organic soap

Organic Soap Claims - Lathering A Controversy?

In August 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended its policy statement to include organic claims on personal healthcare products that have met the organic standards of formulation and manufacturing laid down by the National Organics Program (NOP), a division of the USDA. While this came as great news to personal healthcare manufacturers, it also created a great deal of confusion and controversy.

The Food and Drugs Administration does not define or regulate the term "organic" as it applies to cosmetics, body care, or personal care products. As a result, both manufacturers and consumers are confused as to what qualifies the "organic" label on personal healthcare products. There are private interpretations for the "organic" label on personal healthcare products and as a result, third party organic certifications can be obtained. But without any qualifying standards, an "organic" claim on a personal healthcare product may mean little or nothing.

Getting Organic on Soap

In April 2008, the NOP released a news bulletin clarifying the USDA standards for organic certification of cosmetics, body care products and personal care products. The USDA is responsible for all "organic" claims on food products, but is currently not enforcing the same standards on personal healthcare products labeled "organic" as it does on organic foods and dietary supplements.

The issue with soap is one of the major controversies. Some view that the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) does not allow soap manufacturers to put any organic claims either "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" on soap products. They believe that any soap product that claims to be "organic" is violating the OFPA. The NOP differs with this viewpoint and has drafted a document that supports the interpretation of the OFPA to allow organic certification and labeling of soap products formulated and manufactured in conformity to the regulations laid down by the NOP.

In July 2009 the NOP addressed the soap issue and a guideline has been drafted to be used by certifying agents accredited by the USDA, to certify and label soap products (made in accordance with NOP regulations) as "organic" or "made with organic ingredients". Whether the Food and Drugs Administration will agree with these guidelines is yet to be seen. NOP regulations describe a consistent, uniform policy for the formulation and manufacturing of a finished product, without specifying the finished product. This allows a wide variety of products to be labeled "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" regardless of the end use of the product. Therefore, based on true organic component content, a soap product may be eligible, under USDA, for "made with organic ingredients" certification if, for example, a product is made from 75 percent organic ingredients and 25 percent allowed synthetic ingredients.

The Need for a Complete Policy on Personal Healthcare Products

Many in the industry argue that federal standards for organic certification should be weaker than those set for foods. Others believe that regardless of whether a product is to be ingested or topically applied, both have the potential to cause equally hazardous side effects, and therefore an organics certification standard that can be applied across the board for both food and personal healthcare products should be in effect.

One of the major tasks the NOP has on hand is to set guidelines and develop clear policies for organic claims of personal healthcare products and propose these to the Food and Drugs Administration. The need is to develop a complete federal government policy for personal healthcare products. Many manufacturers are of the opinion that the clear regulations the NOP has outlined for organic foods and nutritional supplements should be adopted for personal healthcare products as well.

Should soap that is formulated with certified organic oils and materials be labeled as "organic" or "made with organic ingredients"?

Many soap manufacturers concur with the NOP's interpretation of the OFPA and see the need for a more regulatory policy on organic certification for personal healthcare products. The implementation of these policies will, in the long run, boost the high quality standards of the term "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" label claims for personal healthcare products. Consumers will be able to recognize organic components in the product as well as synthetic ingredients in all products whether they are to be ingested or topically applied. Industry experts predict that these changes, when formalized by the Food and Drugs Administration, will boost the credibility of the personal healthcare industry and result in greater consumer trust and higher growth prospects.

Why Make Organic Soap

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Neolia Organic Olive Oil Soap 8 Olive Oil and Aloe Vera Bars + 2 Olive Oil & Shea Butter Bars. Sale Price: $27.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Neolia Organic Olive Oil Soap 8 Olive Oil and Aloe Vera Bars + 2 Olive Oil and Shea Butter Bars (Total 50 Oz./1.4 kg). Fresh fragrance. Rich lather. Long-lasting. Gentle and hypo-allergenic. Free of animal ingredients. Not tested on animals. Features Made with 100% organic all natural Italian extra virgin olive oil. For dry skin. Enriched with shea butter. Gentle for everyday use. Enriched with aloe vera. Fresh fragrance. Rich lather. Long-lasting. Gentle and hypo-allergenic. Free of animal ingredients. Not tested on animals. Includes 8 Olive Oil and Aloe Vera Bars + 2 Olive Oil and Shea Butter Bars (Total 50 Oz./1.4 kg).

Nature's Gate Organics Liquid Hand Soap, Lavender & Aloe, 12-Ounce Bottles, (Pack of 3) List Price: $20.97 Sale Price: $20.87 You save: $0.10 (%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Made with certified organic botanicals. Nature's Gate Organics Lavender & Aloe Liquid Hand Soap cleanses thoroughly and leaves hands feeling soft and pampered. Rich in certified organic botanicals of Sage, Licorice, Juniper Berry and Lavender so skin will Features Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients

Nature's Gate Organics Liquid Hand Soap, Lemongrass & Clary Sage, 12-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3) List Price: $20.97 Sale Price: $16.24 You save: $4.73 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Made with certified organic botanicals. Nature's Gate Lemongrass & Clary Sage Liquid Hand Soap cleanses thoroughly and leaves hands feeling soft and pampered. Rich in certified organic botanicals of Rosemary, Hops and Comfrey so skin will feel silky and s Features Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients

Wild Natural Beauty Honey Bar Soap, 2 Pack - 100% Organic - Sulfate Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free Sale Price: $7.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Wild Natural Beauty's Honey Bar takes the exfoliant properties of cornmeal combined with honey's moisturizing elements and clove oil's astringent benefits to create a great soap for combination skin. Wild Natural Beauty's Bar Soaps are sulfate free; meaning no irritants on your skin. This soap is painstakingly created to yield a smooth, mild, and long-lasting product. Our soaps are 100% organic, paraben free, phthalate free and sulfate free. Excellent for sensitive skin. Made in USA. Cruelty Free. Wild Natural Beauty is Cruety-Free company, GenGreen Bronze Certified Business and a member of Green America's Green Business Network. Our Certified Vegan products are certifed through VeganCosmetics.org. Features 100% Organic 2 Bar Pack Paraben, Sulfate and Phthalate Free Excellent for Sensitive Skin

Pangea Organics Bar Soap, Italian White Sage, Geranium & Yarrow, 3.75-Ounce Box List Price: $8.00 Sale Price: $7.97 You save: $0.03 (%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Italian White Sage, Geranium & Yarrow Features Cold processed. Aromatherpeutic: Uplifting Topically: Balancing Anti-oxidant, calming and healing. Toning and rejuvenating. Anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying. Plantable box that will grow flowering Amaranth.

Sudz by Kiss My Face Organic Bar Soap, In the Pink, Grapefruit & Lemon, 8-Ounce Bars (Pack of 6) Sale Price: $29.70   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description In the Pink Bar Soap very gently exfoliates and cleanses with natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids in a certifie dorganic base of pure Palm Oil and Glycerine. A natural vegetable based soap that's creamy, rich lathering and preservative free. Features Alpha Hydroxy Acids Grapefruit & Lemongrass

Wild Natural Beauty Soothing Bar Soap, 2 Pack - Organic - Sulfate Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free Sale Price: $7.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Wild Natural Beauty's Soothing Bar is a mild and hypoallergenic bar, perfect for the most sensitive of skin types. Wild Natural Beauty's Bar Soaps are sulfate free; meaning no irritants on your skin. This soap is painstakingly created to yield a smooth, mild, and long-lasting product. Our soaps are organic, paraben free, phthalate free and sulfate free. Excellent for sensitive skin. Certified Vegan. Made in USA. Cruelty Free. Wild Natural Beauty is Cruety-Free company, GenGreen Bronze Certified Business and a member of Green America's Green Business Network. Our Certified Vegan products are certifed through VeganCosmetics.org. Features 2 Bar Pack Paraben, Sulfate and Phthalate Free Excellent for Sensitive Skin Certified Vegan

EO Hand Soap, Refill Size, Peppermint & Tea Tree, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2) List Price: $30.18 Sale Price: $27.76 You save: $2.42 (8%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Naturally antiseptic & gentle with pure essential oils & organic herbal infusions. Two hands and some soap. Nothing special until they get all mixed up together and then the hands really become something. Clean, refreshed, relaxed and ready to become mixe Features Pack of 2 32-ounce bottles (total of 64-ounces) Unique combination of pure essential oils and nourishing herbal blends to effectively cleanse without drying your hands Creates the gentlest, most effective and richly foaming soaps available Naturally antiseptic; balancing and refreshing Doesnot contain irritating sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates

EO Foaming Hand Soap, Coconut & Vanilla with Organic Tangerine, 8.5-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2) List Price: $17.98 Sale Price: $17.62 You save: $0.36 (2%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description EO's foaming hand and body soap lathers up instantly right out of the bottle-all bubbly, light and playful. KIDS LOVE IT-smells yummy, safe for all ages and foams up for instant good clean fun. There's just something about instant bubbles that creates a Features EO Organic Herbal Blend is soothing and healing Coconut Cleansing Complex creates the most gentle and effective foaming soap without irritating sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates. Fun. Foaming. Fragrant. Certified Organic Manufacturer and Green Business Yummy Coconut, Vanilla & Organic Tangerine scent

Wild Natural Beauty Spice Bar Soap, 2 Pack - Organic - Sulfate Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free Sale Price: $7.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Wild Natural Beauty's Spice Bar is naturally deodorizing with a stimulating scent; great for normal to oily skin. Wild Natural Beauty's Bar Soaps are sulfate free; meaning no irritants on your skin. This soap is painstakingly created to yield a smooth, mild, and long-lasting product. Our soaps are organic, paraben free, phthalate free and sulfate free. Excellent for sensitive skin. Certified Vegan. Made in USA. Cruelty Free. Wild Natural Beauty is Cruety-Free company, GenGreen Bronze Certified Business and a member of Green America's Green Business Network. Our Certified Vegan products are certifed through VeganCosmetics.org. Features 2 Bar Pack Paraben, Sulfate and Phthalate Free Excellent for Sensitive Skin Certified Vegan