BDIH - Certified Natural Cosmetics / KONTROLLIERTE NATUR-KOSMETIK at L11, 20-22 , 68161 Mannheim, Germany

Description

What is the BDIH BDIH is the Association of German Industries and Trading Firms for pharmaceuticals, health care products, food supplements and personal hygiene products (www.bdih.de). The Association, located in Mannheim, Germany, has organized over 440 producers and distributors of • Cosmetics and Natural Cosmetics • Food Supplements • Nutritonal Foods • Over-the-counter Medications • Medical Devices In 1996, working together with leading natural cosmetics producers, the BDIH developed comprehensive guidelines for certified natural cosmetics, keeping in mind the expectations of consumers. On the basis of these guidelines, an independent institute has tested more than 2.000 products for their contents and production methods. Certified Natural Cosmetics Natural cosmetics serve to beautify and care for the human body by means of ingredients from nature. This is made possible with natural raw materials, friendly to both the skin and the environment. Natural cosmetics should stimulate and support our natural skin functions, rather than supplanting physiological processes. These products offer gentle, wholesome care and are thus an important aid to the health of the skin at any age. Natural cosmetics revitalize and harmonize body, soul and spirit. The makers of the products marked with the BDIH "Certified Natural Cosmetics" seal use natural raw material such as plant oils, fats and waxes, herbal extracts and essential oils and aromatic materials from controlled biological cultivation or controlled biological wild collection. In addition to the careful selection of raw materials, the ecological impact of each product plays an important role (see Guidelines). Trend to Natural Cosmetics Natural cosmetics have become a major trend in recent years. There is a growing awareness that we are responsible for the world in which we live, and an increasing concern for our own health. We appreciate the delicate balance of the natural world and strive to maintain this harmony by using environmentally-friendly products that are nurturing to us and as harmless as possible to the earth. Concern for our physical appearance must be balanced with finding conscientious means in which to care for our skin and our health in general. We believe natural cosmetics should offer you, in the truest sense of the word wholesome personal care. How does one decide what is good for us and what isn't? Wellness, fitness and an evolving awareness of holistic health have revolutionized the cosmetic market. The choice of products responding to the trend toward natural is immense. This website offers an overview of the world of natural cosmetics and skin care products with valuable information that will give you confidence in your choices. Only products that meet the strict standards of the guidelines are able to display the BDIH "Certified Natural Cosmetics" seal. Both the criteria and those manufacturers who have submitted their products for certification are listed here. Transparency for the Consumer During the collection and production of raw materials, nature is to be disturbed as little as possible. Particular care to protect endangered species is mandated. Genetic manipulation and modification are rejected. The transformation of raw materials into cosmetics is to be accomplished with care and with few chemical processes. Renewable and biodegradable materials are preferred because their ecological impact is substantially lower, especially when they come from controlled biological sources or other responsible means using natural resources. With natural ingredients, one deals with substances that have been used and studied for ages, so there is a minimal toxicity potential. Natural products most easily fulfill the requirement of accountability and socially responsible production. The choice of technical production methods is limited. Technical methods cannot be fully eliminated especially when the user's expectations for purity and performance cannot be met by raw materials in their natural state. Environmentally-friendly production methods, renewable and biodegradable materials and minimal use of packaging are expected. The following guidelines define the concept of natural cosmetics in a sensible and clear manner, with the consumer's expectations of safe and ecologically sound products in mind. Interested in certification? Please contact: bdih@bdih.de Guidelines 1. Raw materials obtained from plants As far as possible, raw materials obtained from plants should be used from: - controlled biological cultivation, taking quality and availability into account, or - controlled biological wild collections 2. Animal Protection - No animal testing may be performed or commissioned when end products are manufactured, developed or tested. - Raw materials that were not available on the market before 01.01.1998 may only be used if they have not been tested on animals. This does not include animal testing performed by third parties who neither were ordered/prompted by the ordering party to do so nor are associated to the ordering party by company law or by contract. - It is prohibited to use raw materials obtained from dead vertebrates (e.g. spermaceti, terrapin oil, mink oil, marmot fat, animal fats, animal collagen or living cells). 3. Raw materials obtained from minerals The use of inorganic salts and raw materials obtained from minerals is generally permitted, except for those listed in point 5. 4. Raw materials with restricted use For the production of natural cosmetics, it is permissible to use components which are extracted through hydrolysis, hydrogenation, esterification, transesterification or other crackings and condensations from the following natural materials: - fats, oils and waxes - lecithins - lanolin - monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides - proteins and lipoproteins The actual raw material use is regulated by the positive list for development and production of certified natural cosmetics. 5. Deliberate rejection of - organic-synthetic dyes - synthetic fragrances - ethoxylated raw materials - silicones - paraffin and other petroleum products The criterion which determines which aromatic substances are permitted is mainly ISO 9235. 6. Preservation To ensure that products are microbiologically safe, certain nature-identical preservatives are allowed in addition to natural preservatives. These are: - benzoic acid, its salts and ethylester - salicylic acid and its salts - sorbic acid and its salts - benzyl alcohol When these preservatives are used, products must be labelled “preserved with ... [name of preservative]” 7. No radioactive radiation It is forbidden to disinfect organic raw materials and completed cosmetic products using radioactive radiation. 8. Certified Natural Cosmetics A neutral control body checks that the above criteria are complied with. The association's label is used to indicate that the criteria have been complied with. Further goals Raw material requirements - traceable production using clear processes - education of consumers Disapproval of genetic engineering Clear opposition to raw materials extracted from genetically modified plants or animals. As genetic engineering is a controversial issue in agriculture and is not justified ecologically, biological cultivation is supported and genetic engineering is actively rejected. Ecological compatibility - only natural sources of raw materials, if possible certified by the EG-Bio-VO (EG regulation of ecological cultivation) - environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes - optimal degradability of raw materials and finished products - economical, environmentally-friendly and recyclable packaging - maintenance of natural life principles Social compatibility - raw materials from fair trading and Third World projects - use and disposal - cooperation Trend to Natural Cosmetics Natural cosmetics have become a major trend in recent years. There is a growing awareness that we are responsible for the world in which we live, and an increasing concern for our own health. We appreciate the delicate balance of the natural world and strive to maintain this harmony by using environmentally-friendly products that are nurturing to us and as harmless as possible to the earth. Concern for our physical appearance must be balanced with finding conscientious means in which to care for our skin and our health in general. We believe natural cosmetics should offer you, in the truest sense of the word wholesome personal care. How does one decide what is good for us and what isn't? Wellness, fitness and an evolving awareness of holistic health have revolutionized the cosmetic market. The choice of products responding to the trend toward natural is immense.

ADDR

Mannheim

BDIH - Certified Natural Cosmetics / KONTROLLIERTE NATUR-KOSMETIK

Address and contacts of BDIH - Certified Natural Cosmetics / KONTROLLIERTE NATUR-KOSMETIK

Description

Company Rating

Summary

Health/Beauty category, Mannheim