Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how NOTOXIC® Universe uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our platform. This policy is designed to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the India Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP).

1. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They contain information that helps websites remember your preferences, improve functionality, and provide personalized experiences.

1.1 How Cookies Work

When you visit NOTOXIC® Universe:

• Our server sends a cookie to your browser
• Your browser stores the cookie on your device
• On subsequent visits, your browser sends the cookie back to our server
• This allows us to recognize you and remember your preferences

1.2 Similar Technologies

In addition to cookies, we use similar tracking technologies:

• Web Beacons (Pixel Tags): Small invisible images embedded in web pages or emails that track when content is viewed
• Local Storage: Browser storage that allows websites to store data locally on your device (similar to cookies but with more storage capacity)
• Session Storage: Temporary storage that persists only during your browser session
• Fingerprinting: Techniques that identify your device based on browser and device characteristics (used minimally and with consent)

For simplicity, we refer to all these technologies as "cookies" in this policy, unless otherwise specified.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

We use different types of cookies for various purposes. Cookies are categorized based on their purpose, duration, and whether they require consent.

2.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

Essential cookies are necessary for the platform to function and cannot be disabled. These cookies do not require consent under GDPR and DPDP as they are necessary for service delivery:

• Authentication: Maintain your login session and authentication state
• Shopping Cart: Remember items in your shopping cart
• Checkout: Enable secure checkout and payment processing
• Security: Prevent fraud, detect suspicious activity, and maintain platform security
• Session Management: Maintain your session and prevent unauthorized access
• Load Balancing: Distribute traffic across servers for performance
• Cookie Consent: Remember your cookie preferences

Examples:

• Session ID cookies (expire when browser closes)
• Authentication tokens (for logged-in users)
• CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) protection tokens
• Security and fraud detection cookies

Consent Required: No (essential for platform functionality)

2.2 Analytics Cookies (Performance)

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our platform. Data collected is anonymized and aggregated where possible:

• Usage Analytics: Track page views, user navigation patterns, and popular content
• Performance Metrics: Measure platform performance, loading times, and error rates
• User Behavior: Understand how users interact with features and identify improvement opportunities
• A/B Testing: Test different versions of features to improve user experience
• Conversion Tracking: Measure conversion rates and optimize checkout flows

Examples:

• Google Analytics (with IP anonymization enabled)
• Custom analytics tools (cookieless where possible)
• Performance monitoring tools

Data Anonymization: IP addresses are anonymized, and data is aggregated to prevent identification of individuals.

Consent Required: Yes (can be disabled through cookie settings)

2.3 Marketing Cookies (Targeting/Advertising)

Marketing cookies are used to deliver personalized advertisements and track campaign effectiveness. These cookies require explicit consent:

• Behavioral Tracking: Track your browsing behavior across websites to build user profiles
• Targeted Advertising: Deliver personalized advertisements based on your interests and behavior
• Retargeting:Show you ads for products you viewed but didn't purchase
• Campaign Measurement: Measure effectiveness of advertising campaigns
• Social Media Integration: Enable social media sharing and track social interactions
• Affiliate Tracking: Track referrals and affiliate program participation

Examples:

• Facebook Pixel (for Facebook and Instagram advertising)
• Google Ads (for Google advertising and remarketing)
• Marketing automation platforms
• Social media tracking pixels

Consent Required: Yes (requires explicit opt-in consent)

2.4 Functional Cookies (Preferences)

Functional cookies enhance platform functionality and remember your preferences:

• Language Preferences: Remember your selected language
• User Settings: Store your account preferences and settings
• Personalization: Remember your preferences for personalized experiences
• Social Media Integration: Enable social media login and sharing features
• Recommendations: Store preferences for product recommendations
• Accessibility: Remember accessibility settings (font size, contrast, etc.)

Examples:

• Language selection cookies
• User preference cookies
• Social media integration cookies (if you connect social accounts)

Consent Required: Generally yes (some functional cookies may be essential and not require consent)

3. Cookie Consent Management

We use a cookie consent management system that complies with GDPR and DPDP requirements. When you first visit NOTOXIC® Universe, you will see a cookie consent banner.

3.1 Cookie Consent Banner

The cookie consent banner allows you to:

• Accept all: Accept all cookies including analytics. Used to understand how the platform is used and improve it.
• Essentials only: Reject all non-essential cookies. Essential cookies (authentication, security, cart) remain active because the site cannot function without them.
• Details on each cookie: See the categorized inventory below in this policy. Per-category toggle controls are on the roadmap; today the choice is binary (all analytics on or all off).

Withdraw consent:Clear your browser's site data for notoxic.in (Settings › Privacy › Site Data) to reset your choice. The banner will reappear on your next visit.

3.2 Consent Requirements

Consent requirements by cookie type:

• Essential Cookies: No consent required (necessary for platform functionality)
• Analytics Cookies: Consent required (can be accepted or rejected)
• Marketing Cookies: Explicit opt-in consent required (must actively accept)
• Functional Cookies: Consent generally required (some may be essential)

3.3 Consent Storage

Your consent choices are:

• Stored in a cookie (essential cookie that remembers your preferences)
• Respected across all pages and visits
• Valid until you change your preferences or clear cookies
• Logged for compliance and audit purposes

3.4 Changing Cookie Preferences

You can change your cookie preferences at any time through:

• Cookie Settings:Access cookie settings through the cookie banner (click "Cookie Settings" or "Manage Preferences")
• Account Settings:Navigate to Account Settings > Privacy & Cookies (if logged in)
• Footer Link:Click "Cookie Policy" or "Cookie Settings" link in website footer
• Browser Settings: Manage cookies directly through browser settings (see Section 7)

3.5 Consent Withdrawal

You can withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time:

• Withdrawal takes effect immediately
• Non-essential cookies will stop being set
• Existing cookies may remain until they expire or are deleted
• You can delete existing cookies through browser settings
• Withdrawal does not affect data collected before withdrawal

4. Third-Party Cookies and Services

We use third-party services that may set their own cookies on our platform. These services help us provide functionality, analytics, and marketing capabilities.

4.1 Payment Processors

• Razorpay: Payment processing and transaction security
  • Purpose: Secure payment processing, fraud detection
  • Cookies: Essential for payment functionality
  • Privacy Policy: razorpay.com/privacy

4.2 Analytics Services

• Google Analytics: Website usage analytics
  • Purpose: Understand user behavior and improve platform
  • Cookies: Analytics cookies (consent required)
  • Data: Anonymized IP addresses, aggregated data
  • Privacy Policy: policies.google.com/privacy
  • Opt-Out: Google Analytics Opt-Out
• Custom Analytics: Internal analytics tools (cookieless where possible)

4.3 Marketing and Advertising

• Facebook Pixel: Facebook and Instagram advertising
  • Purpose: Targeted advertising, retargeting, campaign measurement
  • Cookies: Marketing cookies (explicit consent required)
  • Privacy Policy: facebook.com/privacy
• Google Ads: Google advertising and remarketing
  • Purpose: Display ads, retargeting, conversion tracking
  • Cookies: Marketing cookies (explicit consent required)
  • Privacy Policy: policies.google.com/privacy
  • Opt-Out: Google Ads Settings

4.4 Social Media Integration

• Social Media Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn (if you connect social accounts or use social features)
  • Purpose: Social login, sharing, social media integration
  • Cookies: Functional/marketing cookies (consent required)
  • Privacy Policies: Subject to respective social media platform policies

4.5 Content Delivery and Performance

• CDN Providers: Content delivery networks for fast loading
  • Purpose: Optimize content delivery and performance
  • Cookies: May use cookies for load balancing and optimization
• Cloudinary: Image and media hosting
  • Purpose: Media storage and optimization
  • Cookies: Functional cookies for media delivery

4.6 Third-Party Cookie Policies

Third-party cookies are subject to their respective privacy policies. We recommend reviewing their policies to understand how they use cookies and data:

• We do not control third-party cookies or their data practices
• Third-party services may have their own cookie policies
• You can opt out of third-party cookies through their opt-out mechanisms
• Disabling third-party cookies may affect platform functionality

5. Cookie Duration and Expiration

Cookies have different lifespans based on their type and purpose. We follow data minimization principles and set appropriate expiration periods.

5.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary and exist only during your browser session:

• Duration: Until you close your browser
• Purpose: Maintain session state, authentication, shopping cart
• Automatic Deletion: Deleted automatically when browser is closed
• Examples: Session ID, authentication tokens, cart items

5.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a specified period after you close your browser:

• Essential Cookies: Up to 1 year (for security and preferences)
• Analytics Cookies: Up to 2 years (Google Analytics default: 2 years)
• Marketing Cookies: Up to 1 year (or as per third-party policies)
• Functional Cookies: Up to 1 year (for preferences and settings)
• Cookie Consent: Up to 1 year (remembers your consent preferences)

5.3 Cookie Expiration and Renewal

When cookies expire:

• Cookies are automatically deleted by your browser when they expire
• New cookies may be set on your next visit (if consent is still valid)
• You may need to re-consent if cookies expire and you revisit the site
• Essential cookies are automatically renewed for functionality

5.4 Manual Cookie Deletion

You can delete cookies manually at any time:

• Through browser settings (see Section 7)
• Using browser extensions or privacy tools
• Clearing browser data/cache
• Using private/incognito browsing mode (cookies deleted when session ends)

Note: Deleting cookies may require you to log in again and may reset some preferences.

6. Withdrawal of Consent and Managing Cookies

You have the right to withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time. Withdrawal is as easy as giving consent.

6.1 How to Withdraw Consent

You can withdraw consent for non-essential cookies through multiple methods:

• Cookie Settings: Access cookie settings through the cookie banner or footer link and disable specific cookie categories
• Account Settings:If logged in, navigate to Account Settings > Privacy & Cookies and manage preferences
• Browser Settings: Disable cookies directly through browser settings (see Section 7 for instructions)
• Customer Support: Contact us to request cookie preference changes

6.2 Effect of Withdrawal

When you withdraw consent:

• Immediate Effect: Withdrawal takes effect immediately
• Stop Setting Cookies: We will stop setting new non-essential cookies
• Existing Cookies: Existing cookies may remain until they expire or are manually deleted
• Data Collection: New data collection stops, but previously collected data may be retained as per our Privacy Policy
• Functionality: Some features may be limited if cookies are disabled

6.3 Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling different cookie categories may affect your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Cannot be disabled; disabling may prevent platform from functioning (login, cart, checkout may not work)
• Analytics Cookies: Disabling may limit our ability to improve platform, but core functionality remains
• Marketing Cookies:Disabling means you won't see personalized ads, but you may still see generic advertisements
• Functional Cookies: Disabling may reset preferences (language, settings) on each visit

6.4 Re-consenting

You can re-enable cookies at any time:

• Access cookie settings and accept cookies again
• Consent will be stored and respected
• Cookies will be set according to your new preferences

7. Managing Cookies in Your Browser

You can manage cookies directly through your browser settings. Each browser has different options for controlling cookies. Below are instructions for major browsers.

7.1 Google Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right
2. Select "Settings"
3. Click "Privacy and Security" in the left menu
4. Click "Cookies and other site data"
5. Choose your preferred option:
   • Allow all cookies
   • Block third-party cookies
   • Block all cookies
6. To delete cookies: Click "See all cookies and site data" and remove specific cookies

7.2 Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the three-line menu (☰) in the top right
2. Select "Settings" (or "Preferences" on Mac)
3. Click "Privacy & Security" in the left menu
4. Under "Cookies and Site Data", choose your preferred option:
   • Accept cookies and site data
   • Accept cookies from visited websites
   • Block all cookies
5. To delete cookies: Click "Clear Data" or "Manage Data" to remove specific cookies

7.3 Apple Safari

1. Click "Safari" in the menu bar
2. Select "Preferences" (or "Settings" on newer versions)
3. Click the "Privacy" tab
4. Under "Cookies and website data", choose:
   • Always allow
   • Allow from websites I visit
   • Block all cookies
5. To delete cookies: Click "Manage Website Data" and remove specific cookies

7.4 Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right
2. Select "Settings"
3. Click "Cookies and site permissions" in the left menu
4. Click "Cookies and site data"
5. Choose your preferred option:
   • Allow all cookies
   • Block third-party cookies
   • Block all cookies
6. To delete cookies: Click "See all cookies and site data" and remove specific cookies

7.5 Mobile Browsers

For mobile browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox on iOS/Android):

• iOS Safari:Settings > Safari > Block All Cookies
• Android Chrome:Menu > Settings > Site Settings > Cookies
• Mobile Firefox:Menu > Settings > Privacy & Security

7.6 Important Notes

• Blocking All Cookies: Blocking all cookies may prevent the platform from functioning properly (login, cart, checkout may not work)
• Third-Party Cookies: Many browsers now block third-party cookies by default; this may affect some features
• Private Browsing: Using private/incognito mode automatically deletes cookies when you close the window
• Browser Extensions: Privacy extensions may block cookies; adjust settings if needed

8. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

Some browsers support Do Not Track (DNT) signals that indicate your preference not to be tracked across websites.

8.1 Our DNT Policy

We respect DNT signals as follows:

• Essential Cookies: We may still use essential cookies for platform functionality (necessary for service delivery)
• Non-Essential Cookies: If DNT is enabled and you have not provided consent, non-essential cookies (analytics, marketing) will be disabled
• Consent Override: If you explicitly consent to cookies despite DNT being enabled, your consent takes precedence

8.2 Enabling DNT

To enable DNT in your browser:

• Chrome:Settings > Privacy and Security > Send a "Do Not Track" request
• Firefox:Options > Privacy & Security > Enable "Send websites a "Do Not Track" signal"
• Safari:Preferences > Privacy > Enable "Ask websites not to track me"
• Edge:Settings > Privacy > Send "Do Not Track" requests

Note: DNT is not universally supported by all websites. We respect DNT, but some third-party services may not.

9. Mobile Apps and Device-Specific Cookies

If you use our mobile applications or access the platform through mobile devices:

9.1 Mobile Apps

• App-Specific Storage: Mobile apps may use local storage instead of browser cookies
• Device Identifiers: Apps may use device identifiers for analytics and functionality (with consent)
• Push Notifications: Push notification preferences are stored locally
• App Settings: Manage cookie and tracking preferences through app settings

9.2 Mobile Web Browsers

When accessing our website through mobile browsers:

• Same cookie policy applies as desktop browsers
• Mobile browsers have cookie management settings similar to desktop
• Third-party cookies may be more restricted on mobile browsers

10. GDPR and DPDP Compliance

Our cookie practices comply with GDPR (EU) and DPDP Act (India) requirements:

10.1 GDPR Compliance

• Consent: Explicit consent required for non-essential cookies (opt-in, not opt-out)
• Granular Control: Users can accept/reject cookies by category
• Easy Withdrawal: Consent can be withdrawn as easily as given
• Transparency: Clear information about cookie purposes and data use
• Data Minimization: Only necessary cookies are used; data is anonymized where possible

10.2 DPDP Act Compliance

• Consent: Consent required for processing personal data through cookies
• Notice: Clear notice about cookie use and purposes
• Withdrawal: Right to withdraw consent at any time
• Grievance: Right to file grievances with Grievance Officer

10.3 Cookie Consent Records

We maintain records of cookie consents for compliance purposes:

• Consent timestamp and choices
• Consent withdrawal records
• Cookie preferences history

11. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or new cookie technologies:

11.1 Notification of Changes

• Material Changes: For material changes (new cookie categories, new third-party services), we will:
  • Display a prominent notice on the platform
  • Send email notification to registered users
  • Request renewed consent if required by law
• Minor Updates:For minor updates (clarifications, formatting), we will update the "Last updated" date

11.2 Reviewing Changes

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically. The "Last updated" date indicates when this policy was last revised.

11.3 Continued Use

Continued use of our platform after policy changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy, subject to your consent preferences.

10. Contact Us

For questions about our use of cookies or to manage your cookie preferences:

NOTOXIC® Universe
Email: [email protected]