One of the things you can consider to help with your choice is the certification that the product has. This can help you avoid the products that have been tested on animals or are harmful to the environment and nature. However, along with the myriad of products there are now a growing number of certifications too! So which certifications can we trust?
We take a look at the Australian Certified Organic, Ecocert and Choose Cruelty Free certifications as a starting point. The important elements they consider includes how the resources used are grown, harvested, stored, transported and processed. If you look for these symbols you can be sure that the products and their production lifecycle didn’t harm any animals nor nature.
Australian Certified Organic (ACO)
Australia Certified Organic is Australia's largest certifier for organic and biodynamic produce and has over 1500 operators within its certification system. Organic Certification ensures compliance with national or international production standards for organic farming and processing and allows trace back of all products to their origin.
Businesses become certified to reassure wholesalers, retailers and consumers that their produce is organic. 
Established in 1987, with over 20 years of experience, ACO provides certification services to operator from all sectors of the organic industry and is fully owned subsidiary of Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA). The Biological Farmers of Australia is the largest member based organic organisation in Australia and owner of Australian Certified Organic.
ACO and BFA use the Bud logo as a symbol that consumers can quickly recognise and trust. This symbol, displayed on packaging and marketing material, appears on more than 70% of all certified organic produce in Australia.
Ecocert
The Ecocert label is an organic certification organisation that was founded in France in 1991. Ecocert primarily certifies food and food products, but also certifies cosmetics, detergents, perfumes, and textiles. It is a mark of recognition for professionals wishing to place emphasis on superior quality. Ecocert works to promote organic products through its control and certification activities in more than 80 countries.
Its aim is to establish a link between certain cosmetic products and Organic Agriculture and to promote the use of organic plant products. It also aims to establish a link between cosmetic products and the environment. It gives preference to the natural and natural origin above any other origin and hopes to safeguard the real value of natural products, respect for the environment and respect to the consumer, by using phraseology that is not misleading.
We asked Julian Marker, the founder of AUM anti age care, what the difference is between the two above and what the benefits of these two certifications are:
“Australian Certified Organic is Australia's leading certifying body. They began certifying farming and the food we eat and have expanded to certify any product including cosmetics. Ecocert has done tremendous work in standardising organic certification regulations throughout Europe and have strong global representation and brand awareness. These certifications allow us to offer consumers the very best naturally derived anti-ageing ingredients cosmetic science has to offer in the gentleness and purity of certified organic formulations.” Generally speaking, what do those certifications mean for AUM’s products?
“Organic Certification guarantees that every AUM product is formulated using optimum levels of approved natural and organic ingredients. It tells our clients that every step of AUM’s production from growth, harvest and right through the manufacturing process is undertaken with genuine environmental respect and ecological integrity. Organic Certification allows consumers to clearly see exactly what they're buying and make informed choices without compromising on product quality and performance.”
Choose Cruelty Free
Choose Cruelty Free (CCF) is an independent, non-profit organisation, which promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle and encourages manufacturers and service providers to adopt a cruelty-free ethic. The organisation is funded by subscriptions, licensee fees, donations and fundraising activities. CCF surveys companies who claim to sell products that have not been tested on animals and accredits those that meet the very strict CCF criteria.
CCF will not accredit where any ingredients are:
- Derived from an animal killed specifically for the extraction of that ingredient;
- Forcibly extracted from a live animal in a manner that occasioned pain or discomfort;
- Derived from any wildlife;
- By-products of the fur industry; or
- Slaughterhouse by-products of a commercially significant value.
CCF also will not accredit companies unless all parent and subsidiaries (example The Body Shop being owned by L'Oreal) are also accredited. Companies applying for accreditation by CCF must sign a legally-binding contract to the effect that what they have said in their application is the truth about their practices. CCF has never accepted 'Statements of assurances' - every company must fill in the detailed Questionnaire and sign the contract.
What can you do?
Look for the certifications that matter: There are hundreds of companies who only use natural ingredients and have proved to be safe, so we don’t have to buy products that are tested on animals or that harm nature. It’s important that we use products that are animal and earth friendly. Nowadays there are a lot of brands on the market that meet these certifications.
Do your research and support ethical Australian companies that don’t need certification: Such as Jurlique, with their own farm where they produce plants and flowers for the products they make. Jurlique has more than 153 acres in South Australia where they grow over 35 different varieties of plants and flowers like lavender, rose and calendula. Jurlique’s respect for life and nature includes using biodynamic farming – sustaining and enriching the soil with every harvest and maximising the living energy in the plants they grow. Their mission is to provide the purist, effective skin care through natural high performance products.
Shop Wisely
You, as the consumer, have the power to change how companies operate and ultimately the health of the planet – always remember that, and shop wisely!
Interested in finding out more visit the websites of the companies mentioned:
Or to find a retailer near you that can help you find green health and beauty products visit the Health and Beauty section of our Green Business Directory.Written by Manja Louman and Suze Chalmers
Image credit: Ahmet Guler
