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40 May 2017 | beautystorebusiness.com Consider this: The 2015 Green Beauty Barometer survey, conducted by all-natural beauty brand Kari Gran, found that about 59 percent of 1,000 women 18 and up read beauty product labels prior to purchase. And last fall, market research company Organic Monitor reported that "the number of ethical labels is mushrooming in the cosmetic industry ... Over 20 different types of labels are now present on cosmetic and personal care products, representing ethical, sus- tainability and/or safety aspects." This trend toward transparency in labeling is expected to continue. To help clarify confusing product labels, we've compiled a cheat sheet covering the top 20 markings and key- words to know. THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATIONS EWG Verified: The Environmental Work- ing Group (EWG) offers certification for beauty products; at press time, 806 products had been approved. Products endorsed by the nonprofit organization must not contain any "ingredients of con- cern" and must list all ingredients and follow quality manufacturing practices, according to EWG's website, EWG.org. The EWG requires companies to submit detailed information about ingredients listed on the label (including additional information not included on labels), ensuring that products are adequately preserved and free of contaminants and that manufacturing processes meet the EWG's criteria. Meanwhile, companies commit to submitting all reports of product problems or serious adverse events to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as to the EWG, which may perform random product testing to ensure compliance. Leaping Bunny: The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) and The European Coalition to End Ani- mal Experiments (ECEAE) introduced the Leaping Bunny symbol to indicate cruelty- free status. Among other requirements, a company that uses the symbol "does not and shall not conduct, commission, or be a party to animal testing of any cosmetic and/ or household products, including, without limitation, formulations and ingredients of such products," and "the company does not and shall not purchase any ingredient, formulation or product from any third- party manufacturer or supplier that conducted, commissioned, or had been party to animal testing on said ingredi- ent, formulation, or product," according to LeapingBunny.org. The product company must recommit annually and is subject to an independent audit, according to criteria set forth in the Leaping Bunny Standard. Fairtrade Mark: In a globalized economy, the Fairtrade Mark is designed to help the environment, communi- ties, and individual farmers and workers. "Fairtrade America is a global movement to change the way trade has tradi- tionally worked, which has historically disadvantaged the poorest producers," explains Mary Linnell-Simmons, market- ing and communications manager for the Washington, D.C.-based organiza- tion. "Our mission is to secure decent working conditions, fair prices and bet- ter terms of trade; the Fairtrade Mark is found on products that have been certified and audited for adherence to the Fairtrade Standards." She adds that anything that can be Fairtrade must be Fairtrade—from cocoa butter and coconut oil to honey, coffee grounds and black pepper. "Choosing products with the Fairtrade Mark means farmers can invest in their communities, from clean water to healthcare," says Linnell- Simmons. "Farmers and workers take control and build sustainable futures for themselves, their families and their communities." COSMEBIO Cosmos Organic/ Cosmos Natural: This organization, established in 2002, represents more than 350 members in France and abroad, including cosmetic laboratories, distribu- tors, contract manufacturers and raw material suppliers, with the goal of pro- moting excellence in the field of organic cosmetics and raising consumer aware- ness. COSMEBIO offers two labels (based on the European Cosmos standard) to communicate that cosmetic products are environmentally friendly and organic. The Cosmos Organic label indicates that the product contains at least 95 percent naturally sourced ingredients and that at least 95 percent of plant ingredients are produced by organic farming meth- ods. In addition, ingredients must be biodegradable and organic ingredients must comprise at least 20 percent of a product's total content (water is not considered organic). The Natural label requires "other ingredients" to make up less than 5 percent of the total product. USDA Organic: The USDA Organic seal was originally intended for food products, but now beauty products are also carrying the label, notes Craig R. Weiss, president of Consumer Product Testing Company in Fairfield, New Jer- sey. According to the USDA, "organic products have strict production and labeling requirements," such as "being produced without excluded methods (e.g., genetic engineering), ionizing radia- tion or sewage sludge; produced per the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances; and overseen by a USDA National Organic Program-authorized "Over 20 different types of labels are now present on cosmetic and personal care products, representing ethical, sustainability and/or safety aspects." — Organic Monitor