AustrAlAsiAn sustAinAble Wellness AcAdemy

your toxic loAd WWW.AsWA.net.Au

copyright 2017 1

Organic, Natural & Eco Certifications

AustrAlAsiAN sustAiNAblE WEllNEss ACAdEmyCOpyright 2017

There are several organisations responsible for awarding the various certifications that are available. Each organisation has its own set of criteria and guidelines which products and brands must meet before they can claim to be certified organic. Below is a guide to some of the most common Organic and Natural certifications you will see on products, to provide you with information you need to make an informed purchase.

Australian Certified OrganicAustralian Certified Organic (ACO) believe organic processes to be healthier for the environment as they keep harmful chemicals out of our land, water and air. In 2010 they were awarded the Best Food Endorsement Program by the Choice Awards. ACO requires companies to meet a very high set of standards before allowing them to use their certification on any products. This includes at least three years of organically managed land. Other standards include strictly no use of GMOs, artificial pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. Farmers must carefully plan and rotate crops to control pests and diseases and ensure their soil is fertile. ACO strives to ensure integrity, impartiality and authenticity in trade to protect the interests of consumers of organic products.

soil Association Organic standardThe Soil Association is the UK's largest organic certification body and works alongside Australian Certified Organic. They certify organic food and farming, organic textiles and organic beauty products. The Soil Association Certification is a not-for-profit business and donates any excess income to raising awareness and developing the organic sector through the Soil Association charity. Their logo is a customer's guarantee that the product meets the highest standards of sustainability and quality. The health and beauty criteria states that every ingredient must be organic (or unavailable in organic form), natural and not tested on animals. Certificates are issued annually, with random inspections ensuring that every stage in the creation of a product meets their high standards. bioagricertBased in Italy, Bioagricert has been working in the organic certification sector since 1984 and is committed to ensuring that the agricultural system operates as naturally as possible and minimises human impact on the environment. An approved certification body, Bioagricert carries out inspections and quality control in the organic agriculture sector. Products are inspected and certified according to their compliance with the European Union’s regulations, which encompass food processing, distribution and retail. Organisations must comply with these strict requirements in order to label their products as organic. Each operator, whether farmer, processor, trader, importer or exporter, is inspected at least once a year to ensure that strict rules are met throughout the supply chain. bdih Certified Natural CosmeticsThe BDIH International Organic and Natural Cosmetics seal was established in 2001 and has certified around 5,000 products. Its longevity means that the certification group has become a trusted body in the world of natural and organic cosmetics. Strict guidelines make it difficult for manufacturers to get the BDIH certification, providing reassurance for consumers. BDIH is particularly concerned with the environment, animal welfare and species protection. They assess individual ingredients as well as the production line and the way the products are processed. The BDIH does not allow synthetic dyes, fragrances,

AustrAlAsiAn sustAinAble Wellness AcAdemy

your toxic loAd WWW.AsWA.net.Au

copyright 2017 2

silicones, paraffin, petroleum products or ionising rays. Natural preservation is allowed, but where a product contains one of four types of natural preservative, this must be explicitly stated on its packaging. EcocertEcocert is an inspection and certification body established in France in 1991, after agronomists identified a need to develop environmentally friendly agriculture and offer recognition to those committed to working in this way. Ecocert specialises in the certification of organic agricultural products, and contributed to the expansion of organic farming during the 1990s through its involvement in drawing up French and European regulations. Ecocert has become a benchmark in organic certification worldwide, gaining the confidence of consumers and professionals. In addition to agriculture, Ecocert has expanded to assess natural and organic cosmetics as well as natural cleaning products and natural and organic home perfumes. They only give the Ecocert name to products that meet its high technical criteria. Natural products AssociationThe NPA Natural Standard encompasses natural ingredients, responsibility, sustainability and safety. In order to be deemed truly “natural” and certified under this Standard, products must meet a strict set of guidelines. They must be made with at least 95% natural ingredients (excluding water). Where synthetic ingredients are allowed, they must be environmentally-friendly, nurturing to humans and as harmless as possible to the earth. Products must not use animal testing in their development, and should use biodegradable ingredients and environmentally-friendly packaging. The NPA definition of natural includes ingredients sourced from a renewable resource found in nature (flora, fauna, minerals), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. Ingredients with suspected human health risks, such as parabens, chemical sunscreens and formaldehyde, are banned. OEKO-tEX® standard 100plusThe textile trade is one of the world's most toxin producing industries. In order to be environmentally friendly it is not enough to certify the raw fabric. Every stage in the manufacturing process must be accounted for. The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100plus is a globally recognised product certification. It allows the textile and clothing industry the opportunity to demonstrate that their products have been optimised for human ecology and that production conditions are environmentally friendly. The criteria includes testing for harmful substances, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable production. Extensive product checks and regular company audits give consumers the peace of mind that the entire manufacturing chain (across all stages of textile processing) fully satisfies the requirements of OEKO-TEX® Standard 100plus. NatrueThe NaTrue label is a guarantee that the product contains natural and organic ingredients and was produced by environmentally-friendly soft manufacturing processes. No synthetic fragrances and colours, petroleum derived products, silicone oils and derives, genetically modified ingredients, and irradiation of end product or botanical ingredients, have been used in products with this certification. NaTrue uses three different types of certification to make it easier to select the right product: Natural cosmetics; natural cosmetics with an organic portion (at least 70% of natural ingredients must come from controlled organic production/

AustrAlAsiAn sustAinAble Wellness AcAdemy

your toxic loAd WWW.AsWA.net.Au

copyright 2017 3

controlled wild collection); and organic cosmetics (at least 95% of natural ingredients must come from controlled organic cultivation and/or controlled wild collection). Organic Food ChainThe Organic Food Chain Pty Ltd (OFC) is the result of two Australian farming families taking the organic certification process into their own hands in a hope to provide “common sense organic certification”. The OFC families continue to work with industries to develop and maintain strict standards in order to facilitate and meet consumers’ expectations of organics. The key principle in organic production is that farming activity should improve the soil so that animals and plants have access to an abundance of naturally occurring nutrients. In order to be certified, companies must demonstrate that they meet the National Standard for Organic & Bio-Dynamic Produce, and are subject to an independent annual audit and chemical residue analysis testing. united states department of Agriculture (usdA)The USDA organic regulations detail the standards that farmers and processors must meet before they can use the word “organic” to describe their food, feed or fibre. They work alongside the National Organic Program to provide organic certification to those that meet their regulations. The USDA aims to protect consumers who expect the organic products they buy to maintain their integrity from farm to market. They do this by taking action against farmers and businesses that threaten consumer confidence in organic products by flouting the law. Certified organisations are inspected each year, with a proportion of produce tested for residues of prohibited substances. Enforcement for those who violate the regulations can include financial penalties and revocation of their organic certification.