Glycerin is in soap, lotion, food and laundry sheets. It sounds harmless and usually is. But if you're vegan, where it comes from matters.

Quick answer: glycerin keeps a laundry sheet flexible and helps it dissolve. It can be made from plant oils, animal fat or petroleum, and labels rarely say which. Ours isn't from animals.

What glycerin does in a sheet

• Keeps it flexible, so sheets don't crack in the box.
• Helps it dissolve evenly in the wash.
• Carries the cleaners into the film during manufacturing.

No glycerin, and your sheet turns into a potato chip.

Where it comes from

The catch: all three end up as the same molecule. The label just says glycerin.

How to tell what you're getting

1. Look for a qualifier like vegetable or plant glycerin.
2. Look for a vegan mark, which covers every ingredient.
3. Ask the brand. A good one knows and will tell you.

Why the source matters to us

Nothing in our formulas comes from animals, and glycerin is the easiest place to slip up by accident. We specify glycerin that isn't from animals.^†

It's in our gentle sheet, Just 7 and Just 9, because every sheet needs to stay bendy and dissolve well.

FAQ

Is glycerin vegan? It can be. Plant glycerin is; animal-fat glycerin isn't. Ask if the label doesn't say.

Is glycerin safe in detergent? It's widely used in food, soap and skin care and generally regarded as safe there. In detergent it's a small part of the formula.

Does it leave residue? No. It dissolves completely and rinses away.

Why do sheets need it? Without it, sheets dry out and crack. Glycerin keeps them supple until they hit water.