Green Seal introduces first US certification for whole product life cycle
The new standard to be launched in the US is called GS-50 and establishes environmental, health, and performance requirements for products intended to be left on the body and hair including, but are not limited to, lotions, hair spray and styling products, sunscreen nailinsect repellant, makeup, antiperspirant and deodorant.
"The Personal Care and Cosmetics category has been the focus of much consumer concern in relation to the environmental and health impacts of ingredients and manufacturing processes used," said Dr. Arthur Weissman, CEO of Green Seal.
"It was imperative then that Green Seal develop standards that address these concerns and make it possible for consumers to identify those products that have been independently certified to have less impact."
Manufacturers can validate improvements through certification
This standard, along with the Green Seal standard for Soaps and Shower Products (GS-44), is designed to provide tools that manufacturers can download, use to improve their products and validate those improvements through certification.
The ANSI-accredited certification body also intends the standards to be a guide that lets consumers know that their favorite products are safer, greener, and perform as well as they should.
While there are many products in the personal care market that feature environmental claims about ingredients, Green Seal claimed that GS-50 covers much more.
It explained that to achieve GS-50 certification, manufacturers need to satisfy performance, health and environmental, social responsibility, packaging and labeling requirements, as well as providing definitions for common claims such as "natural", "organic" and "biobased".
Certification will allow manufacturers to feature the Green Seal - an eco-label that that assures a product is safer for health and the environment, awarded by an independent third party.
Green Seal explained that independent verification of products is going to be key for companies due to the upcoming release of the new FTC Green Guides for Environmental Marketing Claims, which will likely result in more scrutiny of claims made on products and how the claims are substantiated.
