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What does EcoControl certify?

NATRUE

NATRUE is the strictest standard, as minimum proportions of natural raw materials for natural cosmetics must be proven in the certified products. The most experienced natural cosmetics manufacturers use this standard, see our customer page. NATRUE is included in the BNN assortment list. For more information, visit: www.natrue.org

Recognized raw materials

All raw materials to be used in cosmetics from July 1, 2024, must enter the recognition or certification process. Exceptions are only made for nature-identical raw materials according to the NATRUE positive list, customer-specific raw materials that are only produced for a single customer, or organic raw materials certified according to the IFOAM family (see below). Please also take a look at the new Technical Guide (available in our Downloads section).

In order to have raw materials recognized according to NATRUE, a document audit is required to evaluate the fulfillment of the NATRUE criteria. After checking the conformity, a certificate of recognition is issued and the raw materials are published on the NATRUE raw materials database. Approved raw materials may use the NATRUE approved raw material logo.

Certified raw materials

Raw materials with organic content that are to be advertised as such must undergo the NATRUE certification procedure. Here, in addition to the document audit, a one-time on-site audit is also performed.

Raw materials that are of organic origin, but either the processing is not within the organic certification or the organic certificate was issued by a standard setter outside the IFOAM family, must also be included in the certification process. Here, in the case of non-covered processing, a one-time audit is performed at the processing site, or every two years if the standard is not part of the IFOAM family.

All NATRUE certified raw materials are shown on the NATRUE raw material database and are allowed to carry the NATRUE logo.

Organic raw materials

must be produced from organically grown, certified agricultural products (including wild collection).

The following standards are accepted as the basis for certification of agricultural raw materials:

Organic Regulation (EU) 2018 / 848, the Swiss Organic Regulation, and all standards recognized as equivalent from the IFOAM family, as well as all organic standards under the umbrella of IFOAM (e.g. Naturland, Demeter, Bioland, Soil Association, Bio Suisse). The Technical Guide also provides the option of independently accredited standards in accordance with ISO17065 (see Technical Guide in Downloads).

These raw materials are NATRUE compliant per se and do not need to enter the recognition or certification process.

Natural Cosmetic Standard (NCS)

The standard without percentage calculation, without association and with the lowest label usage fees. The Natural Cosmetic Standard is included in the BNN product range list and, in addition to the basic logo, has three levels with different labels for organic cosmetics, vegan cosmetics and vegan organic cosmetics.

For more information, visit: https://gfaw.eu/ncs/

Nature Care Product Standard (NCPS)

The standard for natural products that are not food or cosmetics, such as cleaning products. The Nature Care Product Standard is included in the BNN assortment list.

For more information, visit: https://gfaw.eu/ncp/

Cosmetics Good Manufacturer Practice

The K-GMP Ecocontrol standard, based on ISO 22716, is a certification that applies Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) specifically for the cosmetics industry in accordance with ecological and sustainable principles. ISO 22716 sets international standards for the production, handling, storage and shipping of cosmetic products to ensure their safety and quality.

K-GMP extends these standards with specific requirements that promote environmental protection, including responsible raw material sourcing, waste management and the use of renewable resources where possible. Compliance with the K-GMP Ecocontrol standard demonstrates a commitment to quality assurance, product safety and sustainability in the cosmetics sector.

Certified Sustainable Economics (CSE)

The cross-sector quality seal CSE distinguishes products that are manufactured by companies that operate in a certified sustainable manner. The CSE standard is regularly reviewed and continuously developed.

For more information, visit: https://gfaw.eu/leistungen/cse-zertifizierung/

Verified Claims by EcoControl

Since the EmpCo Directive took effect in Germany on 27 September 2026, environmental claims such as “packaging made from 80% recycled material”, “free from microplastics” or “30% less CO₂ than the previous formula” are only permitted if they are specific and substantiated. Generic claims such as “environmentally friendly” or “climate friendly” without proven environmental performance are prohibited.

With Verified Claims, EcoControl verifies your specific environmental claim as an independent body under ISO/IEC 17029. We check whether the claim is true, whether your evidence supports it, and whether the wording promises more than the data shows. Once verified, you receive the confirmed wording, a claim ID and a QR code.

Verified Claims complements our product certifications: the label covers the product under the respective standard, Verified Claims covers the statements next to it on packaging, websites or in advertising. The programme is open to all companies, including those not yet certified by EcoControl.

How Verified Claims works

  1. Submit your claim – via the online form, with the exact wording, a description and your evidence. You receive a reference number.
  2. Pre-check and quote – we check whether the claim can be verified and send you a quote. Fees are charged per claim and year.
  3. Participation agreement – 12-month term, renewed automatically for further 12 months.
  4. Verification – we review the claim and your evidence; if anything is missing, we ask for it specifically.
  5. Confirmation – you receive the approved wording, the claim ID and the QR code. Reference to the verification may only be made in this wording.
  6. Ongoing review – you inform us of changes to the product, the data or the wording; the claim is reviewed again annually.

Questions? Contact us at info@ecocontrol.online.

Product certification process (NATRUE/NCS/NCP)

  • Send us an inquiry to info@ecocontrol.online
  • We will then send you a certification application
  • Please fill it out and send it back to us
  • Based on this application, we decide whether an evaluation and certification can take place
  • Based on this information you will receive a cost estimate
  • We also send already without obligation the relevant contracts
  • As soon as we have a signed contract and, if applicable, a license agreement from the standard provider, we will send you all the necessary information on how new products, recipes or raw materials can be created in our system
  • You will then receive our software package for reporting the new products / raw materials
  • After signing the contract you will receive a mandate key for secure data transfer via software
  • We check your formulations on the basis of the information provided and quality proofs for the ingredients according to the standard specifications
  • If further specifications or information are missing to meet the standard requirements, you will receive an assessment report.
  • Any missing information or evidence will be detailed in the assessment report.
  • As soon as all this information is available and everything is compliant, you will receive the final report and the products will be proposed for certification
  • The products are then entered into the NATRUE database
  • The cosmetic products or raw materials assessed as compliant are certified
    • For initial certification, you will receive a provisional certificate with a 6-month validity period
  • The audit is planned (in case of initial audit within 6 months after certification or start of marketing of the products)
  • If raw materials have been evaluated in the recognition procedure, they will receive the letter of recognition
  • The assigned auditor schedules the audit with you
  • The audit is announced by us and the audit contents are briefly explained again
    • The audit includes primarily the verification of the recipe, traceability and quality evidence
  • An audit report and possibly a table of measures for the correction of deviations summarize the audit
  • In principle, an audit must take place every 24 months at the manufacturer’s premises. Reasons for deviating audit intervals can be found in the contract and in the standard(here).
  • You can find more information on how to deal with deviations and possible consequences here.
  • Before the certificate expires, we ask you whether the products should be re-certified
  • For re-certification, we check whether the standard has changed in the meantime and the recipe still meets the requirements
  • If NO, the evaluation process starts all over again
  • If YES, the system checks whether there are any outstanding deviations. If there are no discrepancies, a new certificate is created
  • If there are still discrepancies, these must first be closed. A new certificate is then issued.
  • Please note that any reference to certification must also correspond to the certification scope of the standard
  • References to EcoControl as a certification body in brochures, documents and advertising are only permitted in combination with a standard certified by us.
  • Please also read the EcoControl logo usage regulations for more information
  • New products, formula changes or new raw materials can be notified at any time via the Sculpture software.
  • We evaluate them against the same criteria as in the initial certification; if they conform, the certificate or the entry in the NATRUE database is extended.
  • If you wish to remove products from the certification, please inform us in writing; we will update the certificate and the database.
  • If individual products no longer meet the requirements, we may also reduce the scope (see Procedures and sanctions for non-compliance).
  • From that point on, removed products may no longer be advertised as certified.

Your rights

  • impartial and confidential handling
  • reasons for every certification decision
  • appeal and complaint under our complaints and appeals policy
  • use of the certificate and logo within the scope

Your obligations

  • meet the requirements of the standard at all times
  • give us access to sites, records and staff, including for unannounced audits
  • notify us promptly of changes to formulas, raw materials, suppliers, sites or ownership
  • correct non-conformities within the set deadlines
  • keep records of complaints about certified products and make them available on request
  • refer to the certification only within its scope and not in a misleading way; pass on certificates only in full
  • on suspension or withdrawal, stop advertising the certification immediately and return certificates
  • pay the fees according to the list of services
  • for NATRUE, also comply with the obligations of the NATRUE licence agreement
You can find more information on the process certification procedure in accordance with ISO22716 under Downloads, EcoControl documents.

Sculpture Software

With the help of the Sculpture software, you can register the formulations of your natural cosmetics for evaluation and certification for the NATRUE seal. In the following video we will show you the step-by-step operation of the software.