Privacy Policy

This site is created and maintained by the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild (HSCG).

The privacy and security of information you provide to the HSCG is of utmost importance to us. This policy clarifies what information the HSCG keeps and how it may be utilized.

Website Visitors

When you visit this website and view pages, we may collect some or all of the following information:

Pledge Signatories: If you sign the Pledge, you first name, last name and email address are required. We collect this information so we have sufficient proof that you are a real person, and to eliminate duplicate signatories if needed. The number of unique signatories to the pledge will be important as we move forward with lobbying and educational activities. We will not release your name or email address without first informing you and giving you an option to opt-out.

Mailing List: If you have chosen to receive email updates about the Reduce Plastic Waste initiative, we will use the email address you provide to send you the updates. We use Constant Contact, an outside email service, to maintain our mailing lists and send email updates (HSCG eNews). Every email you receive from us will give you the option view your subscription information and to "unsubscribe".

Statistical Information: We keep statistical information of how many people visit our site, where they came from, and other such data, but nothing in that data uniquely identifies any individual. The statistical information gathered is used to review and improve our website.

Third Party Data Collection

We use some third-party applications which collect personal information about the people on our mailing list and our website visitors.

Constant Contact: As mentioned, we use Constant Contact for maintaining our mailing lists and sending email updates to our email subscribers. Constant Contact collects and shares with us information about which emails individual users have received, if they were opened, and if any of the links were clicked. If you click the unsubscribe link in any of our emails, Constant Contact is responsible for processing these requests and automatically removing you from the email subscriber list.

Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics on our website, which tracks website visitors’ browsing activities. Information collected includes a visitor’s browser, operating system, and location. The data retention period for data collected through Google Analytics is currently set for 38 months. We do not use Google AdSense or Google Adwords (both of which would track users) on our website or other websites. We also do not use the UserID capabilities of Google Analytics and do not attempt to connect any Google Analytics information to our database.

Clicky: An additional analytics program we use is Clicky (www.getclicky.com) is It collects information on website visitors, such as page views, and tracks traffic through our website. Information collected includes the user’s browser, operating system, and location.

Cookies

In order to process pledge signatures, we use website SESSIONS which place a cookie on the user’s computer. We do not use the cookie to track any other information. We do not place any other cookies on a user’s computer. Constant Contact, Google Analytics, and Clicky might place cookies on a user’s computer.

Notice of Rights with Respect to Personal Data

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (the "GDPR") with respect to information HSCG collects that, alone or in combination with other information we collect, can be used to identify you (such information being "personal data"):

Right to Information Regarding the Processing of Your Personal Data: You have the right to obtain the following information:

  • confirmation of whether and where we are processing your personal data
  • information about the purpose of the processing of your personal data
  • information about the categories of personal data being processed
  • information about the existence of, and an explanation of the logic involved in, any automated processing of your personal data that has a significant effect on you
  • information about the categories of recipients with whom your personal data may be shared; and
  • information about the period for which your personal data will be stored or the criteria used to determine that period.

This Privacy Policy is intended to provide much of the information listed above.

Right to Access to Your Personal Data: You may request a copy of your personal data that we, or our third-party processors, collect and maintain. Similarly, you have the right to, when technically feasible, have your personal data transferred to another entity to determine the purpose and means of processing your personal data.

Right to Have Errors Corrected: You have the right to rectification of inaccurate personal data. If you notify us that any of your personal data is inaccurate or incomplete, we have the responsibility to, either directly or through our third-party processors, ensure that such personal data is erased or corrected.

Right to Have Personal Data Erased or Processing Restricted: You have the right to have your personal data erased when (i) the personal data is no longer needed for its original purpose and no new lawful purpose exists; (ii) the personal data is being processed based solely on your consent and you withdraw your consent; or (iii) the personal data is being processed unlawfully. Similarly, you have the right to limit our use of your personal data when (i) the personal data is no longer needed for its original purpose, but we still need to maintain the personal data to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights; (ii) the personal data is being processed unlawfully; or (iii) the accuracy of the personal data is contested, but then our use of the personal data is restricted for only so long as it takes to verify the accuracy of the personal data.

Right to Object to Processing of Your Personal Data: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data if the basis for that processing is (a) public interest; or (b) our own legitimate interests in doing so. Additionally, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for the purpose of direct marketing or statistical purposes.

Right to Lodge a Complaint with a Supervising Authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint concerning the processing of your personal data with your country’s independent public authority designated to act as its data protection "supervising authority" under the GDPR.

Right to Withdraw Consent to the Processing of Your Personal Data: You have the right to refuse to consent to, and to withdraw your consent to, the processing of your personal data. To the extent we rely on your consent to collect and store your information, when you withdraw such consent we must cease collection and retention of such information. Note, however, we do not require your consent to collect or otherwise process your personal information if (a) such information is not personal data or (b) such information is personal data and we have another lawful basis for processing the information (for instance, the information is needed to enter into or preform under a contract with you).

Responses to your requests to us regarding your personal data will be provided free of charge (including copies of materials), except that we may charge a reasonable fee for any repetitive requests, manifestly unfounded or excessive requests, or further copies. Similarly, we may refuse to act upon requests that are manifestly unfounded or excessive.

Data Retention

Unless otherwise stated above, we keep any information collected until the user requests that it be destroyed or we determine that it is no longer needed for legal, statistical or other record-keeping purposes.

Privacy Violations

In the event that you discover that any sensitive information in their control has fallen into unauthorized hands, please report the matter to the HSCG Executive Director immediately.

How to Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns related to this Privacy Policy, HSCG’s practices related to this website, or your information, you can contact us at:

Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, Inc.
184 Edie Rd Ste A,
Saratoga Springs, NY

Email Address:

Telephone number: (518) 306-6934