Cosmetics seal
Cosmetic seal is like a quality item. Just as in the food industry, there are also seals in the cosmetics industry. All of them promise different things. Be it natural cosmetics, vegan, fair trade or suitable for allergy sufferers and much more. Label-online checks these seals for claims, independence, control and transparency, because not every seal is equally trustworthy. The various seals are explained below in terms of their significance.
Cosmetics seal for natural cosmetics
There are no legally defined criteria for natural cosmetics. Most certifications prohibit petroleum-based raw materials, genetic engineering, radioactivity and synthetically produced fats, colourings and fragrances. The majority of the product line must be certified to prevent greenwashing. Some examples of cosmetics seals are explained below.
BDIH/Cosmos:
BDIH stands for a manufacturers’ association called Bundesverband der Industrie- und Handelsunternehmen für Arzneimittel, Reformwaren, Nahrungsergänzungsmittel und kosmetische Mittel. This means that there is a link between the labeller and the recipient, which weakens the independence and reliability of this seal. Label-online also criticises the fact that there is no reference to this seal and that http://www.ionc.info is not meaningful. An additional criterion is that no animal raw materials from dead vertebrates may be used. Among other things, animal testing is strictly prohibited; even exports to countries where animal testing is mandatory will result in the loss of the seal. However, suppliers of raw materials that are used as ingredients may carry out animal testing.
NaTrue:
NaTrue was founded by natural cosmetics manufacturers’ associations, which also weakens the reliability of this seal. This also prohibits the use of raw materials from dead vertebrates and animal testing. In addition, this seal awards three levels, which can be recognised by the number of stars on the seal. If 1 star is shown next to the seal, then it is natural cosmetics. This fulfils all the basic requirements for natural ingredients. If there are 2 stars, it is natural cosmetics with organic content, which contain 70% natural substances from controlled cultivation. Finally, there are 3 stars for organic cosmetics. This contains 95% of raw materials from controlled cultivation. However, products with this seal are offered on the market without star labelling, as products with only one star are usually regarded as inferior despite the BDIH standard. You can find out the category using the QR code on the product.
Demeter:
Demeter was founded by the biodynamic farming association Demeter e.V. and is also found in the food industry. Testing is carried out by independent external certification bodies. This seal mainly certifies body care products, extracts and aqueous extracts. It sets stricter criteria than BDIH and NaTrue, as it also sets rules regarding the production of ingredients. 90% of the ingredients must be of Demeter quality (e.g. Demeter rose oil). Furthermore, the animals may only be fed with organic feed, for example. The use of nanoparticles is also prohibited. Demeter products are only available in specialised organic shops.
EcoCert:
The EcoCert seal is awarded by the independent French certification organisation. This seal also promises the sustainability and environmental friendliness of the packaging of cosmetic products. There are also 2 levels here, namely the “ecological and biological guarantee mark”, which means that 95% of the ingredients are of natural origin and 95% of the plant substances come from organic cultivation. Then there is the “organic guarantee mark”, which states that 95% of the ingredients must be of natural origin, but only 50% of the plant substances must come from organic cultivation. The use of raw materials from dead vertebrates is also prohibited with this label.
NCS:
NCS stands for Natural Cosmetics Standard and is awarded by the GfaW Society for Applied Business Ethics. This seal says nothing about the percentage composition of the ingredients, but something about the quality of the raw materials (e.g. from controlled cultivation). There is a list of which nature-identical or chemically modified raw materials may be used and how the raw materials may be processed.
Cosmetics seal for cruelty free
This seal is awarded by PETA. It states that this product has not been tested on animals. It also states that only vegan ingredients have been used.
Leaping Bunny:
Animal testing has been banned in the EU since 2013, but not abroad. Leaping Bunny was founded by animal welfare organisations from various countries. This seal guarantees animal-free cosmetics, even internationally. The entire development process must be free of animal testing. Animal testing by independent third parties is not taken into account. However, if a company sells its product to China, the seal is revoked.
“Rabbit under protective hand” (IHTK):
This seal does not allow animal testing of the product. No ingredients that were tested on animals after January 1979 and for which animals had to die may be used. However, the use of synthetic chemical ingredients and animal products (milk) is permitted.
Cosmetics seal for vegan
Natural cosmetics do not necessarily mean vegan, as raw materials produced by animals may be used. The vegan seal prohibits the use of animal ingredients, animal by-products or raw materials derived from animals. And, of course, animal testing is also prohibited. This cosmetics seal usually appears in combination with the BDIH or NaTrue label, as the vegan label does not prohibit the use of petroleum-based substances, for example.
Vegan flower:
This label was founded by the Vegan Society England. The end product and the entire production process are free from animal testing. The use of chemicals as ingredients is permitted.
Cosmetics seal for Suitable for allergy sufferers
DAAB:
The DAAB seal is awarded by the German Allergy and Asthma Association. This seal is reliable as it acts in the interests of those affected and not in the interests of the manufacturer. This seal is also free of charge.
ECARF:
This seal is awarded by the European Centre for Allergy Research. It is independent and transparent. However, allergenic substances are not completely excluded, but threshold values are taken into account. The number of test subjects is small, which does not significantly guarantee the tolerability of the product. Only an administration fee is charged.
Fair Trade:
Fair for life:
This seal states that the product has been manufactured in a socially responsible and environmentally friendly manner from development to production. It is also intended to ensure that raw material suppliers such as developing countries are remunerated “fairly”. Studies show that fair trade has only had a positive impact so far, improving the lives of many of the people involved.
Fairwild:
FAIRWILD states that good working conditions, such as fair wages, prevail and that medicinal and aromatic plants are harvested in a species-preserving manner according to strict rules.
Cosmetics seal for environmental compatibility
EU-Eco-Label:
This cosmetics seal states that the certified product is environmentally friendly. It is awarded by the EU Commission. And it mainly relates to products that are “washed off the body”, e.g. shampoo, shower gel & co.
Summary
Cosmetic seals are intended to suggest tested quality to the customer and are sometimes even specified by retail chains. Otherwise, the products are not even sold in the respective shops. Cosmacon takes a somewhat more differentiated view of this, because certification by the respective partner is more of a “paperwork exercise” that costs time and our customers’ money.
The respective certification providers are often companies that also need to earn money and usually have no idealistic background to actually improve the products.
The final cosmetic products are not even looked at, only the paperwork for the raw materials used.
Cosmacon has created its own cosmetics seals that use scientific criteria to make exactly the claims that a supplier wants to make today. Each certification via our external partner takes 5 working days and costs a one-off fee of 250 euros.
Please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with comprehensive advice.
Literature:
You can also view a critical assessment of the various seals at
Seal Check – only in German Language