What it takes to get on our shelf.
Every maker on Placemade is reviewed by a person. Here’s what we look for, and what we turn away.

Six standards, for every product.
A product goes on our shelf only when it meets all of them.
- 01
Ingredients
Full disclosure, every time. Nothing from our no-list, and no claim we can’t check.
- 02
Sourcing
Traceable to a farm, a supplier or the maker’s own hands. We ask where every key input comes from.
- 03
Made in California
Made or grown here, not just designed or headquartered here.
- 04
Packaging
Glass, paper, metal or refills first. Plastic only where there’s no better option.
- 05
People
Independent makers who pay fairly and can tell us who makes their goods.
- 06
Craft
We use everything before we list it. Clean isn’t enough. It has to be good.
What we turn away.
Ingredients we won’t carry in food or body care, whatever else a product gets right.
- Artificial dyes
- Synthetic fragrance
- Hydrogenated oils
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Artificial sweeteners
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde releasers
- SLS and SLES
Draft, to finalize with a food scientist and a cosmetic chemist.
From application to our shelf.
About [3–6 weeks] from application to listing.
- ApplyIngredients, sourcing and where it’s made.
- Curator reviewA person reads every label and spec sheet.
- SamplesWe use, taste and test the goods.
- Claims checkCertificates and claims checked at the source.
- ListedProducts go live with their badges.
- Re-reviewEvery year, and on any change of recipe.
What the badges mean.
Earned in review, and re-checked every year. Choose one to see the goods that carry it.
Badge glossaryMake something good in California?
We read every application. If you clear the bar, we’ll ask for samples.
Apply to sell