OGX

How ethical is OGX?

OGX is a brand of hair care products which has a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Shampoo & Conditioner Ratings Table. Although OGX has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

Find out more about the ethical issues facing the Ethical Shampoo & Conditioner sector.

What does OGX do?

OGX is a hair care brand promoted as being sulphate-free and gentle on hair. The brand has been owned by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) since 2017.

In which areas does OGX perform poorly?

OGX was marked down under our criteria for Animal Welfare as the brand’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, features on PETA’s list of companies that do test on animals, despite claiming that it does not use animal testing. OGX was also marked down under our criteria for Organic products and Vegetarian/Vegan products due to a lack of certification.

Neutrogena also receives a bottom rating for Irresponsible Marketing, due to J&J’s involvement in the unethical marketing of harmful drugs. Johnson & Johnson was criticised for irresponsible marketing of opioids, the brand agreed to a proposed settlement but claims this is not an admission of wrongdoing. It also faced roughly 38,000 lawsuits linked to claims that the company’s talc baby powder was contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos.

In which areas does OGX score well for its ethics?

OGX receives a high score for its Environmental Report. Johnson & Johnson has a ‘health for humanity’ report which includes evidence of progress and several targets for the future. We found no criticisms relating to GM, Nuclear Power or Armaments, so OGX scores well for these criteria.

How can OGX improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that OGX is awarded with on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Shampoo & Conditioner Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria. To reach our minimum ethical benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, OGX has some issues to resolve, including its use of animal testing, lack of certification and unethical marketing practices.

Were you aware that your brand could benefit from Ethical Accreditation? Brands accredited by The Good Shopping Guide can display our ethical mark, showcasing to consumers that it is an ethical and sustainable brand. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.