The Peony Standard & Safety Promise
Where intentional living meets safer, low-tox choices.
At The Peony Haus, we believe that what touches your skin, fills your home, and supports your daily rituals should uplift your well-being—not compromise it.
Our curation process blends research, ingredient transparency, third-party certifications, and our internal Peony Standard to help you shop with confidence.
Not every product will meet every standard listed—but every product meets at least one meaningful safety, quality, or ethical benchmark.
If it doesn’t align with our values, it doesn’t make it into the shop.
Our Core Safety Pillars
We evaluate all products across four guiding pillars:
1. Materials & Ingredients Integrity
We prioritize products made with safer, cleaner, low-tox materials that reduce unnecessary exposure to chemicals, endocrine disruptors, or irritants.
2. Verified Third-Party Certifications
When available, we select items backed by reputable safety and sustainability certifications to provide extra layers of assurance.
3. Ethical & Responsible Making
We support artisans, small-batch makers, responsible factories, and environmentally-conscious production methods.
4. Transparency & Honesty
We disclose exactly what standards each product meets so you always know why something was chosen for The Peony Haus.
What The Peony Standard Means
We follow a thoughtful, health-aligned curation process that focuses on:
1. Material Integrity
We prioritize natural, organic, or low-tox materials like organic cotton, linen, solid wood, stainless steel, and food-safe ceramics. We avoid materials known to contain unnecessary chemical treatments.
2. Transparency Over Perfection
We clearly label whether an item is certified, low-tox by ingredients/materials, artisan-made, small batch, or eco-aligned. No greenwashing. Ever.
3. Safer-Before-Stylish (But Always Both)
We’ll never compromise your health for aesthetics. But we also believe low-tox can be luxe—and we select pieces that feel elevated, timeless and like you.
4. Ethical, Responsible Craftsmanship
Whenever possible, we partner with makers and brands who prioritize fair wages, safe working conditions, and responsible production.
5. Certifications Where It Matters Most
Many of our textiles, home goods, apparel, and personal care items carry recognized certifications like OEKO-TEX ®, GOTS, MADE SAFE, and more. These certifications provide additional reassurance about harmful substances and product safety.
The Peony Standard is not just a checklist—
it's a commitment to helping you create a healthier, more intentional life.
The Peony Standard
The Peony "Haus Rules" are the standards that are used to determine if a produce is selected for curation.
These are the specific categories that trigger a "No-Go" response. If these are present, they don't end up in the Haus.
Endocrine Disruptors & Hormone Mimics: Chemicals that "hijack" your hormones (Phthalates, Parabens, BPA/BPS, Flame Retardants).
Known or Suspected Carcinogens: Ingredients linked to cancer or those that may be contaminated during processing (Formaldehyde, Ethoxylated ingredients like PEGs, Coal Tar Dyes).
"Forever Chemicals" & Persistent Synthetics: PFAS/PFOAS and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats) that don't break down in the environment or your body.
The "Fragrance" Loophole: Any product listing "Fragrance" or "Parfum" without a full, transparent breakdown of constituents.
Unverifiable "Proprietary" Blends: We respect trade secrets, but we won't gamble with your health. No transparency, no shelf space.
Deceptive Claims (Greenwashing): Claims that are scientifically impossible, exaggerated, or debunked upon research.
The "Ghost" Policy: If a brand refuses to provide an ingredient list or ignores our outreach for safety verification, they are automatically excluded.
Antibiotic Resistance Drivers: Ingredients like Triclosan or certain Quats that contribute to the rise of "superbugs" by altering bacterial landscapes.
Heavy Metal Bio-Accumulators: Specific dyes or mineral-based ingredients (like low-grade micas or certain pigments) that aren't tested for lead, arsenic, or mercury.
The Ethics of "Dirty" Processing: Products manufactured using highly toxic solvents (like hexane extraction) or processes that leave significant hazardous residues on the final item.
The "Squeak-By" List (The 10% Allowance)
These trigger a mandatory deep-dive. They may be stocked if they are under the 10% threshold or carry elite certifications.
Synthetic Fabric Content: Must be <10% (e.g., a touch of elastane for fit) unless it carries a MADE SAFE or OEKO-TEX 100 certification.
Bamboo (Semi-Synthetics): Only accepted if processed via "Closed Loop" (Lyocell) or certified food-safe/toxic-free.
Chemical Wrinkle/Water Resistance: We prioritize mechanical finishes, but if used, must be PFOA-free and clearly labeled.
Azo Dyes: These can release nitrogen-based amines. We only allow them if third-party testing confirms they are non-cleaving/non-toxic.
High-Heat Processing: In beauty, this can denature nutrients. We prefer cold-pressed but will disclose if heat-distillation was used.
"Natural Fragrance:" Only allowed if the brand provides specificity detailing the botanical sources (e.g., "Essential oils of Bergamot and Cedarwood").
Why Some Products Have Certifications — and Others Don’t
Certifications like OEKO-TEX®, GOTS and NSF/ANSI 2 offer excellent reassurance, and we highlight them proudly.
But we also carry products from:
- artisans
- small-batch makers
- low-tox brands with transparent materials
- sustainable studios producing responsibly
These items may not be certified, but they still meet The Peony Standard for safety and quality.
We will never carry anything that fails our internal testing of materials, ingredients, or sourcing.
Every item in The Peony Haus goes through our curation checklist. And we ask:
- Does it align with our low-tox philosophy?
- Does it meet at least one verified certification or The Peony Haus Rules?
- Are materials transparent, responsibly sourced, or artisan-made?
- Does the item reduce environmental impact?
- Would we feel good using this for ourselves or our families?
If the answer isn’t a confident “yes,” we don’t carry it.
Our Commitment to You
We believe intentional living should feel effortless — not stressful.
Every product at The Peony Haus is selected to support:
- a cleaner home
- a calmer lifestyle
- better materials against your skin
- safer textiles in your environment
- products that nurture your wellbeing
No overwhelm. No greenwashing.
Just beautiful, safer essentials for the modern low-tox lifestyle.
If you ever have questions about a product, we’re here to help — simply reach out: support@thepeonyhaus.com.
Meet some of the amazing brands, curated just for you.
