continue to closely monitor emerging studies and evolving safety standards set forth by the scientific and regulatory communities to ensure the quality and efficacy of our products.

Do your products contain alcohol?

Some Burt’s Bees products do contain alcohol, and we use natural (found naturally in plants) or naturally-derived (derived from natural components, but made through a process of fermentation) alcohols. Alcohols serve a variety of functions within our formulas, including as a stabilizer, surfactant, preservative and/or opacifier (a substance which makes the formula opaque). Please reach out to us if you have a question on a particular product.

What is the origin of your glycerin?

The glycerin used in our products is of vegetable origin.

Do your products contain artificial colors?

We use only natural colors in our personal care products and cosmetics. Some examples are beta-carotene, chlorophyll, titanium dioxide, mica, iron oxides and carmine. These natural colors have a long history of safe usage unlike many artificial colors that have been banned by the FDA over the years.

Why do you use carmine as coloring in your products?

We use carmine in some Burt’s Bees lip products because it is a natural alternative to synthetic colorants, which can be derived from non-renewable fossil fuels. Carmine is a natural extract that has been used since Ancient Egyptian times for its red pigment. It provides the best possible red pigment naturally and is used industry-wide in food and cosmetics. We are always exploring new pigments with suppliers, but we have not found any that mimic the hue/shade of carmine or that are able to remain stable in an anhydrous (waterless) formula. Our lip color products are made of natural oils, waxes and butters, so pigments need to be oil-soluble. For example, vegetable-based pigments like beet juice are water soluble. There are developments being made in the processing of these pigments so they can work well in formulas and we are following them closely. Also, current global regulations do not uniformly recognize vegetable-based pigments as an acceptable cosmetic colorant. Regulatory consideration of these pigments will likely follow sufficient progress in their development for use in cosmetics.

Is comfrey a safe ingredient in skin care products?

Burt’s Bees products are created with high-quality ingredients derived from nature, and all of our products are rigorously tested for safety. Comfrey (Symphytim Officinale) Extract has long been used in the cosmetic industry as an effective topical soothing agent. Comfrey is widely considered an acceptable and effective ingredient for topical applications by various international government and regulatory agencies, including the European commission, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency in the UK and the Therapeutic Goods Authority in Australia.

How do you source your palm oil?

Burt’s Bees recognizes the palm oil industry has a significant impact on biodiversity, climate change, people and communities. While we do not directly purchase palm oil, a small percentage of our natural products have ingredients that are derived from palm or palm kernel oil. While this is a relatively small amount of palm oil (less than 0.01 percent of global annual production), Burt’s Bees makes it a priority to ensure our ingredients are sourced responsibly, including those derived from palm oil. As a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), we continue to look for sustainable sources of palm-oil-derived ingredients and alternative ingredients. That’s why we’ve put in place a Palm Oil Responsible Sourcing Commitment and roadmap to help us trace and transform our palm oil supply chain. This commitment involves working with third parties such as The Forest Trust to not only ensure the ingredients we use are sourced from sustainable palm oil but also identifying ways we can help advance the issue further. Our goal by 2020 is to obtain all our palm-oil-derived ingredients from sources that protect peatlands, respect human rights and do not contribute to deforestation and to serve as a catalyst to increase the transparency and transformation of supplier companies involved in palm derivatives. We appreciate and share your passion for the planet, and we will keep searching for opportunities to drive positive change in our supply chain.

For more details, we invite you to read our Palm Oil Responsible Sourcing Commitment at https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/corporate-responsibility/planet/commitments/palm-oil/, as well as a recent blog post from Burt’s Bees’ Sourcing Manager here, https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/blog/committed-to-responsible-palm-oil-sourcing/.

I’m having other issues and need to speak with someone. Who can I call?

If you still have questions about our products or our ingredients please call (800)849-7112 or contact us online.