Cosmetic Certificates: What do they mean and why do you need them?
Often the cosmetic bottle is decorated not only with an interesting design and logo, but also, like a war veteran, proudly displays the badges of the available certificates. Still, for the average buyer, these badges do not always mean anything more than hieroglyphs of an unknown language. So let us get acquainted with the most important and most coveted certificates of today’s cosmetics world brands.
Certified Vegan – distributed and recognized globally, the Certified Vegan Logo is a registered trademark, similar in nature to the kosher mark, for products that do not contain animal products or byproducts and that have not been tested on animals. The certified logo is easily visible to consumers interested in vegan products and helps vegans to shop without constantly consulting ingredient lists. It also helps companies recognize a growing vegan market, as well as bringing the word Vegan—and the lifestyle it represents—into the mainstream. Please keep in mind, however, that the logo is not yet on every vegan product.
Source: www.vegan.org
The MADE SAFE certificate certifies that the products evaluated are manufactured by a brand that strives for a healthy and sustainable market. This certificate also ensures that no known or suspected toxic ingredients (carcinogens, heavy metals, toxic solvents, various toxins with harmful effects on health, high-risk pesticides and other harmful substances) are used in such products. The MADE SAFE certificate is a special safety and quality assessment certificate because the ingredient safety standards applied by the organization issuing these certificates are Nontoxic Certified Ingredient Solutions. Thus, the MADE SAFE label on the product packaging allows consumers to feel at ease with the potential impact of their purchase on themselves, their loved ones and the environment.
Source: www.madesafe.org and www.nontoxiccertified.org
EWG ( Environmental Working Group ) VERIFIED is another certificate that sets extremely high requirements for product safety and quality for personal hygiene, cosmetics and cleaning products. It ensures that the product does not contain any of the thousands of substances that EWG’s team of toxicologists, chemists and epidemiologists have added to the risk list. In addition, this certificate guarantees the transparent operation of the brand and good manufacturing practices. In addition to thorough product testing and certification, the non-profit Environmental Working Group is also working to increase public awareness for environmental issues, and is working to develop a legal framework to disseminate more information on the composition of cosmetic products.
Source: www.ewg.org/ewgverified
Approved by ECOCERT Climate Commitment. This assessment is given to products produced without an impact on climate change and without leaving a deep ecological footprint in the environment. The aim of this product labeling is to help consumers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding irresponsible products.
Source: www.ecocert.com/en/certification-detail/climate-change-smec
The FAIR FOR LIFE standard (Fair Trade) is another certificate of social and environmental responsibility for agricultural, food, textile, handicraft, cleaning and cosmetic products. The essence of this standard is the fair conduct of producers, growers, processors, importers and exporters, brands and distributors. These include fair (higher than market) purchase prices for raw materials, a system of producer protection in the event of a crisis, safe and decent working conditions throughout the supply chain (regardless of country), strengthening producer autonomy and promotes environmentally friendly, green farming practices.
Source: www. ecocert.com/en/certification-detail/fair-trade-fair-for-life
The Organic farming Europe certificate, which states that products are organic, is well known to European buyers. The green logo on the packaging of the product means that at least 95% of the ingredients of agricultural origin are organic. The main criteria for obtaining this certificate are: protection of the climate and the environment, preservation of arable land fertility, care for biodiversity, respect for animal welfare and natural cycles, non-use of synthetic and chemical products, absence of GMOs, transparent and consumer-friendly labeling.
Sources: www.ecocert.com/en/certification-detail/organic-farming-europe www.provenance.org/certification_marks/euro-leaf
ECOCERT COSMOS ORGANIC certificate is awarded to ecological and natural cosmetics. The essential criteria for assessing the product with this certificate are: environmental and human health friendly production and processing procedures, recyclable packaging, development of the concept of “green chemicals”, responsible use of natural resources, respect for biodiversity, absence of petroleum ingredients – parabens, fragrances, synthetic dyes, absence of GMOs. The certificate is normally granted if 95% or more of its constituent plants are organic and the final product contains at least 20% organic products (10% in the case of washable products).
Source: www.ecocert.com/en/certification-detail/natural-and-organic-cosmetics-cosmos
