ECOCERT is an organic certification organization, founded in France in 1991. It is based in Europe but conducts inspections in over 80 countries, making it one of the largest organic certification organizations in the world.

ECOCERT's co-founder and CEO is William Vidal.[1] It began as a partnership between European nations but has gradually expanded to many other nations around the world. The company's French headquarters are located in L'Isle-Jourdain, Gers, France,[2] and its ECOCERT INTERNATIONAL division which was previously based in Northeim, Germany, is shifted now to L'Isle-Jourdain.

ECOCERT primarily certifies food and food products, but also certifies cosmetics, detergents, perfumes, and textiles. The company inspects about 70% of the organic food industry in France and about 30% worldwide. ECOCERT is also a leading certifier of fair trade food, cosmetics,

 and textiles as per ECOCERT Fair Trade standards.

 

ECOCERT was Introduced in 2003, the specification was drawn up in conjunction with all stakeholders in the value chain, i.e. experts, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, consumers and development organisations.

ECOCERT currently supports and guides more than 1,000 companies through their certification processes.

 

The basic principles of the ECOCERT standard

To ensure an environmentally friendly cosmetic product, the ECOCERT standard lays down:

1. The use of ingredients derived from renewable resources, manufactured by environmentally friendly processes. ECOCERT,  therefore checks:

• The absence of GMO, parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicon, PEG, synthetic perfumes and dyes, animal-derived ingredients (unless naturally produced by them: milk, honey, etc.).

• The biodegradable or recyclable nature of packaging.

2. A minimum threshold of natural ingredients from organic farming to be reached to obtain certification:

• For both labels, ECOCERT Standard imposes that a minimum of 95% of the total ingredients come from natural origin.

For the natural and organic cosmetic label:

A minimum of 95% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 10% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming.

 

For the natural cosmetic label: 

A minimum of 50% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 5% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming. 

 

/!\: Some ingredients very frequently found in cosmetics (water, salts, minerals) cannot be certified as organic because they are not sourced from farming. For example, shampoos and some creams, mostly composed of water, contain between 10% and 40% organic ingredients, and always 95% natural ingredients. An essential oil, which does not contain water, can be up to 100% organic ingredients.

3. On-site audit is performed by an ECOCERT auditor