More and more consumers are looking for products that will have less of an impact on the planet. In response to this, companies are making their products organic and more eco-friendly. With some beauty products, it seems easy to understand how they can be organic, such as body scrubs, oils, and perfumes. Other products, such as lotions, have more mystery surrounding their ingredients. This begs the question, what standards must a lotion meet to be organic?
Defining Organic
It’s important to note that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t define the term organic. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) contains a branch known as the National Organic Program (NOP) that defines the term organic.
In order for a product to be organic, it must be certified to “have been grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest.” The USDA/NOP defines most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers as prohibited substances. In short, organic products are only organic if prohibited substances have not come into contact with their ingredients.
Look to USDA/NOP Standards
Now that we understand what the term organic means, let’s look a little closer at how the USDA/NOP identifies organic products. When it comes to labeling, there are four categories of organic that a product can fall into. These are 100 percent organic, organic, made with organic ingredients, or the product can’t be labeled as organic.
One hundred percent organic means that the product uses only organic ingredients, while organic means the product contains 95 percent organic ingredients. If a product is “made with organic ingredients,” it must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Anything less than 70 percent can’t have organic on its labeling.
What Makes Lotion Organic?
Now that we know what makes a product or ingredient organic, we can answer the ultimate question of what standards a lotion has to meet to be organic. Fortunately, the answer is fairly simple now that you have the right knowledge! The ingredients used in the lotion should be free and clear of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
A USDA organic certifying agent must also certify the handlers and the manufacturers of these ingredients to ensure they adhere to industry standards. Ultimately, there’s no step or ingredient that goes unchecked, meaning when you buy an organic product, you know that serious time and attention have gone into it.
If you’re on the hunt for beauty products that meet these standards, you’re in the right place! Essential Wholesale & Labs sells organic lotion for dry skin and much more! When you shop with us, you can feel good about what you put on your body and how it affects the Earth.
