Cosmetic certificates and certification bodies are now a common part of the natural cosmetics market. In recent years, the global market for natural and organic personal care products has expanded, and this boom in cosmetics has quite naturally led to the emergence of organisations which, in the form of certain norms and standards, cover the assessment of the quality level of raw materials intended for the production of natural cosmetics, as well as certain limitations and restrictions in use and dosage. In addition to the standards issued by the European Union, further — private — organisations have gradually emerged in Europe and worldwide.
About this article
This article was written for you by Martina Oboňová. In it we will gradually introduce the best known organisations that rule the market for natural and organic raw materials — the French ECOCERT and the British Organic Soil Association, and finally further international and national labels.
You may have noticed that in our e-shop, too, certain products bear a logo and that for several raw materials we also state that they are certified by various companies.
Main benefits
- A quality guarantee from cultivation to delivery
Ecocert covers the quality of a raw material from its cultivation through to its actual delivery, which guarantees safety and a genuine quality guarantee for the consumer.
- Clearly set content limits
The standards determine the minimum proportion of constituents of natural and of plant origin and the proportion of ingredients coming from organic farming.
- Control of the entire process
Certification companies also control and assess the processing, storage and packaging procedures of products.
- Unwanted substances excluded
Ecocert requires the absence of petrochemical additives (with the exception of permitted preservatives), parabens, phenoxyethanol, perfumes and synthetic colourants; the Organic Soil Association does not allow parabens, GMOs, sulphates or petroleum derivatives.
- Protection of animals, people and nature
Separate certificates confirm the absence of animal testing, fair working conditions, responsible palm oil production and vegan composition.
Certification companies in brief
ECOCERT
Perhaps the best-known certification company in Europe is the French ECOCERT, which was founded back in 1991 and today operates in more than 80 countries, while in its home country France it certifies more than 70 % of organic producers.
The holders of this ecological certification are raw material producers, manufacturers, brands and other “players” in the cosmetics industry.
Ecocert provides two types of trademarks under the name COSMOS (COSMetic Organic and natural Standard), which are subject to strict criteria:
1 Ecocert Organic Cosmetic
- at least 95 % of all constituents are of natural origin
- at least 95 % of all constituents are of plant origin
- at least 10 % of all ingredients come from organic farming
2 Ecocert Natural Cosmetic
- at least 95 % of all constituents are of natural origin
- at least 50 % of all constituents are of plant origin
- at least 5 % of all ingredients come from organic farming
However, this is by no means all when it comes to the strictness of quality assessment.
Products certified by this company must in addition meet further requirements
- environmentally favourable production and processing procedures that also respect human health
- the development of so-called green chemistry
- responsible use of natural resources
- respect for biodiversity
- absence of petrochemical additives (with the exception of permitted preservatives), parabens, phenoxyethanol, perfumes and synthetic colourants
- absence of genetically modified raw materials
- recyclable packaging + clarity of the information on the label for the consumer
Ecocert therefore covers the quality of a raw material from its cultivation through to its actual delivery, which guarantees safety and a genuine quality guarantee for the consumer.
You will find raw materials meeting these standards in our range too. Fucocert is verified by ECOCERT GREENLIFE according to the COSMOS & NATRUE standards and has a content of constituents of natural origin above 95 %; BIO fermented rice water carries COSMOS Organic certification.
The certification company ORGANIC SOIL ASSOCIATION
Another important European certification company is the Organic Soil Association.
The company was founded back in 1946, when its original aim was to support the protection of the planet by promoting the organic method of agriculture and the ecological processing of raw materials, and it is a non-profit organisation. It is the only charitable organisation in Britain that comprehensively deals with human health, the environment and the living conditions of animals, because, as it declares, it is aware that these areas cannot be addressed separately, since there is a close interconnection between them.
Products that are marked with their logo meet demanding criteria, the most important of which is a content of organic raw materials above the level of 70 %. The percentage of this content must be stated on the label. If it is not stated there and the logo appears on the product, it means that the content of organically certified constituents is higher than 95 %.
The company, similarly to Ecocert, also controls and assesses the processing, storage and packaging procedures of products. It does not allow parabens, GMOs, sulphates or petroleum derivatives, and testing on animals is likewise prohibited.
In addition, through its activities the organisation significantly contributes to the following
- it strives for change on the political scene as well, where it publicly expresses its positions towards harmful agricultural laws,
- it proactively supports, through various programmes, innovative solutions to ensure the future of healthy and sustainable food,
- it provides healthy food to thousands of British pupils, in hospitals and in care homes,
- it supports the organic market by providing technical consultancy and marketing support to organic businesses,
- it protects forests — through more than 2000 clients it protects approximately 15 hectares of forest worldwide, as well as the people, plants and animals that live in them.
We will conclude the topic of certification companies with a brief overview of further labels that you can find on raw materials or directly on natural cosmetic products, guaranteeing quality and value.
Other certification companies
From the wider world we can mention USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), which is the American national certification company. Similarly to the European institutions already mentioned, it deals with the certification of products from organic agriculture. The condition is adherence to a content of constituents at a level of 95 % from organic cultivation, as well as control of storage and packaging. GMOs, artificial fertilisers, pesticides and other synthetic and chemical substances are prohibited.
In Europe, national certification has also been introduced in many countries. This is mainly in countries with developed controlled organic agriculture.
In France you may also encounter the label AB — Agriculture Biologique, in Germany the label BDIH, which is indicated on products as “Kontrollierte Naturkosmetik” (controlled natural cosmetics). In the Czech Republic the label BIO zebra is used. And in Italy, for example, there is ICEA (the Institute for Ethical Certification), which awards the certificate Bio Eco Cosmesi.
With the development of natural cosmetics and the control of ecological and gentle cultivation, processing and handling procedures, the need arose to protect further areas related to the cosmetics industry as well:
No animal testing
CRUELTY FREE is a certificate of the company PETA, which assures the consumer that the given product was not tested on animals. The company operates in the USA.
The only international certificate confirming no animal testing is LEAPING BUNNY. The organisation provides comprehensive control and does not allow testing of products or of their individual constituents on animals at any stage of the products.
Fair trade
FAIR TRADE is, in translation, fair trade, and is the company that was the first, already in the 1940s of the 20th century, to start dealing with the problem of the exploitation of labour in developing countries. In 1989, in response to this, the company known under today’s name WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) was founded.
Palm oil
The question of palm oil production has also become a sensitive topic, which led to the establishment of the company RSPO. The main criterion is that producers of palm oil may not clear-cut or burn rainforests or endanger areas with a rare ecosystem. The company also supports local growers and maintains price ceilings.
In our range, RSPO MB (Mass Balance) certification is carried, for example, by Neutral MCT oil Caprylis or by the surfactant Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate.
Veganism
Last but not least, it is necessary to mention the philosophy and modern lifestyle of veganism, which has also earned its own umbrella organisation. This is the non-profit company Vegan Society, which uses its logo to label products without animal fats and also the absence of animal testing.
Frequently asked questions about cosmetic certificates
Practical questions about what the individual labels mean, what content limits they set and what, besides composition, the certification companies check.
What is the difference between Ecocert Organic and Ecocert Natural Cosmetic?
Both trademarks bear the name COSMOS and both require at least 95 % of constituents of natural origin. They differ in two further criteria: Organic Cosmetic requires at least 95 % of constituents of plant origin and at least 10 % of ingredients from organic farming, Natural Cosmetic at least 50 % of plant origin and at least 5 % from organic farming.
What does the Soil Association logo mean when no percentage is stated?
The most important criterion is a content of organic raw materials above the level of 70 %, and the percentage of this content must be stated on the label. If it is not stated there and the logo appears on the product, it means that the content of organically certified constituents is higher than 95 %.
Do certification companies check only the composition?
No. Ecocert covers the quality of a raw material from its cultivation through to its actual delivery and also assesses the environmental friendliness of production and processing procedures, the responsible use of natural resources, respect for biodiversity, the recyclability of packaging and the clarity of the information on the label. The Organic Soil Association similarly controls and assesses the processing, storage and packaging procedures of products.
Which certificate confirms that there has been no animal testing?
CRUELTY FREE is a certificate of the company PETA, which operates in the USA. The only international certificate confirming no animal testing is LEAPING BUNNY — it provides comprehensive control and does not allow testing of products or of their individual constituents on animals at any stage of the products. Animal testing is also prohibited by the Organic Soil Association, and the Vegan Society marks its absence with its logo as well.
Which national certifications can I come across in Europe?
National certification has been introduced mainly in countries with developed controlled organic agriculture. In France it is AB — Agriculture Biologique, in Germany BDIH (“Kontrollierte Naturkosmetik” — controlled natural cosmetics), in the Czech Republic BIO zebra and in Italy ICEA, which awards the certificate Bio Eco Cosmesi.
What does RSPO certification address?
RSPO came into being in response to the sensitive question of palm oil production. The main criterion is that producers of palm oil may not clear-cut or burn rainforests or endanger areas with a rare ecosystem. The company also supports local growers and maintains price ceilings.
You will find raw materials with COSMOS Organic, COSMOS Approved, RSPO or BIO certification directly in the Handymade raw materials range — we state the certifications in the product parameters and you can also filter the range by them.
