Ecocert is a French environmental certification body that was created in 1991. Today, the organization is officially recognized by more than 80 government authorities from all around the world. Ecocert's mission is to protect the environment and promote social responsibility. The organization does this by setting standards for organic cosmetics, textiles, farming, fragrances and cleaning products. Ecocert has developed detailed guidelines for types of ingredients skincare and other cosmetic products may contain in order to receive Ecocert certification.
Natural Ingredients
Ecocert deems raw plant materials certified so long as they are harvested from their natural habitat and this does not adversely impact that ecosystem. Raw plants are also certified if they do not belong to an endangered species. Materials extracted from living or dead animals are prohibited, but natural animal byproducts are allowed. Minerals are permitted under the condition that their use is intrinsic and their extraction does not create pollution or damage the natural landscape. The same guidelines apply to raw marine materials.
Water
Water of any type, be it for consumption, distilled, spring or water from osmosis, is permitted in manufacturing procedures for skincare products. Chlorides can be present in the water insofar as chloride levels comply with the constitutive elements of drinking water.
Biotechnologies
Ingredients derived from in vitro biotechnologies, which include cloning, fermentations with microorganisms and cell cultures, are permitted in cosmetic products as long as the ingredients stem from natural origins. In particular, these ingredients must be obtained from natural vegetable or raw animal materials without having been subjected to genetically modified organisms or processes.
Chemical Ingredients
Preservatives are permitted in finished skincare products. Ingredients may contain preservatives so long as the amount of preservatives does not change from the beginning of the manufacturing process up until the finished product has been developed. Levels of the phenoxyethanol and hydroxybenzoic acid preservatives cannot exceed 0.5 percent in finished skincare products. Chemical syntheses, including synthetic colorants, synthetic perfumes, synthetic antioxidants, synthetic oils and fats, synthetic silicons and synthetic emollients are not permitted in skincare product compositions. Ingredients that stem from the petrochemical industry and any other ingredient that can be produced by natural processes are also prohibited. Only certain essential synthetic molecules are allowed.
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