Life is not just about soap for Oregon Soap Company’s founder Gregg Arnell of Portland. It’s about being a responsible environmental steward and producing soap in the cleanest, most renewable way possible, and the ethos of his company reflects this stewardship. Maker of organic soaps for nearly 30 years, Oregon Soap Company uses primarily organic vegetable oils and natural ingredients, Oregon Tilth-certified, to produce its bar, liquid and castile soaps. These soaps are also Carbonfund-certified carbon neutral: For every 10 bars of soap sold or 5 gallons of liquid soap sold, a native plant or tree is planted in partnership with Friends of Trees and Trees for the Future. Since 2007, more than 750,000 native plants and trees have been planted. Carbonfund also supports third-party and verified renewable energy, including wind farms and solar power, to replace reliance on fossil fuels. Using renewable energy is another cornerstone of Oregon Soap Company’s mission.

Tim Schley wanted to use a deodorant with all natural ingredients. He couldn’t find one on the market that did the job, so he decided to try making it himself. That first batch that he whipped up at a friend’s apartment in Eugene worked well, but it wasn’t quite the texture and consistency that he wanted. “From that point on, I started tweaking the formula and giving numerous samples out to everyone I could get to try it and asking for feedback,” Tim says. “Within about five months, I felt ready to hit the market, and although it continues to be a learning process and I've evolved along the way, it’s been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.” Tim’s company, Green Theory Naturals, makes aluminum-free deodorants that include probiotics and bentonite clay. Tim says the clay has a detoxifying effect to help the body rid itself of the aluminum used in other deodorants. He says the key to long-lasting odor protection is the probiotics, which outcompete bacteria that feed off sweat.