INGREDIENT CERTIFICATION
and innovation are making strides in overcoming these limitations. Responsible companies investing in R&D are discovering novel ways to enhance the performance of green ingredients, lead the way for a more sustainable cosmetics market.
2: The manufacturing process The manufacturing process further defines green ingredients. For physically extracted substances, preservation of natural active compounds is crucial, and the use of non-toxic additives or solvents is mandatory. In the case of chemically processed natural-origin ingredients, green chemistry principles — emphasizing atom economy, energy efficiency, and waste minimization — ensure sustainability and safety across the supply chain. Finally, the ecological and safety
properties of these ingredients must consider their lifecycle. Ingredients with low biodegradability or significant aquatic toxicity can disrupt ecosystems. Green innovation seeks to replace such compounds with alternatives that minimize long-term environmental impacts.
3: Driving sustainability in complex supply chains Transitions, part of Ecocert’s Advisory & Training division, is a consulting agency specializing in the socio-ecological transitions of organizations. Drawing on the expertise of a diverse
technical team, Transitions supports the implementation of operational risk reduction strategies, adaptation and regeneration roadmaps, and circular models at the level of products, supply chains, territories or key ecosystems. Transitions operates across sectors such
as agriculture, forestry, and mining, supporting public and private organizations in implementing sustainable practices. Convinced that dialogue between
stakeholders is a powerful lever for progress, Transitions facilitates discussions in France and internationally to overcome the challenges of complex supply chains and promote more sustainable models for the use of natural resources. Currently, Transitions is leading several
projects for the cosmetics sector, addressing a range of topics related to due diligence strategies: traceability, supply chain risk assessment, supplier and stakeholder engagement, grievance mechanisms, field projects in supply basins, impact measurement, and more. One flagship example of its work is the ASD
(Action for Sustainable Derivatives) initiative. This pioneering project focuses on the personal care sector and aims to ensure the sustainable sourcing of palm, coconut and soy derivatives. Through ASD, Transitions collaborates with supply chain actors to guarantee traceability, mitigate deforestation risks, and foster responsible production. The initiative not only reduces environmental impacts but also supports local communities reliant on
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cultivation, illustrating how sustainable sourcing can balance ecological and social priorities.
Raw material certification and approval: behind the scenes at Ecocert Ecocert group ambition is to act for a sustainable world. Pioneer in organic certification since 1991, our daily actions nowadays aim at the development of environmentally and socially responsible practices. We strive to enable production processes that respect the environment, better management of available energy, and of natural resources (water, air, soil fertility), socially responsible sectors and better product quality and safety. Ecocert is an internationally recognized
brand with operations in 130 countries. The role of a certification body like Ecocert is to evaluate whether a product, service, or process complies with established standards. For ingredients, Ecocert’s mission involves
rigorous raw material certification, ensuring compliance with high sustainability schemes such as COSMOS or NATRUE. Engaging a certification body enables the acquisition of a certified label, which carries greater credibility compared to self-declared private labels. In the case of private labels, the responsibility for the claim rests solely with the entity applying the label to the product.
The Importance of raw material certification and approval Consumers are always looking for reassurance
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about the safety of the products they are going to use on a daily basis, and are turning to products with a high natural content, more respectful of their skin and of the planet. Certified raw materials ensure that every
stage of the ingredient lifecycle—sourcing, harvesting, processing, and distribution— adheres to environmental, ethical, or quality standards. This guarantees that the products consumers use are not only effective but also aligned with their values regarding sustainability and social responsibility. Certification helps counteract
greenwashing by providing transparent, verified claims that build consumer trust. Leading organizations like Ecocert offer internationally recognized certification schemes such as COSMOS and NATRUE, a new certification by our subsidiary
Certisys ensuring that certified raw materials adhere to sustainability,
environmental, and ethical standards. Additionally, certain raw materials,
while not certified, can still be approved under specific standards. Ecocert, for instance, provides verification for ingredients
that comply with its requirements through a documentary validation process. This ensures that even non-certified ingredients can meet strict environmental and ethical criteria, allowing manufacturers to integrate them into formulations while maintaining high sustainability standards. This flexibility supports innovation in the cosmetics industry while ensuring compliance with recognized guidelines.
Focus on COSMOS and NATRUE certifications Since 2002, we have been contributing to the development of more responsible cosmetics. In partnership with pioneering players in the industry, Ecocert developed the first standard for organic and natural cosmetics, followed by the international COSMOS standard. Today, more than 2700 partner companies
trust Ecocert for their certifications, representing more than 20,000 COSMOS certified products and 15,000 COSMOS certified or approved raw materials COSMOS and NATRUE certifications
guarantee compliance with standards that promote naturalness, organic products and respect for the environment. For example, COSMOS classifies materials as certified or approved by COSMOS, depending on their organic content and processing methods. NATRUE similarly validates the naturalness and ecological impact of ingredients, ensuring that certified materials comply with sustainable development objectives. ■ The COSMOS certification guarantees a lot of criteria: environmentally friendly production and processing processes respecting also human health, development of the concept of green chemicals, responsible use of natural resources, respect of biodiversity, absence of petrochemical ingredient, absence of GMO, recyclable packaging.
April 2025 PERSONAL CARE
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