What it means to be certified organic

ishga is proud to be Organic Certified by the Soil Association; an accreditation which means we have passed a certification process and met strict standards which promise that organic ingredients are used in our products whenever possible. 

Do you know the differences between products labelled ‘natural’ and ‘organic’? There are key differences when it comes to their ingredients. Let’s look at the facts behind the labels. 

What’s the difference? 

The terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are often side by side and can be used interchangeably, but at their core they have different meanings.  

Natural 

This refers to where the products have come from. Products that are ‘natural’ are sourced from minerals, plants, flowers, and other ingredients that the earth gives us, rather than those made artificially.  

Organic  

This refers to how the products have been farmed. Organic farms will grow produce without using artificial fertilisers, using fewer pesticides, and cultivating healthier soils, by farming in a way that regenerates the land.   

Lack of regulation 

In the beauty and wellness industry, there is little regulation around the term “organic” and how it can be used. Unlike food and farming industries which are upheld by legal standards, many companies can claim their products are “organic” despite having minimal organic ingredients in them. The only way you can be certain that a beauty product is truly ‘organic’ is through the certification. 

This lack of regulation can be misleading as terms such as ‘clean’, ‘natural’ and 'organic' can be used on products sometimes containing as little as 1% of ingredients coming from the claimed source. 

As a result, companies who are not certified are not required to provide any kind of evidence that the product they are selling is truly 'organic’ or ‘natural’ as listed on the label.  

Our advice is to keep an eye out for the Soil Association certification – it's a guarantee that beauty products are exactly what they say they are!  

Certified Organic 

At ishga, we are certified organic. What does that mean? 

Our products have been put through rigorous testing by a panel of independent experts so you can be safe in the knowledge that our skincare range has met the organic standards. When you see the COSMOS or Soil Association logo you can be reassured that every step of the manufacturing process has been thoroughly checked by unbiased auditors. This includes reviewing the entire manufacturing process, including sourcing of ingredients, formulation, packaging and premises. We’re proud to uphold high standards across our processes and products to deliver only the very best results-driven organic seaweed skincare. 

 
What are the certification standards?   

To achieve certification and be allowed to use the Soil Association COSMOS logo, 95% of all plant, animal or microbial ingredients must be organic. 

When you buy a certified organic beauty product, you can be sure it contains:  

• No GM (genetically modified) ingredients.  
• No controversial chemicals. 
• No parabens or phthalates. 
• No synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances. 

If you want to make sure you are only buying certified organic, keep an eye out for this logo. 

Gaining certification from the Soil Association is just another step that we have taken towards being as sustainable as possible. We not only want to make skincare products that are good for you and your skin, but also good for the planet.