The New Natural Standard

In the spring of 2008, Badger joined a group of industry professionals to advise the Natural Products Association on the new “U.S. Natural Standard for Personal Care Products.” Currently, many products label themselves as ‘natural’ even if they are made entirely of synthetic and controversial ingredients. This confuses and misleads people who don’t know which products and brands to trust. This new natural standard with its ‘Natural Seal’ identifies products that are made with safer, environmentally benign and mostly natural ingredients, and will help people make informed purchasing decisions.

Visit the Natural Products Association website to learn the details of this new standard. Its essence is to recognize and encourage products and manufacturing processes that are responsible and sustainable. Badger holds these values in high regard. This new standard requires that at least 95% of ingredients be natural (defined by the Natural Products Association as ‘derived from a renewable resource in nature’ and on an approved list) and allows for only a few synthetic ingredients that have been proven safe (and will be phased out in two years.) Prohibited ingredients include controversial parabens, synthetic silicone, chemical sunscreens and any petroleum based ingredients. The standard also prohibits animal testing of products or ingredients.

Knowledge is power, and we encourage you to read and understand the ingredients on any products that you use on your body. You might also look for other respectable seals that also signify very natural personal care products including Organic (USDA and other country’s), BDIH (Europe’s equivalent of this new U.S. standard) and Fair Trade. Badger is working to have most of our own products USDA Certified Organic by the end of this year, with eight products already certified.

This new U.S. “Natural Standard” is an evolving process and we are already working toward making it even more natural and sustainable. In 2010, the Natural Products Association plans to unveil the second phase of this standard which will prohibit the use of the few synthetic ingredients allowed in this initial phase. Badger will be advising that the NPA adopt a “tiered” recognition of the different levels of “natural”, valuing organic agriculture and Fair Trade ingredients.

About Badger's Ingredients