About Friendly Soap
Geoff Kerouac and Rob Costello are the founders and co-owners of Friendly Soap, an ethical manufacturer of vegan soap, shampoo and shaving bars. After working together for years at a well renowned whole foods co-operative, the two close friends decided to start their own soap company in 2008.
Today, they take a very hands-on approach to running the business, and they employ around 22 people in a variety of roles, including manufacturing all of the company’s products at their idyllic base, Topland Country Business Park in Mytholmroyd.
Along with the quality and performance of its wide range of products, Friendly Soap’s solid ethical credentials are one of the big attractions for its many UK and international customers. All products are vegan, cruelty-free and packaged using recycled and recyclable materials, while every team member is paid more than the living wage, with a company wide ‘profit share’ scheme in place. Every aspect of Friendly’s manufacturing process is squeaky clean too, from the meticulous sourcing of ingredients right through to low-energy production methods.
The company’s expansion has been encouragingly rapid, a sure sign that it really is possible to run a successful business in a way that’s responsible and sustainable. The business uses a well-established network of loyal distributors to get its products to market, particularly through independent shops and sectors like leisure, tourism and hospitality.
“We’re a bit obsessive at Friendly, and putting ethics before profits underpins everything here.
That’s why our products aren’t just vegan, or cruelty-free, or made by people paid a living wage, without using plastic, preservatives or sulfates. They’re all of these things!”
Rob Costello (Friendly Director).
Our ethics and affiliations
Our Ethy verification hive includes plastic free products, recycled and recyclable packaging, natural products, clean beauty, cruelty free, 100% vegan, sustainable palm oil, community champion, empowered employees, charity support, living wage employer, uk made products and carbon offsets.
Registered with The Vegan Society and Cruelty-free International, our eco-friendly personal and household cleaning range have been formulated to take care of your skin's health and that of the earth, without harming animals along the way.
Friendly soap has been audited and verified as a sustainable ethical brand by both Ethical Consumer Magazine (providing all the tools and resources consumers need to make choices at the checkout simple, informed and effective) and Ethy ( lists verified ethical businesses in the UK making it easier to avoid greenwashing ) and we are currently in the process of becoming B-corp certified ( a network of businesses as a force for good ).
Friendly Soap are also proud participants of The Living Wage Foundation and Fair Tax Accredited ensuring all employees are given a fair wage that stays in line with inflation whilst paying the right amount of tax in the right place at the right time.
To help reduce our carbon footprint we manufacture our Soaps, Shampoos on site using the Cold Process Method which requires very little energy and produces zero by-products. Friendly Soap are also proudly partnered with Forus Tree, a local community group dedicated to replanting lost local woodland and hedgerows and the Friendly Soap team are given occasional paid days to assist.
Our packaging is recycled or recyclable card, packing and shipping is fulfilled without the use of plastic and together with Good Shipping, we are decarbonising the Friendly Soap supply chain by actually replacing freight fossil fuels with truly sustainable alternatives.
We are pleased to be partnering with international charity, Just a Drop to support their vital hygiene projects around the world. Our contributions provide communities with hand washing stations and the materials to make their own soap, which helps to mitigate the impact of waterborne diseases.