Korea conducts research to develop natural and organic cosmetics standard

Cosmos aims ​

The cosmetics organic standard, Cosmos, is a Europe-wide private approved guideline for natural and organic cosmetics. 

Cosmos emphasises and promotes the importance of various principles including organic farming ingredient use, production and manufacturing processes that are environmentally sound and safe for human health, and the use and expansion of green chemicals that aim to offer optimum performance and functionality while being environmentally friendly.

The standard so far ​

Several private worldwide standards for natural and organic cosmetics such as Ecocert, Soil Association and BDIH have been developed in the last three years.

Five cosmetics-focused certification bodies partnered in 2002 to create one harmonised cosmetics standard. “This resulted in the Cosmos standard, which was launched in 2010 and underwent a six-year transition period that ended on 31st December 2016,”​ said Min-sun Kim, Cosmos assistant, Control Union Korea.

As of 2017, all new products had to be certified under Cosmos and only those products that were already accredited by private programmes maintained certification.

“In terms of APAC regional standards, the Korean Government is conducting research to develop a national standard for natural and organic cosmetics,”​ added Kim.

Harmonisation needed ​

Calls for a harmonised standard that would provide clarity and certainty to the natural and organic cosmetics industry and consumers has driven this research initiative. Increasing awareness surrounding the side effects of chemicals used in cosmetics has led to a need for standardisation.

With demand for natural and organic cosmetics on the up, a harmonised standard can ensure claims are accurate and stamp out “the improper use of ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ logos and terms”​, Kim highlights. 

Natural and organic awareness ​

Going forward, awareness about the differences between natural and organic products are set to deepen existing interests in natural products and their purchasing rates.

The APAC cosmetic market is continuously expanding and with the year on year growth in natural and organic personal care products, the global market is predicted to be worth just under $22bn (€19.6mn) by 2024 according to Persistence Market Research 2016 research, Kim concludes.

Min-sun Kim, Cosmos assistant, Control Union Korea, will talk in more detail about the eco-friendly certification and how it is applied in the industry at in-cosmetics Korea on 22 June 2017, 13:00 - 13:30 at the technical seminars theatre. For more information, visit http://korea.in-cosmetics.com​.