Unfortunately, Und Gretel does not communicate about where their products are made. We, therefore, can’t state that they are produced ethically, although the brand has mentioned ethical production as part of its mission. Und Gretel complies with BDIH, but this certification does not set any standards to guarantee ethical working circumstances.
Und Gretel says they only use natural and organic ingredients grown ethically and sustainably with respect to the environment. The brand combines its main natural ingredients, like avocado oil and clary sage extract, with mineral pigments, plant-based emollients, and waxes. Besides, they stay away from any toxic or questionable ingredients.
Und Gretel makes a great effort to eliminate and circumvent harmful substances in their products. They also explain the most critical pollutants (like microplastics and perfumes) present in standard cosmetics on their website. Therefore, we can conclude that they are fully aware of the problems associated with pollution within the makeup industry.
Every Und Gretel product is supposedly BDIH or COSMOS certified; COSH! has verified these certifications! This certification for natural cosmetics enforces strict rules concerning the biodegradability and toxicity of ingredients and products, specifically with consideration for water life. Nanomaterials and ingredients derived from dead animals are prohibited, and there are requirements for packaging, use of palm oil and synthetic ingredients. Unnatural ingredients are only allowed if no natural alternatives are available. This way, you can be sure that your biological makeup is not harming your skin and contributing to extreme water pollution caused by the many toxic cosmetics present on the market. Substances like organic synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, ethoxylated raw materials, silicones, paraffin and other petroleum products are prohibited for products that carry the BDIH label. The only disadvantage of the label is that microplastics still have a chance of slipping through, although a maximum of 2% of the product is allowed to be synthetic.
Und Gretel only uses natural fragrances in their certified cosmetics. Instead of mineral oils, the brand uses natural oils such as babassu oil, carnauba wax, miracle tree seed oil, olive oil or avocado oil. Und Gretel prefers to use natural ingredients only, which is better for your skin and the environment.
Und Gretel acknowledges its responsibility towards the planet and is certified climate neutral. They’ve measured their emissions and have reduced and eliminated them when possible. The brand offsets emissions that couldn’t be reduced any further by supporting internationally recognized climate protection projects like 1 PERCENT FOR THE PLANET. Their goal is to reduce net CO₂ emissions as much as possible. In this way, Und Gretel contributes to a climate-neutral and sustainable future; we love to see that!
As far as packaging is concerned, Und Gretel is honest about the fact that they weren’t able yet to eliminate plastics fully. The products themselves are mostly packaged in recyclable materials like metal, cardboard, porcelain and glass. For outer packaging, they avoid using extra plastic wrapping materials.
Unfortunately for zero-waste fanatics, Und Gretel cosmetics aren’t refillable. However, the brand did look into incorporating refills and has an explanation for why they don’t do this. According to Und Gretel, the material and energy consumption involved in refilling would be almost equal to that of the original packaging.
Since the brand does not provide information about the manufacturing or supplier details, the length of the supply chain remains unverifiable.
Not all of Und Gretel’s products are vegan, but all are 100% cruelty-free. Sometimes honey or beeswax are used, for example, in lipsticks. Beeswax is soothing to skin irritation and dryness; that’s why the brand uses this animal-based but natural ingredient. Materials derived from dead animals (like collagen) aren’t permitted.
The brand also guarantees that animal testing is prohibited in producing, developing or testing products and ingredients. Each product has been individually developed, improved and perfected carefully and tested on celebrities, models, friends and family but never on animals.
Another important part of Und Gretel’s mission is to offer natural cosmetics without compromising quality. Their motto is 100% performance with 0% pollutants. Their products are made to be highly pigmented, have full coverage and be long-lasting, without any synthetic preservatives or chemical ingredients.
The Und Gretel look is generally classic and modern. For example, lipsticks are available in reds, pinks, and apricot shades, so they are not trend-oriented. The brand also encourages blending different shades and products like lipsticks and lipglosses so you can enjoy as large a colour palette as possible with as few products as possible. For foundations, Und Gretel doesn’t offer a great variety of shades; at the moment, they have ten different shades.
Und Gretel is not transparent about where their cosmetics are produced. They don’t mention any information about their supply chain, so it is difficult to know the length of their supply chain. At COSH! we think that’s a pity because the brand is very transparent about its ingredients and seems to have an eco-friendly approach. They did provide COSH! with their certificates so that we can confirm their validity.
Conclusion
Are you looking for natural and professional makeup? Und Gretel might be the right brand for you because this natural cosmetic brand doesn’t want to compromise on quality! Find shops to buy these BDIH and Climate Neutral products on the COSH! map below.
