Friday, June 22, 2007
Origins Gets Organic Seal
The Origins division of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. is trying to give "organic" a new meaning this fall with Origins Organics, its first prestige-market organic collection of U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified body, skin and hair care products.
The brand has been known for its green positioning, providing naturally based beauty products for 17 years. However, Origins waited to launch a fully certified and complete line until it could comply with U.S. regulations. "We wanted to be able to meet the highest level of requirements recognized by the federal government," said Daria Myers, global president and co-founder of Origins. "Until now, there has been no unified organization with the same requirements for all companies. "Six of the collection's nine products will carry the USDA organic seal: the lip balm, purifying tonic, face lotion, body spritz, massage oil and hair oil. While not USDA-certified, the face wash, body bar and lotion will each contain between 73 and 90 percent organic ingredients.
All items in the collection were manufactured by the following places: Cosmetic Essence, Inc., Active Organics, Vermont Soaps and Jason Naturals.
As part of the effort, the company is reformulating all of its core products to be paraben-free and converting its retail stores and manufacturing plants from conventionally derived electric power to wind-generated energy by July. In addition, Origins packaging material will soon be made up of half managed forest and post-consumer recycled fiber. In order to receive the USDA Certified Organic seal, Origins Organics products were required to meet the same stringent standards the USDA requires for food.
Put in place less than two years ago, the personal care regulations demand a product contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients — substances grown naturally with only approved fertilizers and pest controls — for it to be labeled "organic" or "certified organic." Under the guidelines, the remaining percentage must be composed of nonagricultural product ingredients found on the National Organic Program list.
"To expect personal care brands to meet the food standard is a high expectation. Origins has come up with amazing, cutting-edge ways to preserve and emulsify products, which allowed them to stay within the rules and deliver incredible products."
SOURCE
The brand has been known for its green positioning, providing naturally based beauty products for 17 years. However, Origins waited to launch a fully certified and complete line until it could comply with U.S. regulations. "We wanted to be able to meet the highest level of requirements recognized by the federal government," said Daria Myers, global president and co-founder of Origins. "Until now, there has been no unified organization with the same requirements for all companies. "Six of the collection's nine products will carry the USDA organic seal: the lip balm, purifying tonic, face lotion, body spritz, massage oil and hair oil. While not USDA-certified, the face wash, body bar and lotion will each contain between 73 and 90 percent organic ingredients.
All items in the collection were manufactured by the following places: Cosmetic Essence, Inc., Active Organics, Vermont Soaps and Jason Naturals.
As part of the effort, the company is reformulating all of its core products to be paraben-free and converting its retail stores and manufacturing plants from conventionally derived electric power to wind-generated energy by July. In addition, Origins packaging material will soon be made up of half managed forest and post-consumer recycled fiber. In order to receive the USDA Certified Organic seal, Origins Organics products were required to meet the same stringent standards the USDA requires for food.
Put in place less than two years ago, the personal care regulations demand a product contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients — substances grown naturally with only approved fertilizers and pest controls — for it to be labeled "organic" or "certified organic." Under the guidelines, the remaining percentage must be composed of nonagricultural product ingredients found on the National Organic Program list.
"To expect personal care brands to meet the food standard is a high expectation. Origins has come up with amazing, cutting-edge ways to preserve and emulsify products, which allowed them to stay within the rules and deliver incredible products."
SOURCE
Labels: natural products, organic, Origins, personal care
Post a Comment