Label designating an ecological cosmetic, attributed by the venerable Soil Association, an English institution founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists. Soil aims to promote organic farming, and is divided into several entities: the association itself, which is non-profit (any surplus revenue is used to raise awareness and promote the organic sector), a consumer association and a certification body.
The Soil Association standards for cosmetics subscribe to a simple principle: a maximum of ingredients from organic farming, a minimum of non-organic raw materials, authorized only if their organic equivalent is not available and provided they are not genetically modified. All processing and manufacturing processes must be as environmentally friendly as possible.
The text also includes a list of ingredients prohibited, whether for ecological or human health reasons, including parabens, formaldehyde-releasing substances, silicones, PEGs, quaternary ammoniums, petrochemical derivatives, certain skin irritant surfactants or nanomaterials…
The Soil Association is also part of the founding consortium of the COSMOS-Standard.
To go further
• See the Soil Association website
