Is Our Place ethical?

Overview

Founded by Shiza Shahid, Our Place has rapidly transitioned from a viral lifestyle brand to a significant player in the ethical homeware space. The company focuses on creating multi-functional kitchen tools designed to replace multiple traditional items, thereby reducing consumer clutter and resource consumption. Their flagship product, the Always Pan 2.0, exemplifies this 'less-is-more' philosophy. As a minority-led and woman-owned enterprise, Our Place integrates social mission into its core business model, emphasizing the power of home cooking to connect diverse cultures. Their ethical standing is bolstered by a rigorous B Corp certification, signifying a legal commitment to balance profit with purpose.

Certifications

Our Place maintains several high-tier third-party validations that verify its ethical claims. The brand is a Certified B Corp, which requires meeting high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. Additionally, the brand carries the Climate Neutral Certified label, indicating they measure, reduce, and offset their entire carbon footprint. Specific product lines, particularly those involving wooden accessories like spatulas and cutting boards, utilize FSC Certified (Forest Stewardship Council) materials, ensuring wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests. The brand also highlights its status as a Woman-Owned Small Business, focusing on equity within its leadership structures.

Animal testing & vegan range

In the context of cookware, animal testing is generally not applicable as the products do not involve the chemical formulations found in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. However, from a vegan perspective, Our Place products are considered vegan-friendly. The brand does not use animal-derived binders, glues, or materials (such as bone char or silk) in its primary cookware, ceramics, or glassware lines. Their focus remains on inorganic materials like ceramic, aluminum, and glass, alongside plant-based wood products.

Sustainability pledges

Our Place has committed to a circular design philosophy. Their primary sustainability pledge centers on the 'power of less,' designing products that perform the functions of eight or more traditional kitchen tools to minimize manufacturing waste. Culturally, they pledge 10% of their profits from specific collections to various social justice organizations. Environmentally, the transition to the Always Pan 2.0 marked a shift to using 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum for the pan's body, significantly lowering the energy intensity of production compared to virgin aluminum. They also utilize plastic-free packaging, opting for biodegradable materials and recycled cardboard.

Sourcing & labor

The company maintains a transparent yet centralized supply chain. Their products are primarily manufactured in ethically vetted factories in China, Thailand, and Mexico. By maintaining B Corp status, Our Place is required to ensure that their suppliers adhere to a Code of Conduct covering fair wages, safe working conditions, and the prohibition of forced or child labor. While the brand is headquartered in Los Angeles, they perform regular audits of their international manufacturing partners to ensure compliance with human rights standards. The brand’s focus on 'rootedness' extends to highlighting the stories of the artisans and workers involved in their special 'Tradition' collections.

Controversies context

As of late 2023, Our Place has no major ethical or environmental controversies on record. There have been no significant labor strikes, environmental disasters, or legal settlements regarding deceptive marketing. While early iterations of their non-stick coating faced standard consumer skepticism regarding longevity—common in the ceramic cookware industry—the company addressed this with the launch of the 2.0 version, which features a more durable, toxin-free coating. The brand maintains a high transparency score regarding their PFAS-free claims, providing third-party testing results to verify that their 'Thermolon' style coatings do not contain harmful 'forever chemicals.'

Bottom line

Our Place stands as a leader in the 'conscious kitchen' movement. With ethics scores ranging from 76 to 88 across their product catalog, they offer a reliable alternative to traditional Teflon-heavy cookware brands. Their combination of B Corp status, Climate Neutrality, and a focus on recycled materials makes them a top-tier choice for consumers who value both aesthetic design and social responsibility. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion, coupled with their rigorous material safety standards (PFAS-free), solidifies their position as a reputable ethical brand.