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The information below pertains to the BDIH,
our certifier of choice in Germany. To understand more about the
way in which the BDIH vets Logona products and applies quality
control to natural and organic products, please read through the
information below. If you would like more information, please
visit the BDIH website by
clicking here
Transparency for the Consumer
During the collection and production of raw materials, nature is
to be disturbed as little as possible. Particular care to
protect endangered species is mandated. Genetic manipulation and
modification are rejected. The transformation of raw materials
into cosmetics is to be accomplished with care and with few
chemical processes.
Renewable and biodegradable materials are preferred because
their ecological impact is substantially lower, especially when
they come from controlled biological sources or other
responsible means using natural resources. With natural
ingredients, one deals with substances that have been used and
studied for ages, so there is a minimal toxicity potential.
Natural products most easily fulfil the requirement of
accountability and socially responsible production.
The choice of technical production methods is limited. Technical
methods cannot be fully eliminated especially when the user's
expectations for purity and performance cannot be met by raw
materials in their natural state. Environmentally-friendly
production methods, renewable and biodegradable materials and
minimal use of packaging are expected.
The following guidelines define the concept of natural cosmetics
in a sensible and clear manner, with the consumer's expectations
of safe and ecologically sound products in mind.
1. Raw materials obtained from plants
As far as possible, raw materials obtained from plants should be
used from:
- controlled biological cultivation, taking quality and
availability into account, or
- controlled biological wild collections
2. Animal Protection
- No animal testing may be performed or commissioned when end
products are manufactured, developed or tested.
- Raw materials that were not available on the market before
01.01.1998 may only be used if they have not been tested on
animals. This does not include animal testing performed by third
parties who neither were ordered/prompted by the ordering party
to do so nor are associated to the ordering party by company law
or by contract.
- It is prohibited to use raw materials obtained from dead
vertebrates (e.g. spermaceti, terrapin oil, mink oil, marmot
fat, animal fats, animal collagen or living cells).
3. Raw materials obtained from minerals
The use of inorganic salts and raw materials obtained from
minerals is generally permitted, except for those listed in
point 5.
4. Raw materials with restricted use
For the production of natural cosmetics, it is permissible to
use components which are extracted through hydrolysis,
hydrogenation, esterification, trans-esterification or other
crackings and condensations from the following natural
materials:
- fats, oils and waxes
- lecithins
- lanolin
- monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides
- proteins and lipoproteins
The actual raw material use is regulated by the positive list
for development and production of certified natural cosmetics.
5. Deliberate rejection of
- organic-synthetic dyes
- synthetic fragrances
- ethoxylated raw materials
- silicones
- paraffin and other petroleum products
The criterion which determines which aromatic substances are
permitted is mainly ISO 9235.
6. Preservation
To ensure that products are microbiologically safe, certain
nature-identical preservatives are allowed in addition to
natural preservatives. These are:
- benzoic acid, its salts and ethyl ester
- salicylic acid and its salts
- sorbic acid and its salts
- benzyl alcohol
When these preservatives are used, products must be labelled
“preserved with ... [name of preservative]”
7. No radioactive radiation
It is forbidden to disinfect organic raw materials and completed
cosmetic products using radioactive radiation.
8. Certified Natural Cosmetics
A neutral control body checks that the above criteria are
complied with. The association's label is used to indicate that
the criteria have been complied with.
Further goals
Raw material requirements
- traceable production using clear processes
- education of consumers
Disapproval of genetic engineering
Clear opposition to raw materials extracted from genetically
modified plants or animals. As genetic engineering is a
controversial issue in agriculture and is not justified
ecologically, biological cultivation is supported and genetic
engineering is actively rejected.
Ecological compatibility
- only natural sources of raw materials, if possible certified
by the EG-Bio-VO (EG regulation of ecological cultivation)
- environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes
- optimal degradability of raw materials and finished products
- economical, environmentally-friendly and recyclable packaging
- maintenance of natural life principles
Social compatibility
- raw materials from fair trading and Third World projects
- use and disposal
- cooperation |
