Cookie
Policy.
We believe you deserve to know exactly what data is stored on your device when you use PollenGrains. This policy explains every cookie and local storage value we use — and, just as importantly, what we don't.
2. How PollenGrains Uses Cookies
PollenGrains takes a minimal approach to cookies. We use only what is strictly necessary to operate the platform securely and remember your preferences.
We do not use cookies for advertising, remarketing, or behavioral tracking. We do not sell cookie data or share it with third-party advertisers. We do not build user profiles for targeted advertising.
Our cookies fall into three categories: essential (required for the platform to function), preference (to remember your choices), and analytics (to monitor errors and performance). Each is detailed below.
3. Essential Cookies
These cookies are required for core platform functionality. Disabling them will prevent PollenGrains from functioning correctly.
Session Management
Maintains your authenticated session across page loads. Without this cookie, you would need to log in on every page.
CSRF Protection
Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks on form submissions. This token ensures that actions like submitting a review or changing your settings originate from your browser, not a malicious third party.
Security Tokens
JWT access tokens (15-minute expiry) and refresh tokens (30-day expiry) to verify your identity. Short-lived access tokens limit the window of exposure if a token is compromised.
Load Balancing
Ensures consistent server routing for optimal performance. Routes your requests to the same backend instance during a session for faster response times.
These cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of PollenGrains. They cannot be disabled without breaking core functionality such as authentication and form security.
4. Preference Cookies
These store your display choices so the platform feels familiar each time you return.
Theme Preference
Your light or dark mode selection, stored as pg-theme in localStorage. Note: this is technically localStorage rather than a cookie, but we include it here for complete transparency about all data stored on your device. Defaults to your operating system preference.
Locale
Your language and region preference for content display. Ensures that dates, numbers, and translations match your selected locale across sessions.
Preference cookies can be cleared through your browser settings without affecting core functionality. Clearing them will reset your theme to the system default and your locale to auto-detect.
5. Analytics Cookies
Minimal analytics focused on stability and performance — not user behavior.
Sentry
Error monitoring and crash reporting. Captures anonymized error data to help us identify and fix bugs quickly. Sentry does not track individual user behavior, browsing patterns, or personal information.
OpenTelemetry
Performance tracing for API response times and server health. All data is anonymized and aggregated. Used exclusively for infrastructure monitoring — never for user profiling or behavioral analysis.
What we do NOT use:
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Hotjar, Mixpanel, or any advertising analytics platform. Our analytics are limited to error monitoring and infrastructure performance.
6. No Third-Party Tracking
PollenGrains does not permit any form of third-party tracking on the platform.
We specifically prohibit:
- Third-party advertising trackers
- Remarketing or retargeting pixels
- Data broker integrations
- Social media tracking widgets
- Cross-site behavioral profiling
“Your browsing activity on PollenGrains is never shared with advertisers or data brokers. Period.”
8. Managing Your Cookies
Most modern browsers give you full control over cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- View all cookies currently stored by a website
- Delete specific cookies or clear all cookies at once
- Block cookies from specific websites
- Configure your browser to notify you when a new cookie is set
- Set cookies to be automatically deleted when you close your browser
Please note:
Clearing essential cookies will log you out of PollenGrains and may require re-authentication. Preference cookies (like your theme choice) will reset to system defaults. For detailed instructions on managing cookies, consult your browser's help documentation.
9. Changes & Contact
We may update this cookie policy as our technology evolves or as regulatory requirements change. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page and communicate the changes through our platform.
We will never quietly introduce advertising cookies or third-party trackers. Any expansion in cookie usage will be clearly communicated and documented here.
If you have questions about our use of cookies or any other aspect of your privacy, contact us at privacy@pollengrains.com. We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 48 hours.