Clean Certification

Introduction to the standard

Clean Certification: ‘CLEAN’ is a term that is increasingly being used by cosmetics brands. Indeed, interest in this new trend has tripled in the past 5 years and has doubled in the past 12 months, according to Google Trends.

However, this concept is still poorly defined within the cosmetics industry and no legal framework has been established to regulate industry practices. This ambiguous situation is likely to confuse, and even mislead, consumers as well as cause regulatory uncertainty.

As a reputable third party, BIORIUS has developed a standard and has created a seal of approval to standardize the concept of clean beauty on a large scale. The intent behind this initiative is to help cosmetics brands substantiate their claims and to offer a meaningful certification which then enables the consumer to make well-informed decisions regarding the products they purchase.

The BIORIUS ‘Clean’ certification is based on a modern, benevolent and positive worldview aimed at protecting the planet and its people. BIORIUS’ DNA ensures a certification that is scientifically robust and fully compliant with all relevant regulatory requirements.

The ‘Clean Beauty’ standard

To be certified ‘Clean’ by BIORIUS, a cosmetic product should be (see the certification criteria below):

Such as the SCCS Notes of Guidance and the IFRA Quantitative Risk Assessment model. The safety dossier is audited by qualified toxicologists to ensure that the product is stable, free of microbiological risks, systemic toxicity risks, local toxicity risks and has a satisfactory impurity profile.

  • Animal ingredients
  • Animal testing
  • Ingredients resulting from genetically-modified organisms involving animal genes or animal-derived substances and requiring the implementation of specific kitchen and hygiene standards.

1.Excludes the following sunscreen ingredients, which are toxic to coral reefs:

  • Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3)
  • Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate)
  • Octocrylene
  • 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
  • PABA derivatives (e.g. Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA and PEG-25 PABA)
  • Octisalate (Ethylhexyl Salicylate)
  • Homosalate
  • Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane)

2.Excludes the following additives and preservatives, which are toxic to coral reefs:

  • Parabens
  • Phthalates
  • Triclosan
  • Microplastics

3.Requires that sunscreens are water-resistant

At least 0.2% of its revenues should be dedicated each year to reducing or compensating for its carbon footprint.

Examples of acceptable carbon footprint reduction initiatives:

  • Improvements in building insulation
  • Investments in energy-saving light bulbs
  • Investments in company cars with CO2 emissions < 90 g/km.
  • Investments in recycling activities

Examples of acceptable carbon footprint compensation initiatives:

  • Financial support to nonprofit organizations engaged in reforestation, recycling or decontamination projects
  • Investing in CO2 emissions capture
  • Sulfate-containing ingredients (e.g. SLS and SLES)
  • Silicones
  • Mineral oils
  • Methyl chloroform (and other gases having an impact on the ozone layer)
  • HFC-152a (and other greenhouse gases)
  • At least 0.1% of its revenues are donated each year to charities AND/OR
  • Specific raw materials in products’ ingredients are Fair Trade certified (e.g. via Oxfam, Max Havelaar), including: cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, aloe vera and honey AND/OR
  • Specific actions are conducted by the company to improve social inclusion and actively fight against any type of social discrimination
  • Fragrance (unless the formula is fully disclosed)
  • Colorants (from all product categories except make-up and hair dyes)
  • FSC-certified secondary packaging (or similar certification related to the responsible management of the world’s forests)
  • > 80 % (w/w) of primary packaging must be recyclable

Certification criteria

Scores are given for each aspect of the ‘Clean Beauty’ standard. To obtain the certification and receive the right to label the related BIORIUS logo, the sum of all scores of a cosmetic product should:

1. Reach in total 20 out of 25 of the following:

Element standard Note
1. Enhanced safety assessment 5
2. Vegan 5*
3. Reef-safe 3
4. Environment friendly cosmetic brand 3
5. perfomant and environment friendly cosmetic product 3
6. Human firendy cosmetic brand 2
7. Minimalistic 2
8.Recyclable packaging 2
TOTAL 25

*(vegetarian, meaning Honey and Dairy-based ingredients accepted: 3)

2. Reach at least 13 out of 15 on standard items 1, 2, 5 and 7.

3. Reach at least 16 out of standard items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 for sunscreen products.

 

 

Certification logo and validity

By fulfilling the ‘Clean Beauty’ certification, the brand receives:

 

 

 

 

  • A signed certificate
  • The right to use the BIORIUS’ ‘Clean Beauty’ logo on the label of their certified cosmetic products

Interested in certifications? Please see below the alternatives

Some brands that chose our certifications:

Get in Touch

Need a piece of advice, a quotation or answers to your questions? Contact us…

Fill in this form or contact us directly: info@biorius.com – We will answer as soon as possible!

As specialists in cosmetic Regulations for more than 15 years, Biorius offers a reliable turnkey solution for placing cosmetic products in various markets:

  • First Class specialists in cosmetic regulations in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and in more than 60 countries
  • 50 regulatory experts, toxicologists, pharmacists, and chemists to serve you.
  • A unique model that guarantees you both the fastest turnaround possible and high-quality services. Curious? Ask us to know more!
  • No hidden costs: Biorius does not charge you for any question, call, or meeting.
  • A best-in-class IT tool, free of charge, and saving a lot of your time.
  • More than 1,500 international clients have already chosen Biorius!
  • We evaluated more than 100,000 products and never had any compliance issues (fines, withdrawals from the market, etc.) in 15 years of existence.

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