September is Australian Organic Awareness Month so in celebration of all things organic, we want to clarify the meaning of Certified Organic, what our responsibility as a Certified Organic brand is and it is so important to our values as a brand.

In recent years, the term organic has become a buzzword, especially with labelling standards open to all sorts of interpretation, so what does that mean for products?

Organic vs Certified Organic

There are 3 classes of the organic product recognised by certifying bodies around the world these are:

1. Under 70% organic content is to be described as non-organics

2. Over 70% is described as containing Certified Organic ingredients

3. Over 95% of organic content can be termed Certified Organic.

All Sanctum products are over 70% with many over the 95% threshold.

Certified Organic

The term ‘Certified Organic’ means the farm, product or service has been independently verified by a third-party certification body. These are the different logos you see on the packaging of Certified Organic products. This means the whole supply chain has been through rigorous testing and adheres to strict standards.

Due to the lack of regulation in Australia, brands/products often greenwash customers and it can get confusing!. Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company's products are more environmentally sound, this includes organic claims.

This reiterates the importance of certifying bodies and their corresponding logos. This helps consumers to ensure they are getting products that are truly certified organic

The benefits of choosing certified organic are plentiful... 

No nasties

Certified Organic means no pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other additives or chemicals which can be related to health concerns. The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that these health concerns could include cancer, effects on reproduction, immune and nervous system.

Better for your skin, better for you

Our skin is our largest organ, and just like our stomach with food, our skin absorbs the products we use and responds accordingly. Certified Organic is the safest option. Many reactions, redness and sensitivities can be caused by chemicals such as fragrances or parabens. 

Better for the environment.

Organic production systems tend to be less intensively managed (fewer inputs) than conventional production systems. This assists with a reduction in greenhouse gases and enhances the maintenance of biodiversity. When buying Certified Organic products, you are supporting an earth-conscious industry. 

Sanctum

Our entire range has been Certified Organic since 2006 and obtaining this certification is a rigorous process, including random manufacturing audits. This means we have to abide by strict processes which are time consuming and expensive, but we believe are critical to be true to our beliefs and offer a product which is genuinely transparent.

Whats more our decision to become Certified Organic was without compromise. We maintain the integrity and effectiveness of our products, so you don’t compromise the results on your skin.. 

The marketing industry is a noisy one and hard to ignore! It is especially loud when it comes to health trends and quick fixes, often leaving us feeling overwhelmed.

An easy rule of thumb is to buy Certified Organic as it promotes a healthier general lifestyle and more sustainable use of natural resources. Better for us and Mother Earth (A win-win)!