Friendly Soap: Yorkshire-Made, Planet-Kind & Thriving at Thornber
Nestled in the heart of Thornber Topland, Friendly Soap has become one of the area’s most well-loved sustainable brands, a business built on values, craftsmanship, and a commitment to making everyday essentials kinder to the planet. As a long-standing tenant at Thornber, their story is a great example of how local manufacturing can flourish with the right space, vision, and support behind it.
A Brand with a Purpose
Friendly Soap has grown from a simple idea: create products that clean effectively without costing the earth. Their hand-crafted soaps, shampoos, shaving bars and household cleaning ranges are made using natural ingredients, minimal energy, and zero palm oil. Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and packaged without plastic, ticking all the boxes for customers who want to make more conscious choices.
Their bright, instantly recognisable boxes have become a staple in eco-shops around the UK and abroad, and every bar is still made with care by a skilled team right here in West Yorkshire.
Why Friendly Soap Chose Thornber
When Friendly Soap needed a base that could grow with them, Thornber’s Topland site offered the ideal setting - practical, quiet, and surrounded by the natural landscape that mirrors their values.
Key benefits they enjoy at Thornber:
- Flexible workspace for manufacturing, storage and dispatch
- 24/7 access, supporting early starts and late production runs
- Reliable high-speed internet, helping them manage nationwide orders
- Secure premises for stock holding and distribution
- A peaceful environment that suits their thoughtful, craft-led approach
Being part of a business park filled with a mix of makers, creatives and service-led companies also gives them the sense of community that independent brands genuinely appreciate.
Small Choices, Big Impact
Friendly Soap’s ethos centres around doing the right thing in small, consistent steps, and that approach has helped them build a loyal following. Their products appeal to people who want simple, natural ingredients and packaging that doesn’t add to landfill.
From coconut oil shampoo bars to aloe vera soap, each item reflects a brand that has sustainability baked into every stage of production. Even their curing process is energy-efficient and avoids unnecessary heat, helping them keep their environmental footprint low.
Thornber’s Commitment to Supporting Local Success
Thornber is home to a wide variety of businesses, but sustainability-focused tenants like Friendly Soap are especially important. Key benifit’s of Thonber’s Topland site are -
- strong transport links without the congestion of town-centre sites
- plenty of parking for staff and suppliers
- good access for deliveries and couriers
- flexible units that allow businesses to expand naturally
Friendly Soap is a great example of how the right space helps a business thrive, and their success highlights how important it is to match tenants with units that genuinely work for their workflow.
Looking Ahead
As demand for eco-friendly products continues to rise, Friendly Soap remains committed to growth that stays true to their principles. Thornber is proud to support them with a base that gives them both the room and the stability they need to keep creating thoughtful, sustainable products.
If you’d like to learn more about Friendly Soap or browse their range, you can visit them at: www.friendlysoap.co.uk
And if your business is looking for workspace in Hebden Bridge or the wider Calder Valley, Thornber can help you find a unit that fits your needs, whether you’re manufacturing, creative, or growing a service-led team.