ECOCERT®

For Detergents
Detergents and Cleaner
„GO GREEN“

EU-N Status Jan 2008

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Ecocert® Content

Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Relevance

Ecocert is a certification and control organization

Ecocert establishes systems of ecological standards

for cosmetic, detergents, food etc.

Ecocert is a NGO (Non Government Organisation), but approved

by Ministry of Industry in France

Ecocert is a training organization for regulation,

audits, food safety, management systems etc.

Ecocert works to promote organic products through its

control and certification activities in over 85 countries

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
History

Ecocert was the control part of ACAB

(Association des Conseillers en Agriculture Biologique)
and became independent in 1991
In 1996 Ecocert was approved by official organization (COFRAC)
as certification organization
From 1992 to 2006, implementation of Ecocert Belgium, Germany,
Portugal, Canada, Japan, Brasil
Some offices reporting to Ecocert are also present in Madagascar,
Marocco, Turkey, Burkina Faso, Israel and many other countries

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Basic principles

The basic principles of the ecological cosmetics &

detergents standard are as follows:

To protect our planet and its resources by insisting on the use

of renewable origin ingredients, obtained by processes respectful
of the environment and prohibiting most synthetic ingredients.

To protect and inform the consumer by stating more precise

composition details, listing allergens and guaranteeing the
traceability of ingredients during manufacture.

To promote the know-how of manufacturers concerned with

improving the quality of their supplies and products.

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
- in general -

Prefered use of non GMO vegetable origin raw materials

If animal raw material are used, they must be naturally
produced and coming from non-protected species
Mineral raw material may be used only if they
are produced by environmentally safe processes
Only natural perfumes and dyes may be used

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Ecocert®
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
- for surfactants -

Surfactants must come from renewable origin and must be

produced by means of authorized processes
In a transitional period, nonionic and anionic with ethylene
oxide may be used. The maximum EO content is 8 moles
and the ratio of ethoxilated surfactant must be below 50%
of the total amount of surfactants.
Quaternized esters of vegetable origin may be used if the
solvent is of vegetable origin or isopropyl alcohol
All surfactants must be biodegradable under aerobic and
anaerobic conditions

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Detergents
the use of renewable sources
of environmentally safe production
processes
the use of ingredients coming from partly
biological agriculture
in a transition period, nonionic and anionic
with ethylene oxide may be used.
The maximum EO content is 8 moles and
the ratio of ethoxilated surfactant must be
below 50% of the total amount of surfactant
preferably use raw material of non GMO
vegetable origin
all surfactans must be biodegradable under
aerobic and anaerobic conditions
etc….
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Cosmetics
the use of renewable sources
of environmentally safe production
processes
the use of ingredients coming from
partly biological agriculture
GMO free
Approved synthesis (esterification,
etherification,hydrogenation, etc...),
no solvents
only Ecocert certified preservatives
etc……
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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
- approved synthetic ingredients -

For any type of product

benzoic acid and salts, formic acid, propionic acid and salts,
carbonates (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Si), TiO2, KOH, NaOH, silicates,
sulfate of soda <15%, zeolites, etc…

For laundry detergents

Carboxymethyl cellulose, TAED (tetraacethylethylenediamine)

For powder products

Sodium percarbonate

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
- approved synthetic ingredients -

Authorized sequestation agents

biodegradability > 60% according to OCDE 301
Acute toxicity for water-borne organisms
value CL50 for fish for 96 hrs must be over 10 mg/L
value CE50 for shellfish for 48 hrs must be over 10 mg/L
value CE50 for variety of algae for 72 or 96 hrs must be
over 10 mg/L

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
– prohibited processes -

Bleaching/Deodorizing medium of animal origin

Deterpenation (except by steam)
Ethoxilation (unless waived)
Irradiation
Genetic modifications
Sulfonation
Extraction with petrochemical solvents (hexane, toluene…)
Processing with ethylene oxide

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
- authorized processes -

Physical Processes
Bleaching /deodorizing (outside medium of animal origin)
Extraction (authorized solvents: water, CO2, solvents of renewable origin)…

Chemical Processes
Calcination, Carbonization
Esterification / Transesterification / Interesterification
Etherification
Formation of amide
Process of manufacture of amphoterics (formation of amide and quaternisation)
Sulfation
UV and microwave treatment…

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
- finished product packaging -

Similar obligations (identification, traceability etc.) as for ISO

certification
Packaging must be easily recyclable (no multi layer, no PVC,
no polystyrene etc)
Packaging, if possible, must come from recycling organization
especially paper, cardboard)
“Eco refill” packaging must be recommended
Wet wipes tissues are not allowed
Propane, butane, isobutane, dimethyloxide are forbidden as
propellent gas
Concentrated formulations must be preferred
etc…..

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
- labeling and communication (1) -

The biodegradability can be marked on the

finished product.
In the case where products are used from
biological agriculture and the manufacturer
wishes to claim this, exact percentage of
ingredients from biological agriculture must be
disclosed.
Ecological Detergent

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Ecocert®
Criterias involved in labeling
- labeling and Communication (2) -

Obligation of transparency on composition:

All of the components are listed in ordinary language or in INCI name for
preservatives, the list is divided into the following ranges,
[weight percent] – ingredient amount in downward order

30% and over

15% or more but less than 30%
5% or more but less than 15%
< than 5%

At the bottom of the list must appear the sentence

“The surfactants are of vegetable origin”

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Certification Procedure
The applicant sends in the pre-enquiry questionnaire (QPE)

Products not covered by the referential, physical Ecocert sends

access to the company impossible, non respect of
general regulations
- Annual estimate for certification
- Commitment contract

The applicant signs the contract and sends it back to

REFUSAL OF ECOCERT
COMMITMENT

Ecocert sends back a copy of the contract and the

documents to be prepared for audit.
An inspector makes an appointment for the
authorization audit.
Third party complaint

AUTHORIZATION AUDIT
Audit report / List of failures

Certification committee: Processing of file:

Rules on the file: Audit conclusions sent
Sanctions, Waivers Removal of failures with applicant (who sends missing
documents, modifies formulas…)

CERTIFICATION
REFUSAL OF
Awarding of license and
COMMITMENT
Certificates + Invoice

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

EU-N Status Jan 2008

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Ecocert®
Sources for approved materials

Ecocert offers to suppliers an evaluation of

their materials compliance with the
standards.
The list of approved materials appear on
ECOCERT website. www.ecocert.com

Therefore the formulators selection for raw materials is

much easier.

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Ecocert®
Content
Relevance
History
Basic principles
Requirements to obtain Ecocert certification
Requirements for detergents vs. cosmetics
Criterias involved in labeling:
Approved synthetic ingredients
Prohibited / authorized processes
Finished product packaging
Labeling and communication
Certification procedure
Sources for approved materials
Labeled Cognis products

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Ecocert®
Labeled Cognis products
Product Chemical Description Ecocert
approval
Arlypon® F Lauryl alcohol
9
Dehydol® LT 7 Fatty alcohol C12 – C18 9
Dehyton® PK 45 Fatty acid amide derivate with betain structure
9
Dehyquart® AU 46 / G Bis (acyloxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methylammonium
methosulfate 9
Glucopon® 215 UP Alkyl polyglucoside based on natural fatty alcohol C8-C10
9
Glucopon® 225 DK Alkyl polyglucoside based on natural fatty alcohol C8-C10 9
Glucopon® 600 CS UP Alkyl polyglucoside based on natural fatty alcohol C10-C16
9
Mergital® D5 Deceth-5 9
Mergital® D8 Deceth-8
9
Plantatex®LLE Dispersion of lipid layer enhancer with surfactants
9
Sulfopon® 101 UP Sodium lauryl sulfate
9
Sulfopon® 1216 G Sodium C12-C16 fatty alcohol sulfate
9
Sulfopon® 1218 G Sodium C12-C18 fatty alcohol sulfate 9
Texal® SK Blend of ethoxylated fatty alcohol and fatty acid
9
Texapon® NSO UP Sodium Lauryl Ethersulfate 9

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