What quality guarantees are there for my organic cosmetics?
Today, we invite you to discover the main principles of organic certification.
First of all, be aware that there is no legal or official definition of natural and organic cosmetics in France or in Europe .
Of numerous labels and/or certification bodies These measures were therefore implemented in various EEC countries. What is their objective?
Protecting consumers And establish reliable benchmarks to help them choose products. And thus prevent them from being dazzled by ambiguous, or even misleading, marketing promises.
The main organic labels and certifications in cosmetics:
COSMEBIO and COSMOS
The COSMEBIO label dates from 2002. Today it includes around 500 brands (including, of course, Les Poulettes Paris).
COSMEBIO's definition of organic cosmetics is based on 3 main principles:
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A high quantity of naturally derived ingredients in the formulas (at least 95%) . And a whole list of controversial ingredients, which the COSMEBIO label prohibits.
The composition of the formulas must be transparent to the consumer, with a clear indication of the percentages of ingredients of natural and organic origin. - Respect for the environment through regulation of manufacturing processes excluding polluting practices.
- A strong social commitment . For example, by prioritizing raw materials sourced through fair trade (in addition to being grown without pesticides).
Alexis Fort, the founder of Les Poulettes Paris, previously served on the board of directors of the COSMEBIO association. As you can see, Alexis is a seasoned veteran of organic cosmetics and didn't wait for it to become trendy to get involved.
But let's get back to the labels, we're not here to praise the founder, even if he's a great guy.
COSMEBIO therefore defined a charter and an initial set of specifications, which evolved to become (in 2017) the current COSMOS specifications. These specifications not only raised the bar for the label's requirements but also harmonized guarantees across some sixty countries. For the past two years, it has been the European standard for organic and natural cosmetics.
That is why the COSMEBIO logo on your Les Poulettes Paris products is now inseparable from the COSMOS ORGANIC label.
To obtain the right to use these labels, a brand must have its products certified by an accredited body. Since Cosmebio and COSMOS are associations, they cannot issue certifications. At Les Poulettes, Ecocert certifies the conformity of our products to the Cosmebio and Cosmos Organic standards.
ECOCERT
ECOCERT is not an organic label in itself.
It is a private and independent control body that is authorized to issue the COSMEBIO COSMOS ORGANIC label. It has existed for about thirty years and operates in more than 130 countries.
It is the world's leading specialist in sustainable practices certification.
This organization therefore also actively contributes to promoting the use of resources and production methods that respect the environment and the consumer.
ECOCERT has greatly helped to strengthen the link between professionals in Organic Agriculture and players in the cosmetics industry.
This organization also assists professionals in the textile and household product sectors in obtaining organic labels for these categories.
The steps in the ECOCERT certification process
Obtaining ECOCERT certification is a long and rigorous process.
The first step is based on a written application.
Les Poulettes Paris must provide all information relating to its various products, such as ingredient lists and dosages. The materials used for the fabric of the masks and the packaging are also thoroughly examined. ECOCERT also reviews everything written on the packaging and the brand's website, verifying that all mandatory legal information is present and that any claims are not potentially misleading.
The second phase is an on-site audit
It will allow verification that the information provided in phase 1 is accurate. And it will control everything that cannot be analyzed based on documents alone. This includes, for example, the compliance control system, the storage process, and the cleaning of production equipment.
The certification is valid for one year.
To renew it, all updated documents (or those relating to newly launched finished products) must be submitted, and the audit phase must be completed again. Other organic labels exist, particularly in France. However, Les Poulettes Paris chose the most internationally recognized label.
The ingredients of a certified organic cosmetic formula
Certified labels guarantee a formulation that prioritizes ingredients of natural origin and from organic farming, excluding controversial ingredients and minimizing synthetic products (of petrochemical origin). The COSMEBIO COSMOS ORGANIC label thus guarantees a minimum of 95% naturally derived ingredients.
- A minimum of 95% organic ingredients out of all ingredients that can be organic (such as plants, beeswax, milk…) Note that at Les Poulettes Paris, we prohibit the use of any animal ingredients.
- Minimum 20% organic ingredients in the total product (10% for rinse-off products and minerals – water and minerals considered non-organic because they are not cultivated)
To explain, we've included a small diagram borrowed from COSMEBIO. Feel free to visit their website for even more details and information. https://www.cosmebio.org/fr
