Standards & certifications

Biodegradability is a key parameter to measure the persistence of a chemical in the environment. We measure the biodegradability of our ingredients according to OECD methodology or equivalent ISO standards; however it’s worth noting that these methods don’t apply to blends, only the components within.

In our product finder, you will find the option to filter by the following categories:
· Readily biodegradable
· Inherently biodegradable
· Not inherently biodegradable
· ‘Expected to be’

Further information regarding the definition of these biodegradability levels can be found on the biodegradability statement for the corresponding product.

The COSMOS international standard defines strict criteria and certification rules for organic and natural cosmetic products and ingredients. It covers all aspects of the sourcing, manufacture, marketing, and control of cosmetic products.

A number of our ingredients have been approved and certified by COSMOS. We have two types of ingredients in our portfolio:
• COSMOS Organic Certified – ingredients that contain a minimum percentage of raw materials from organic culture, as laid out in the standard
• COSMOS Natural Approved – ingredients from natural origin that do not contain enough organic material to be certified organic, but adhere to criteria laid out in the standard

Our manufacturing sites in Chanac and Fontenay-sur-Eure have been certified according to COSMOS (version 4), which has enabled us to provide organic certified ingredients obtained from organic cultivated plants and eco-friendly processes.

More information on the COSMOS-standard and certification can be found on the COSMOS website.

The ERI 360˚ label is an Eco Responsible label created by France Eco Extraction in cooperation with the PASS (Perfumes Flavors Fragrances & Scents) competitiveness cluster and 13 French suppliers of aromas and cosmetic ingredients. It allows us to accurately evaluate the entire ingredient production chain of our active ingredients, and measure their ethical, social and environmental performance. There are three levels of labelling (gold, silver, bronze) which can be awarded depending on the level of success obtained during the evaluation. Currently, two of our botanical extracts have been awarded the gold label, and a further ten extracts and actives carry the silver label.

Halal certified products are a way for Muslims to bridge their faith with their lifestyle. As such, there is a global need for Halal certified beauty ingredients. Many of our ingredients have been certified as Halal. The certifying body is dependent on the site of manufacture, however includes MUIS, JAKIM and MUI.

Visit our product finder to browse our Halal ingredients and our formulation finder for formulation inspiration.

The ISO 16128 standard comprises guidelines on definitions for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients. It offers a framework to determine the natural content of ingredients as well as formulations, to increase transparency for both manufacturers and consumers.

In our Product finder, you will find the option to filter by the different ISO 16128 categories:
• Natural Ingredient
• Organic Ingredient
• Derived Natural Ingredient
• Derived Organic Ingredient
• Derived Mineral Ingredient
You also have the option to search by the range of % Natural Origin Content.

For further information on the different category definitions please refer to the ISO 16128-1:2016 Guidelines.

Croda has been certified to deliver products containing sustainable palm oil derivatives, by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), since 2012 with the certification of our manufacturing site in Singapore. We subsequently have achieved our corporate target to have thirteen of our manufacturing sites, which handles >99% of palm derivatives, become RSPO Supply Chain Certified (RSPO SCC) according to Mass Balance (MBAL) production. In 2023, Croda sourced 88.4% of the palm oil derivative volumes that were used across our products, as Mass Balance certified.

We are also a founder member of Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD), an industry-led platform that tackles supply chain issues around palm oil and palm kernel oil derivatives, promoting responsible sourcing. ASD’s mission is to achieve a palm derivatives supply chain that upholds No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) principles, respects human rights, and supports local livelihoods.

The USDA BioPreferred Program was devised to help consumers easily distinguish products which contain a minimum level of bio-based materials. A product with this label must meet a minimum quality standard for the inclusion of biobased materials according to ASTM D6866.

Visit the USDA Biopreferred Program website for more information.

Vegan-suitable ingredients may help to meet the needs of today’s conscious consumers. To support the vegan beauty demand, we have reviewed our product portfolio according to the following criteria:
1. No animal product origin
2. No animal or animal-derived materials; processing aids and/or enzymes from dairy or other animal sources; or cultures from animal products in its manufacture
3. No animal-derived genetically modified organisms or enzymes

This review has allowed us to indicate which of our ingredients meet our vegan-suitable criteria to help with ingredient selection when formulating.