Umberto Giannini

Vegan and cruelty‑free haircare made in the UK that celebrates natural curls and hair types with salon‑level formulations.
4.8
Industry Average
Overall PPA Score
People 5.7
Planet 4.4
Animals 4.1
Our PPA framework evaluates brands based on their positive impact upon People, Planet and Animals.

Learn more about our scoring →

About Umberto Giannini

Umberto Giannini represents a distinctive approach to sustainable haircare, combining UK-based manufacturing with rigorous third-party verification standards. The independent brand has built its reputation on salon-quality formulations that celebrate natural hair textures while maintaining strict ethical standards, earning independent social and environmental certification with strong overall performance metrics.

The brand's sustainability performance reflects both significant achievements and strategic gaps. Environmental leadership emerges through 100% renewable energy use, innovative packaging solutions utilizing 93% recycled and bio-plastic materials, and comprehensive vegan formulations verified by multiple certification bodies. However, the brand's environmental impact assessment reveals substantial disclosure gaps in water stewardship and biodiversity initiatives.

As an independent UK haircare manufacturer, Umberto Giannini operates with shorter supply chains and direct supplier relationships, contributing to enhanced transparency and reduced environmental impact. The brand's commitment to charitable giving through UG Giving demonstrates social impact beyond product development, though broader conservation and wildlife protection initiatives remain underdeveloped compared to cruelty-free and vegan achievements.

The Good Stuff

Where Umberto Giannini appears to be making meaningful progress. We cross-referenced these findings with multiple independent sources.

🏆

Third-Party Social Impact Verification

Achieved independent social and environmental certification with exceptional worker impact performance, demonstrating verified commitment to social responsibility and environmental stewardship

🐰

PETA-Verified Cruelty-Free Standards

Comprehensive cruelty-free certification through PETA verification with 100% vegan formulations across all products, ensuring no animal testing at any development stage

♻️

Innovative Sustainable Packaging

Industry-leading packaging sustainability with 93% of product range utilizing recyclable post-consumer recycled plastic and bio-plastic materials derived from sugar cane

The Reality Check

Areas where the publicly available data gets murky, incomplete, or concerning. We're transparent about the limitations of our analysis.

💧

Water Stewardship Void

No public disclosure of water use metrics, conservation programs, or facility-level water management initiatives despite operating in water-intensive manufacturing

🌿

Biodiversity Impact Gaps

Absence of biodiversity protection programs, habitat restoration partnerships, or ecosystem impact mitigation strategies in sustainability reporting

🦋

Conservation Funding Limitations

No evidence of wildlife conservation support, environmental restoration funding, or habitat protection partnerships despite strong animal welfare credentials

Umberto Giannini's
Impact Aura

A visual representation of Umberto Giannini's positive impact
across People, Planet and Animals

4.8
Industry Average
Overall Score

Each colored area represents the brand's performance in that sustainability category. The size and intensity of each blob corresponds to their score—larger, more vibrant areas indicate stronger performance.

Our Research

Key findings from our comprehensive analysis of Umberto Giannini's sustainability performance across People, Planet & Animals impact.

Positive Impact on People

5.7/10

Research Highlights

  • Third-party social and environmental certification achieved with exceptionally high worker impact performance
  • Ingredient safety standards exclude silicone, parabens, and phthalates across all formulations
  • Supply chain transparency maintained through close partnerships with UK-based suppliers
  • Social impact commitment includes minimum 1% of annual profits dedicated to charitable giving

Evidence Strength

Strong third-party verification through independent social impact assessment, moderate documentation for ingredient safety standards

Data Confidence: Medium

Positive Impact on Planet

4.4/10

Research Highlights

  • Climate action includes 100% renewable energy use across owned facilities and operations
  • Packaging innovation achieves 93% recyclable materials using post-consumer recycled and bio-plastic components
  • Chemical management protocols maintain strict supplier guidelines for hazardous substance avoidance
  • Carbon footprint reduction supported by remote work policies implemented since 2019
  • Water stewardship and biodiversity initiatives show significant disclosure gaps

Evidence Strength

Excellent documentation for climate and packaging initiatives, substantial gaps in water and biodiversity reporting

Data Confidence: Medium

Positive Impact on Animals

4.1/10

Research Highlights

  • Cruelty-free certification through PETA verification with no animal testing at any development stage
  • Complete vegan formulation across entire product portfolio confirmed by independent registry
  • Animal welfare standards exceed industry baseline through third-party cruelty-free verification
  • Wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs remain undisclosed
  • Conservation funding and sustainable animal-based ingredient sourcing show no evidence

Evidence Strength

Comprehensive verification for cruelty-free and vegan claims, limited evidence for conservation and wildlife impact initiatives

Data Confidence: Medium

See the Receipts

We don't just make claims—here are the official certifications that prove Umberto Giannini's sustainability commitments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Umberto Giannini sustainable?

Our assessment reveals strong sustainability performance in specific areas, particularly climate action and animal welfare. The brand demonstrates leadership through 100% renewable energy use, innovative packaging with 93% recyclable materials, and comprehensive third-party verification for cruelty-free and vegan standards. However, sustainability gaps exist in water stewardship and biodiversity initiatives, where public disclosure remains limited.

Is Umberto Giannini cruelty-free?

Yes, Umberto Giannini maintains rigorous cruelty-free standards verified by PETA certification. The brand prohibits animal testing at all development stages and maintains this commitment across all product formulations, providing high confidence in their cruelty-free claims.

Are Umberto Giannini products vegan?

All Umberto Giannini products are 100% vegan, confirmed through both brand disclosure and independent registry verification. The brand maintains strict vegan formulation standards across their entire haircare portfolio without exception.

Is Umberto Giannini clean beauty?

The brand demonstrates clean beauty standards through exclusion of silicones, parabens, and phthalates from all formulations. Their independent social and environmental certification includes verification of chemical management protocols and supplier guidelines for hazardous substance avoidance, though independent safety database verification remains limited.

What certifications does Umberto Giannini have?

Umberto Giannini holds independent social and environmental certification with strong overall performance, PETA cruelty-free certification, and PETA vegan company recognition. These third-party verifications provide independent validation of their social, environmental, and animal welfare claims.

Is Umberto Giannini environmentally friendly?

Environmental performance shows mixed results. The brand excels in climate action through 100% renewable energy use and packaging innovation with 93% recyclable materials. However, environmental impact assessment reveals significant gaps in water stewardship and biodiversity protection programs.

Where is Umberto Giannini made?

Umberto Giannini products are manufactured in the UK, supporting shorter supply chains and enhanced transparency. The brand works closely with UK-based suppliers, contributing to reduced transportation emissions and improved supply chain oversight.

Ready to Shop Umberto Giannini?

Find Umberto Giannini products through our trusted retail partners

We earn commissions from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you)

The Bottom Line

Umberto Giannini demonstrates selective sustainability excellence, particularly in climate action, packaging innovation, and animal welfare verification. While the brand's independent social and environmental certification and comprehensive cruelty-free standards establish strong ethical foundations, significant opportunities exist for enhanced water stewardship and biodiversity impact disclosure to achieve comprehensive sustainability leadership.

Compare Brands

See how Umberto Giannini stacks up against similar brands