Comments on: Confusing green cosmetic certifications, organic standards, and you http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/ Urban environmental lifestyle blog in Los Angeles Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-293061 Siel Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:56:02 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-293061 Wait -- I never said that USDA organic certified products are "the best choice." I said if you want only organic products, look for the seal. I'm kinda getting the feeling that people are reading whatever they want to read in my post, nevermind what I actually wrote.... Wait — I never said that USDA organic certified products are “the best choice.” I said if you want only organic products, look for the seal.

I’m kinda getting the feeling that people are reading whatever they want to read in my post, nevermind what I actually wrote….

]]> By: julena http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-278637 julena Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:58:39 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-278637 They really ought to workout the certifications, cause otherwise they are just useless or misleading. Most people don't even know that certified organic only refers to percentage of ingredients. Not to mentioned that most certificate programs are not policed by anybody. They are voluntarily set up, and the promises are as good as the moral stand a company takes. PS: I know the post's been here for a while, but I just found it :-) They really ought to workout the certifications, cause otherwise they are just useless or misleading. Most people don’t even know that certified organic only refers to percentage of ingredients. Not to mentioned that most certificate programs are not policed by anybody. They are voluntarily set up, and the promises are as good as the moral stand a company takes.

PS: I know the post’s been here for a while, but I just found it :-)

]]> By: Tammi http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-272066 Tammi Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:30:59 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-272066 Great post, Siel! I agree with your very last statement that USDA cosmetics/personal care products are the best choice. I subscribe to the Precautionary Principle and don't like using products that have even one carcinogenic ingredient in it. Why take this risk? I use the Australian Miessence products because they are Organic up to food grade standards albeit a tad pricey for most. (And yes I'm an independent rep but since I'm not a sales person really haven't sold much.) No matter. I still love the products and stand behind their ingredients 100%. Organic Mind - Your statement that "nothing is 100% environmentally friendly" is false and your arguments flawed. I'd be here all night dissecting your words, but I choose to move on and use my time more productively. Please just think before you speak. Ugh. Great post, Siel! I agree with your very last statement that USDA cosmetics/personal care products are the best choice. I subscribe to the Precautionary Principle and don’t like using products that have even one carcinogenic ingredient in it. Why take this risk? I use the Australian Miessence products because they are Organic up to food grade standards albeit a tad pricey for most. (And yes I’m an independent rep but since I’m not a sales person really haven’t sold much.) No matter. I still love the products and stand behind their ingredients 100%.

Organic Mind - Your statement that “nothing is 100% environmentally friendly” is false and your arguments flawed. I’d be here all night dissecting your words, but I choose to move on and use my time more productively. Please just think before you speak. Ugh.

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-271337 Siel Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:53:38 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-271337 Um, did you actually read my post? In it, I point out that water can account for up to 80% of the organic content in these products, I say OCA warnings can be alarmist, I point out some ways where OCA seems to be adding unnecessarily to the fear and confusion, and I note that even these certifications -- although imperfect -- can steer you in the right direction in a pinch. Please read the post before going off into a rant that attacks my post by -- repeating the stuff already in my post. Um, did you actually read my post? In it, I point out that water can account for up to 80% of the organic content in these products, I say OCA warnings can be alarmist, I point out some ways where OCA seems to be adding unnecessarily to the fear and confusion, and I note that even these certifications — although imperfect — can steer you in the right direction in a pinch.

Please read the post before going off into a rant that attacks my post by — repeating the stuff already in my post.

]]> By: Organic Mind http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-271326 Organic Mind Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:20:18 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-271326 Just another point: USDA NOP program doesn't count water; so a product that has 1% of organic ingredient and 99% of water or salt could be named ORGANIC and have the USDA seal... and taking into consideration that the main ingredient of any shampoo, liquid soap (even the so called Certified organic) is water, the 10% minimum organic contend required by ECOCERT is not low at all... Educate yourself before starting spreading misleading news... OCA is being used by Dr. Bronner to promote their new line of organic soaps (that are certified by USDA). Hey do you know how much water is in it? It doesn't matter, because USDA NOP doesn't count water... Just another point: USDA NOP program doesn’t count water; so a product that has 1% of organic ingredient and 99% of water or salt could be named ORGANIC and have the USDA seal… and taking into consideration that the main ingredient of any shampoo, liquid soap (even the so called Certified organic) is water, the 10% minimum organic contend required by ECOCERT is not low at all… Educate yourself before starting spreading misleading news… OCA is being used by Dr. Bronner to promote their new line of organic soaps (that are certified by USDA). Hey do you know how much water is in it? It doesn’t matter, because USDA NOP doesn’t count water…

]]> By: Organic Mind http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-271325 Organic Mind Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:14:23 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2008/04/12/confusing-green-cosmetic-certifications-organic-standards-and-you/#comment-271325 It bothers me that once a product labels itself as green, it automatically goes under the microscope, and any flaw found is seen as a massive, news making black mark. The reality is, even with these downsides the products are still better than most mainstream products out there. When products are tested without comparison - ie. they talk about Green Shampoo X having carcinogens, but they don't talk about Mainstream Shampoo Y having twice as many carcinogens - it is misleading and quite unfair to the product, because the product is usually overall better for you and for the environment. That gets lost in the hype. The truth is, nothing is 100% environmentally friendly. Nothing comes without a cost. Yes, manufacturers need to strive to do better and better and consumers need to be aware of what we're buying. But to focus on a single flaw on a product that is at least trying to be better for the environment makes me gnash my teeth in frustration, because it is so short sighted and hurts the environmental momentum overall. Even your products, that you claim to be certified organic, use Caustic Soda or Potassium hydroxide (that are not really natural ingredients) during the soap making process. It bothers me that once a product labels itself as green, it automatically goes under the microscope, and any flaw found is seen as a massive, news making black mark. The reality is, even with these downsides the products are still better than most mainstream products out there. When products are tested without comparison - ie. they talk about Green Shampoo X having carcinogens, but they don’t talk about Mainstream Shampoo Y having twice as many carcinogens - it is misleading and quite unfair to the product, because the product is usually overall better for you and for the environment. That gets lost in the hype.

The truth is, nothing is 100% environmentally friendly. Nothing comes without a cost. Yes, manufacturers need to strive to do better and better and consumers need to be aware of what we’re buying. But to focus on a single flaw on a product that is at least trying to be better for the environment makes me gnash my teeth in frustration, because it is so short sighted and hurts the environmental momentum overall. Even your products, that you claim to be certified organic, use Caustic Soda or Potassium hydroxide (that are not really natural ingredients) during the soap making process.

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