1938. That’s when the United States last passed a major federal law regulating the safety of ingredients in personal care products.
And that’s only 11 chemicals being restricted in the USA, whereas the European Union has banned the use of 2,490 chemicals in cosmetic products.
We use personal care items every single day, but have you ever considered the potential harm they could cause?
Evidently, while federal laws exist for various products, their safety standards are not stringent enough and allow products with harmful or potentially harmful ingredients to be permitted.
And that’s why certifications exist, to set higher standards.
They are about taking proactive steps to avoid dangerous or potentially dangerous ingredients and make more informed choices.
A typical person uses 9 personal care products each day, exposing themselves to about 126 unique chemical ingredients.
These chemicals, including parabens and phthalates, are hormone-altering and can have negative effects on the function of the human body.
There have been reports of cancers, skin irritations, allergies, hormone disturbance, and reproductive problems linked to specific substances in personal care products.
Furthermore, the effects that personal care products have on the environment are shocking. Every year, 552 million plastic shampoo bottles alone end up in landfills in the United States. Microplastics from exfoliating scrubs and other cosmetics endanger marine life and contribute to water pollution.
You can find more such details on our blog: Stats and Risks with Personal Care Products.
These risks emphasize how crucial it is to be careful in choosing the items we use every day.
A detailed look into ingredients is a great way to understand what the product is about.
However, it is difficult for consumers, who are not experts, to understand and track all the different types of ingredients and what they mean.
An alternative is to look at the company given labels and messaging of a product. Unfortunately, these labels are sometimes unreliable, with numerous cases of products making misleading or false claims.
For example, some products have been caught claiming to be all natural, when they actually contain synthetic ingredients.
That’s where certifications come in, which not only make it difficult for products to make dubious claims but also tell consumers about what the product stands for.
Certifying agencies, government or independent, give a seal of approval to products adhering to certain standards or aligning with certain values.
This can be about the safety of their ingredients, or even about their sustainability practices. Be it vegan products, manufacturing processes, environment-friendly packaging, or transparent and ethical sourcing, we can understand more about the products we use through such certifications.
These certifications validate a brand’s commitment to the standards and values and make it easier for the consumer to decide whether a product is safe to use and whether a product is aligned with the consumer’s values.
The dilemma then remains about knowing which certifications to look for, and what each certification stands for.
Now that you know why certifications are important, it's time to dive into some popular certifications and understand what they stand for
Importantly, keep an eye out for the logos. Most certified products or brands will display only the logo of these certifications, which you will have to learn to identify.
In fact, you might have come across the logos of some of these certifications but did not get a chance to recognize them or learn more about them. And this is our attempt to do just that, in giving you a comprehensive look into these certifications, and a guide towards a sustainable and conscientious approach to personal care.
What is Leaping Bunny certified?
Leaping Bunny is a cruelty-free certification program that verifies personal care and household product companies that are committed to not testing their products or ingredients on animals. The Leaping Bunny program was established in 1996 by eight animal protection organizations from the United States and the United Kingdom. These organizations formed the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), which oversees the Leaping Bunny certification. When a product carries the Leaping Bunny logo, it means that both the product and its ingredients are free from animal testing.
What products does Leaping Bunny certify?
Leaping Bunny certifies a wide range of personal care and household products, including cosmetics, skincare, haircare, cleaning products, and more. They certify a brand/company and not products. As of now, 2420 brands are certified with Leaping Bunny. It does not certify if a product is vegan.
How do companies get Leaping Bunny certified and audited?
To obtain this certification, companies must undergo a thorough self-audit of their supply chain. This audit must ensure that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of product development or manufacturing by the company or its suppliers.
They need to ensure that their entire supply chain, including product manufacturers and raw ingredient suppliers, adhere to new cruelty-free guidelines by a fixed cut-off date, once they have applied.
Additionally, the company also needs to set up a supplier monitoring system, and also have their suppliers and manufacturers sign paperwork and pledge that no animal testing is done.
Companies need to be ready for independent audits at any stage of production to demonstrate that they are following Leaping Bunny’s criteria.
During the independent audit process, auditors will randomly select products from the company's inventory, request evidence of purchase for specific ingredients or formulations, and verify that the corresponding suppliers or manufacturers have declarations on file confirming their commitment to cruelty-free practices.
Things to know about the Leaping Bunny certification
What is Certified Vegan?
Certified Vegan by Vegan.org is a certification established in 1995 by the Vegan Awareness Foundation. This certification indicates that products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, honey, or animal by-products. They are also not tested on animals by any party involved in the production process. Additionally, these products are free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) derived from animals.
What products does Certified Vegan approve?
Vegan.org has an extensive catalog of products. It covers a wide range of products, including personal care items, cosmetics, food, beverages, clothing, accessories, and household goods.
To be certified as vegan, products must meet strict criteria. They don't verify brands, but individual products. Currently, they have certified 12,540 Products.
How do products get approved by Certified Vegan?
To get certified by Vegan.org companies must submit detailed documentation about their ingredients and manufacturing processes. They need to provide a list of all their products and their ingredients. This includes ingredients that are not required to be mentioned by law on labels, like fillers, excipients, processing aids, and carriers.
Every ingredient must be supported by a document from the manufacturer, confirming that it comes from a plant, mineral, algal, bacterial, or synthetic source. Proof of the ingredient's origin is required. Additionally, companies must include signed statements from each manufacturer stating that they have not conducted any animal testing or contracted animal testing on their behalf since the year 2000.
Vegan.org reviews this information and may request additional clarification or evidence. A team of experts carefully evaluates the provided data, examining the absence of animal-derived ingredients, animal testing, and animal-derived GMOs. If the product meets all the criteria, it is granted the Vegan.org certification, allowing it to display the Certified Vegan logo on its packaging, indicating its adherence to strict vegan standards
Things to know about Certified Vegan
What is the V-Label certification?
The V-Label certification by the European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is an internationally recognized certification for vegetarian and vegan products. It was established in 1996 and aims to provide consumers with clear labeling indicating the vegetarian or vegan status of a product. It guarantees that the product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients and has not been tested on animals. V- label products are also free of GMOs.
What products does V-Label certify?
Food products and restaurants. It also certifies a variety of other products, such as textile fabrics, cosmetics, detergents or cleaning agents can carry the V-Label. V-Label is the global leader in vegan and vegetarian labeling, with over 4,300 license holders and more than 50,000 products worldwide proudly displaying the V-Label.
How do companies get V-label certified?
The V-Label certification ensures that products meet specific criteria for vegetarian or vegan standards. To obtain the V-Label certification, companies must undergo a thorough evaluation process. This includes verifying that products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients and have not been tested on animals.
The process includes a thorough evaluation of the company's documentation, ingredients, and production methods. It may involve EVU contacting suppliers and manufacturers to verify the provided information. The certification not only involves inspecting the composition of products but also scrutinizes each production step involved in their development.
Self-declarations by producers are not accepted, and each document is checked out thoroughly. If necessary, an audit or inspection is conducted at the production site. The certification is granted once the company successfully meets all the requirements and is deemed compliant with the EVU standards.
Companies certified with the V-Label must promptly inform the V-Label of any changes related to their compliance. Annual checks are conducted to ensure ongoing adherence to the V-Label criteria. If a company no longer meets the criteria, such as conducting animal testing for non-EU markets, the V-Label certification will be revoked.
Things to know about the V-Label certification
What is Cruelty-Free certification by Peta?
Cruelty-Free Certification and Cruelty-Free & Vegan certification by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are widely recognized symbols indicating that products have not been tested on animals.
PETA's Cruelty-Free certification was established in the 1990s and signifies that a product and its ingredients have not been tested on animals at any stage of production. It focuses specifically on the issue of animal testing.
Cruelty-Free & Vegan was launched in 2012 goes a step further by ensuring that a product not only avoids animal testing but also contains no animal-derived ingredients. It assures consumers that the product is both cruelty-free and free from any animal-derived substances.
What products does Cruelty-Free by PETA certify?
These certifications cover various consumer products, including cosmetics, personal care items, household cleaning products, clothing, accessories, shoes, and even food and beverages. There are more than 6200 companies that have pledged to PETA.
How to get certified as Cruelty-Free by PETA?
To be certified by PETA and display the "Animal Test-Free/Cruelty-free" or "PETA Approved Global Animal Test Policy" logos, companies must take a pledge to never conduct, commission, pay for, or allow tests on animals at any stage of product development, including both ingredients and final products. They must also establish agreements with their suppliers, ensuring that no animal testing is conducted for the ingredients purchased by the company.
In addition to being cruelty-free, to be considered for PETA's Global Beauty Without Bunnies program (Cruelty-free & Vegan), companies must also refrain from using any animal-derived ingredients, such as honey, beeswax, or carmine, in their products.
Things to know about Cruelty-Free by PETA
What is USDA Organic Certification?
The USDA Organic certification was established in 2002 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It verifies that agricultural products, including food and beverages, meet specific organic standards. It also verifies personal care products meet certain standards for organic ingredients and production practices. These standards prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and irradiation in the production of organic ingredients.
USDA Organic Label definitions:
What products does USDA Organic certify?
The certification covers a wide range of products, including fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, meat, poultry, eggs, and processed food items. Additionally, personal care products and textiles are also certified under the USDA Organic program if they meet the relevant organic standards. It applies to a range of personal care products, including skincare, haircare, soaps, and other cosmetics, that contain organic ingredients. USDA has certified more than 2,500 products in 100 different product categories
How do companies USDA Organic certified?
The USDA has rules for using the term "organic" only for agricultural products. They have a program called the National Organic Program (NOP) that regulates this. If a cosmetic, body care, or personal care product is made with organic agricultural ingredients and meets the USDA's standards for organic production, handling, processing, and labeling, it can be certified under the NOP regulation. The certification ensures the entire process, from ingredient sourcing to product manufacturing, follows the USDA's organic standards.
The certification process for USDA organic products begins with the farm or business adopting USDA standards. Then they choose a USDA-accredited certifying agent and apply. If the application fits the criteria, an inspector conducts an on-site inspection of the operation. Once the inspection is done the USDA-accredited agent evaluates the application with the inspection report. If everything qualifies, the organic certificate is issued. An annual review is done for the certified farm or business to maintain the USDA organic certification.
Things to know about USDA Organic
What is the NSF Certification?
The NSF International (formerly known as the National Sanitation Foundation) is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1944. It provides certification, testing, auditing, and regulatory compliance solutions for various industries.
A division of NSF International, Quality Assurance International (QAI) developed NSF/ANSI 305; a specific standard for personal care products. It was established in 2012 to address the unique needs and requirements of the personal care industry. This standard ensures that companies making the "contains organic ingredients" marked products contain at least 70% organic content.
NSF/ANSI 305 sets strict standards for using organic ingredients and prohibits using certain chemicals and synthetic ingredients. The standard also requires transparency in labeling, including clear identification of organic content
What products does NSF certify?
The NSF/ANSI 305 is primarily applicable to personal care products, including cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, and soaps. It encourages more participation in producing personal care products with organically grown ingredients.
How do companies get NSF certified?
The NSF certification process involves several steps. It begins with the company submitting an application along with necessary documentation about the product formulation and ingredients. A third-party verifier QAI l then reviews the application and supporting documents to ensure they meet the requirements of the standard. An on-site audit is conducted to assess the company's facilities, processes, and ingredient-sourcing practices. If any non-conformances are identified during the audit, the company must address and resolve them within a specified timeframe. Once compliance is verified, the company receives certification and is permitted to display the NSF/ANSI 305 mark on its products.
Ongoing surveillance audits are conducted to ensure continued compliance with the standard and maintain the certification status. The standard focuses on the formulation, manufacturing process, and labeling of personal care products and addresses various concerns around chemical processes, terminology, ingredient availability, product composition, ingredient calculations, and labeling.
Things to know about the NSF Certification
1. They assess the entire supply chain, from ingredient sourcing to manufacturing and labeling practices.
2. To obtain NSF/ANSI 305 certification, personal care product manufacturers need to undergo a comprehensive assessment conducted by an accredited third-party certifier.
3. The NSF/ANSI 305 is the only U.S. standard for personal care products to make “contains organic ingredients” claims.
What is Cosmos-standard Certification?
Cosmos is an international standard and certification program for natural and organic cosmetics. It was established in 2010 as a collaboration between five major European certification bodies to create standard guidelines and promote sustainable practices in the cosmetic industry. It sets guidelines and requirements for the formulation, production, and labeling of cosmetic products to ensure they are environmentally friendly, safe, and derived from sustainable sources. The standard covers aspects such as ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, packaging, and labeling transparency.
There are four standard signatures:
What does Cosmos-standard certify?
The Cosmos-standard certification applies to a wide range of personal care and cosmetic products, including skincare products, hair care products, body care products, makeup products, and oral care products. To date over 34,000 products carry Cosmos ORGANIC or Cosmos NATURAL signature in 78 countries and over 13,400 raw materials carry Cosmos CERTIFIED.
How do companies get Cosmos-standard certified?
To obtain the Cosmos-standard certification, companies and manufacturers need to follow a certification process administered by an authorized certification body. These bodies are members of the Cosmos-standard AISBL. The cosmetic brand or manufacturer submits an application to one of the certification bodies. The certification body then reviews the application and evaluates the product's compliance with the Cosmos standard. This evaluation includes an assessment of the product's ingredients, manufacturing processes, packaging, and labeling. If the product meets all the requirements, the site is inspected. If everything seems to be according to the Cosmos standard, the certification body grants certification and allows the brand to use the appropriate Cosmos label on its products.
Things to know about Cosmos-standard certification
What is B Corp certification?
B Corp, or Benefit Corporation, is a certification that shows a company is committed to doing good for people and the planet. It was started in 2006 by a nonprofit organization called B Lab. B Corporation is a unique certification that goes beyond fair trade practices and emphasizes a balanced approach between purpose and profit for businesses. These companies prioritize the well-being of their workers, customers, suppliers, and the environment.
What does the B Corp Certification stand for?
B Corp certification applies to the overall business and not specific products, it signifies that the company as a whole operates in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
At present, there are over 6,000 Certified B Corporations operating in over 80 countries across a wide range of industries, spanning more than 150 sectors.
How do companies get the B Corp Certification?
Companies begin by completing an online eligibility assessment to determine if they meet the basic requirements for B Corp certification. If a company qualifies, it must complete the B Impact Assessment, which evaluates its performance across various impact areas, such as governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. The assessment measures the company's overall social and environmental impact. A company must achieve a minimum score of 80 out of 200 points to become certified. Then they are required to provide supporting documentation and evidence to verify the information provided in the impact assessment.
B Lab, the nonprofit organization that administers the B Corp Certification, reviews the impact assessment, supporting documentation, and disclosure materials. They may also conduct additional interviews or site visits as part of the verification process. Site Reviews may be conducted virtually (via video call) or onsite (in-person) depending on the company size, location, and other standards-related factors.
If any areas for improvement are identified during the assessment, companies are allowed to make changes. After completing the assessment and verification process, B Lab makes the final decision on whether a company qualifies for B Corp Certification. If approved, the company becomes a certified B Corp and can use the B Corp logo and branding. B Corp certification sets a higher standard by making the evaluation process more standardized and accountable.
Things to know about the B Corp Certification
What is the FSC Certification?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global non-profit organization founded in 1993. FSC ensures the sustainable use of forest resources and promotes responsible forest management. Its importance lies in providing a credible and trusted certification system that verifies products made from responsibly sourced timber and paper.
FSC works to combat deforestation, protect biodiversity, and support the rights of local communities and workers in forested areas. It sets strict environmental and social standards that forest managers and companies must adhere to obtain FSC certification. This includes practices such as avoiding illegal logging, protecting endangered species, and respecting the rights of indigenous communities.
What products does the FSC certify?
FSC certification applies to a wide range of forest-based products, including wood and paper products, such as lumber, plywood, furniture, flooring, and packaging materials. It also extends to non-timber forest products like medicinal plants, resins, and fibers. It can also include products such as wooden toothbrushes, wooden hairbrushes, wooden combs, and other personal care items that incorporate wood or plant materials derived from FSC-certified forests.
The FSC has certified 160 million hectares of forests globally, and more than 40,000 companies are certified to trade in FSC products. These products, ranging from books and tissues to beds, can be sourced from FSC-only material (FSC 100%), a mix of sources with at least 50% FSC-certified content (FSC Mixed Sources), or from recycled materials (FSC 100% Recycled).
How do companies get FSC certified?
FSC is responsible for developing sustainable forestry standards and working with stakeholders to implement them. They do not issue certificates themselves but rely on independent certification bodies to issue them. The company seeking certification applies to an FSC-accredited certification body, providing information about its products, supply chain, and management practices.
The certification body evaluates to determine if the company meets the FSC standards. This includes reviewing documents, conducting interviews, and potentially visiting the company's facilities and supply chain partners. An on-site audit is conducted to verify compliance with FSC requirements. This involves examining records, conducting interviews, and assessing the company's practices and procedures related to forest management, chain of custody, and environmental and social criteria.
If the company meets all the requirements, they are issued an FSC certificate. Once certified, the company undergoes regular monitoring and audits by the certification body to ensure ongoing compliance with FSC standards. This includes periodic site visits, document reviews, and stakeholder consultations. The company also needs to establish a chain of custody system to track the flow of FSC certified materials from the forest to the final product.
Things to know about the FSC Certification
What is the Made Safe Certification?
Made Safe is a non-profit organization that focuses on certifying and promoting safe and non-toxic products. It was established in 2011 to address the widespread use of harmful chemicals in everyday products and raise awareness about their potential health and environmental impacts.
The founder Amy Ziff is a journalist and a mother. She started researching why her twin babies were always getting sick, and she couldn't figure out why. She learned what goes into everyday products and realized it was because of the toxic chemicals. She thought there had to be a better way, that we needed to take real steps to fundamentally change this system because our lives literally depend on it. And that marked the beginning of Made Safe.
Made Safe Certification is the first non-toxic certification in the United States, ensuring that finished products are made from materials, components, and ingredients that are not known to be harmful to human health or the environment. Unlike most specific-category seals, Made Safe evaluates a broad range of categories, making it applicable to everyday items people use.
What products does Made Safe certify?
Made Safe evaluates a wide range of consumer products, including personal care items, household cleaners, baby products, and apparel, and more. There are 601 products that are certified by Made Safe.
How do companies get Made Safe certified?
The Made Safe certification process is rigorous, scientific, and independent. Products seeking the certification undergo screening to ensure they avoid or restrict over 6,500 harmful substances. This screening process is part of the Ecosystem Approach, which aims to protect people and resources. In addition to ingredient list reviews, companies must provide detailed information about their manufacturing processes and ingredients.
The approach to certification involves complete transparency in manufacturing and disclosing all ingredients used in formulations. They thoroughly analyze potential sources of pollution and harmful impacts on various aspects, including soil, water, air, and living organisms. They also screen for a wide range of harmful substances such as carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, toxins, flame retardants, pesticides, solvents, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
They conduct a stringent 360-degree assessment, considering how each substance will be used and evaluating its safety. Only products that pass the entire screening process are granted the Made Safe seal.
Things to know about the Made Safe certification
What is EWG Verified?
EWG Verified is a certification program established by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) was founded in 1993, but the EWG Verified program was launched later, in 2012.
It was introduced as a way to certify personal care and household products that meet the organization's strict standards for transparency and safety. The program aims to provide consumers with trusted information about the safety and transparency of personal care and household products.
What products does EWG Verified certify?
The certification covers a wide range of products, including skincare, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and baby care items. To date, 2,203 personal care products carry the EWG VERIFIED mark.
How do companies get EWG Verified?
To become EWG verified, the brand or manufacturer submits an online application detailing all about the product, and its label. EWG assesses the product's ingredients for potential health hazards based on available scientific research and regulatory databases. They prioritize avoiding chemicals of concern and harmful substances. The brand is required to disclose all product ingredients, including fragrance components, through full ingredient disclosure to ensure transparency. The product's labels and marketing materials are checked for accuracy and compliance with relevant regulations and standards. EWG also reviews the brand's manufacturing practices to ensure they align with good manufacturing practices and minimize environmental impact.
Products also must meet specific criteria regarding potential health hazards and receive a hazard rating in the "Green" range of EWG's Skin Deep database. The Skin Deep database rates products on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst. "Green" rating means they must have a hazard rating of either 1 or 2 in the Skin Deep database.
Based on the assessment, if the product meets EWG's rigorous criteria for safety and transparency, it is awarded the EWG Verified mark.
Things to know about EWG Verified
What is the NATRUE Certification?
NATRUE is an international non-profit association based in Brussels that is dedicated to promoting natural and organic cosmetics. It was established in 2007 to provide a clear standard for consumers and ensure transparency in the beauty industry.
The NATRUE label is used on cosmetic products that meet high standards of naturalness and organic ingredients. It goes beyond the definitions set by European regulations and provides clear and transparent criteria. Natrue certifies products that are made from completely natural ingredients, including ingredients derived from natural sources without any petrochemicals, and nature-identical ingredients such as pigments, minerals, and preservatives, which are used only when necessary for consumer safety.
The NATRUE label has different standards for different types of cosmetics.
What products does NATRUE certify?
NATRUE certifies a wide range of products including skincare, haircare, body care, and oral care products. As of today, they have over 280+ brands and 6700+ products certified.
How do companies get NATRUE certified?
NATRUE’s independent scientific committee sets standards for ingredients and production methods for a product to receive the NATRUE sea. If companies are following these standards and are interested in obtaining certification, they must submit an application to a NATRUE-approved third-party certification body. The certification body then reviews the application and conducts an assessment of the company's products and manufacturing processes. This assessment includes a thorough evaluation of the ingredients used, the formulation process, and the company's compliance with NATRUE's standards. The certifiers also perform an on-site inspection of the production facility to ensure that the products are produced in compliance.
If everything is as per standards, the company may be granted the NATRUE seal.
Things to know about the NATRUE certification
No doubt these certifications make life better for consumers. Yet, that’s still quite some research to keep track of.
Which is why, we’ve already done the research for you in identifying the best authentic and green personal care brands to choose from.
Safety First
As you’ve read, there are numerous certifications, each of them with their own standards and values.
The most important aspect is for products to be safe to use.
Yes, these certified and green products can be a bit more expensive than conventional products. But this is largely because they need to have alternate ingredients and processes which are safer and more responsible towards people and the planet.
In fact, some conventional products are cheaper because they have gone on to use ingredients beyond what is safe or good for use, to save on cost.
Aligning with values and choosing imperfect products
Beyond safety for yourself, is alignment of the product with your values.
Perhaps you value products which are cruelty-free and vegan. Or perhaps being sustainable for the planet is on your priority.
There could be products which are cruelty-free, but perhaps their packaging is not sustainable. And as we saw, there are products which have varying percentages of organic ingredients.
One thing to keep in mind is most products are not going to be perfect in every way for people and the planet.
The important thing is, for products to be authentic about their sustainability practices, and not have misleading claims and look to manipulate customers.
Yes some certified and green products are not perfectly green, but likely far better than the industry standard, and are constantly improving their sustainability practices.
Going beyond product labels
A study suggests, if a product carries a third party label, it is the first thing 59% of consumers use for guidance, whereas 8% judge a product by a company's label.
These certifications and labels play an important role in providing transparency, accountability, and assurance to consumers.
These certifications and labels go beyond traditional product labels by a company and basic laws, and showcase enhanced social, environmental and ethical considerations.
Influencing brands to improve accountability
Our choice of product is powerful.
As more consumers become aware of such certifications, understand them, and choose certified and sustainable products, brands will take note.
Brands will have to start adhering to certifications and enhance their disclosures and sustainability practices to win consumers.
And ultimately, there’d be more and better green brands for consumers to choose from, economies of scale would kick into the green consumer ecosystem, and green products would also become more affordable.
Going beyond certifications
While certifications are great, like everything in life, they are not perfect.
There may be limitations and areas for improvement in each. Some may be better than others.
But ultimately, they stand for increased transparency, accountability, and assurance to consumers. They are surely an improvement to a world without these certifications.
Our role is to remain critical and informed, and hold brands and certifications more accountable.
And of course, obtaining certifications comes at a cost. It is possible for businesses, especially small businesses, to be sustainable even without having these certifications.
