Ecocert is a control and certification body born in France and active since 1991. Currently Ecocert is one of the most well-known certifications for its international standards for natural and organic cosmetics and for its very strict controls.
To guarantee an ecological cosmetic product, the ECOCERT standard establishes:
-the use of ingredients derived from renewable resources, produced by environmentally friendly processes. ECOCERT therefore controls the absence of GMOs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicon, PEG, synthetic perfumes and colorants, ingredients derived from animals (unless they are produced naturally by them: milk, honey, etc.) and the biodegradable or recyclable nature of the packaging.
-A minimum threshold of natural ingredients from organic farming to be reached to obtain certification:
-For both labels, ECOCERT Standard requires that at least 95% of the total ingredients come from natural origin.
-For the natural and organic cosmetics label it establishes that at least 95% of all plant ingredients in the formula and at least 10% of all ingredients must come from organic farming.
-For the natural cosmetics label it establishes that at least 50% of all plant ingredients in the formula and at least 5% of all ingredients must come from organic farming.
Some ingredients very often found in cosmetics (water, salts, minerals) cannot be certified as organic because they do not come from agriculture. For example, shampoos and some creams, which are mainly made of water, contain between 10% and 40% organic ingredients and always 95% natural ingredients. An essential oil, which does not contain water, can be up to 100% organic ingredients.
Ecocert also certifies the Cosmebio brand and the COSMOS ORGANIC brand.
For the Cosmebio brand it is foreseen that:
-at least 95% of the total ingredients must be natural or of natural origin, of which at least:
-at least 10% of the ingredients must come from organic farming;
-at least 95% of certifiable ingredients (water is not a certifiable ingredient) must come from organic farming;
-maximum 5% of synthetic ingredients present in a restrictive list of permitted substances.
For the COSMOS Organic brand it is expected that:
-at least 95% of the plant ingredients are of organic origin;
-at least 20% of the total ingredients are organic.
