When discussing organic product certification in general or organic cosmetics in particular, Ecocert is undoubtedly one of the leading names not only in France but also around the world. With a long history of operations, this nonprofit organization has played a significant role in driving the growth of the organic market and promoting sustainable practices to consumers globally.
The History of Ecocert
Before becoming widely known as Ecocert, the organization was originally ACAB (Association des Conseillers en Agriculture Biologique)—an association founded in 1978 in France. However, in 1991, William Vidal and several other farmers split from ACAB to establish it as an independent organization, marking a milestone in the birth of Ecocert.
From 1992 to 1995, Ecocert received support from the governments of several countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, and Portugal. As a result, the organization gradually built a network of partnerships, connecting European nations. As of now, this network has expanded globally, with offices in various countries such as Brazil, Japan, Canada, China, and more. Ecocert’s headquarters is located in L’Isle-Jourdain, Gers, France.
What does Ecocert do?
Ecocert aims to bring high-quality organic and natural products to consumers in a transparent and fully informed manner. From there, it helps these products gain a stronger foothold in the global market and contributes to promoting the development of a sustainable economy—benefiting society while protecting both consumers and the ecological environment.
To uphold this spirit, Ecocert issues its own certification to inspect, verify, and certify the origin of ingredients as well as the quality of organic and natural products. The entire verification process is conducted transparently and clearly, accompanied by annual inspections to ensure businesses consistently meet environmental and product standards.
Scope of Ecocert Certification
While Ecocert is best known for certifying organic and natural cosmetics, in reality, it can certify most categories of organic products. Some of the sectors the organization currently certifies include:
- Agriculture & Food: Ecocert’s largest sector. Focuses on verifying origin and quality according to stringent global standards such as USDA, JAS, etc.
- Textiles: Inspects the entire production process from raw cotton fibers to finished products.
- Cosmetics: Evaluating products against the Cosmos standard and issuing Ecocert Cosmos certification to compliant products.
- Household Chemicals: Certifying product lines such as laundry detergents, biodegradable dishwashing liquids, and non-toxic fragrances, etc.
- Fair Trade: Ensuring workers’ rights, wages, and working conditions.
The Relationship Between Ecocert and Cosmos
In its early stages, Ecocert also had its own standards for products in the organic and natural cosmetics segment. However, these standards were revised into Ecocert Cosmos in 2017 after Ecocert, along with four other organizations—BHDI (Germany), ICEA (Italy), Soil Association (UK), and Cosmebio (France)—established AISBL and developed the Cosmos standards to unify international standards for organic cosmetics.
Currently, all organic and natural cosmetics seeking certification from Ecocert must fully comply with the Cosmos standards. Ecocert certification for these products includes three categories:
- Ecocert Cosmos Organic: for premium organic cosmetics.
- Ecocert Cosmos Natural: for natural cosmetics.
- Ecocert Cosmos Certified: for organic ingredients
Additionally, since the AISBL association does not directly issue Cosmos certification but instead relies on the five founding organizations to conduct inspections, verifications, and provide certification, Ecocert is one of the few organizations currently capable of carrying out the Cosmos certification process for businesses worldwide.
Conclusion
As an internationally recognized certification widely accepted globally, Ecocert has successfully fostered the robust and sustainable growth of organic products. Moreover, Ecocert is not merely a certification; it serves as a commitment from businesses to both consumer health and the ecological environment.