What does it mean to be USDA Certified Organic?

What does it mean to be USDA Certified Organic?

Clean Beauty. Green Beauty. Organic Beauty. Three terms you’re probably familiar with. As our society becomes more health and environmentally conscious and the demand for eco-friendly products soars, the organic skincare movement has taken the cosmetic industry by storm.

Since 2006, Honey Girl Organics has proudly provided a healthier skincare alternative to meet these needs. But, what sets us apart from other green beauty brands? Our facility is USDA Certified Organic, meaning we meet all the criteria set forth by the USDA to handle, package, and sell organic-certified skin care.

So, what exactly does it take to be USDA Certified Organic? We’ve got all the details to help you differentiate between truly organic products and those that merely label themselves as such.

What does organic really mean? 

First things first – Organic means that all ingredients used in our products are grown without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation. Additionally, all USDA Certified Organic products are non-GMO because genetic engineering is not permitted.

Each of our organic suppliers must provide us with their Organic Certification annually. Like our certification must be updated yearly, so do our suppliers.

 

What does it take to become USDA Certified Organic? 

Our facility must pass a yearly site inspection and maintain strict and accurate monitoring of all organic ingredients and finished products to maintain our certification.

Each year, a Certifying Agent inspects our facility and evaluates our receiving, processing, and storage areas used for our organic ingredients and finished products. 

During this visit, they ensure our facility is properly maintained, all ingredients have proper labels and storage, and our employees are following adequate health and safety measures.

Next, the certifier double-checks our bookkeeping. We maintain consistency in our products by following the same recipe with every batch and recording the exact amount of each ingredient used per container. We work with our certifier to prove that the amount we make accounts for all the ingredients used. This time-consuming process ensures that our products only contain what they should.

In addition to this yearly on-site check-in, throughout the year we are uploading our labels, ingredient certificates, and other important documents for review. We provide as much information as possible to prove that our products are truly organic. 

What is ‘Greenwashing’?

Maintaining USDA Organic Certification is time-consuming and laborious, a reason why so many other companies resort to ‘greenwashing,’ a term used when a company falsely proclaims to be environmentally friendly for marketing purposes.

With so many cosmetics claiming to be “organic” or “natural,” it is vital to be able to differentiate between greenwashing marketing tactics and truly organic products. Always check for a USDA Certified Label to be sure what you consume is genuinely free of harmful pesticides and chemicals.

We believe that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it. That’s why we are committed to maintaining our USDA Organic Certification year after year. You deserve to know what is in the products you consume. We promise to always provide you with nature’s best – from our bees to your beauty routine! 

Click here to view our Organic Certification

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