According to the Organic Trade Association1, American consumers spend more than $43 billion on organic products. In fact, organic products are present in more than 75 percent of all categories on supermarket shelves. Millennial parents in particular are more likely to choose organic products over non-organic. Foods and personal care products make up the majority of purchases, but organic household cleaners are also entering the mix.
As a formulator, product developer, or marketing decision-maker, it is important to understand this demographic, and what is required for organic product development.
How is “organic” defined?
In order to add “organic” to a product label in the United States, the producer must follow strict guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These guidelines specify that a certain percentage of a product’s ingredients contain organic agricultural ingredients2. According to USDA3, products carrying the organic seal must meet the following requirements:
- Produced without excluded methods, (e.g., genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge).
- Produced using allowed substances4.
- Overseen by a USDA National Organic Program-authorized certifying agent, following all USDA organic regulations.
Does my organic household cleaner need to be made with 100% organic ingredients?
For the most part, if you are not certified, you must not make any organic claim on the principal display panel or use the USDA organic seal anywhere on the package3. That said, there are different categories for classifying products5.
- 100% Organic:
- All ingredients and processing aids must be certified organic.
- Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.
- Organic ingredients must be identified via asterisk or other mark.
- Organic:
- All agricultural ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on National List4.
- Non-organic ingredients allowed per National List may be used, up to a combined total of five percent of non-organic content (excluding salt and water).
- Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.
- Organic ingredients must be via identified asterisk or other mark.
- “Made With” Organic:
- At least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).
- Any remaining agricultural products must be produced without excluded methods.
- Non-agricultural products must be specifically allowed on the National List.
- Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.
- Organic ingredients must be identified via asterisk or other mark.
Why are organic household cleaners important?
In a recent Nielsen survey6, 26 percent of respondents indicated organic/all-natural ingredients are very important in their purchasing decisions. Interest in using everyday household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and ordinary soap and water is also gaining popularity, with DIY cleaning techniques showing up frequently on Pinterest.
Formulators can take advantage of these trends and interests by including these ingredients in their organic cleaning product formulations. New-product development strategies must fulfill primary needs of efficacy and value, but they also must appeal to other relevant trends like natural, ecofriendly offerings6.
What ingredients are allowed in organic formulations?
Any ingredient or mixture that USDA has declared Certified Organic may be used in organic products. The National List4 identifies the allowed and prohibited substances, while 7 C.F.R. § 205.6057 lists synthetic/non-organic and non-synthetic substances that are cleared for products labeled as “organic” or “Made with organic.”
Why is it a challenge to formulate Organic cleaning products?
The strict (and short) list of allowed substances and organically produced ingredients is only the beginning of formulation challenges. It goes beyond that. Many ingredients conventionally used in cleaning formulations aren’t allowed or don’t have effective organic replacements, such as surfactants, emulsifiers, viscosifiers, and preservatives. It is tough to compete with non-organic cleaning products containing materials whose results and user experience have consumer appeal, but aren’t as eco-friendly.
Further, Whole Foods has published a list of what they consider to be “unacceptable ingredients8” for “green cleaners,” which further ties the hands of formulators, due to the retail chain’s consumer popularity and figurehead status for those interested in natural living.
What's your experience with organic household cleaners?
While challenging to meet the strict organic standards, it can be done. We would love to hear from you on formulation challenges you have faced while creating organic household cleaners, and how you defeated them. Please contribute to the community with a comment below.
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Additional reading:
- Natural Solubilisers and Essential Oils – Are They Up to the Test?
- Natural Formulations Stand Out
- Formulating with Natural Surfactants
- Eco-Friendly Ingredients for Cleaners
References:
- Organic Trade Association: Organic Industry Infographic
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: NOP Regulations
- USDA: Organic Labeling
- USDA: National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
- USDA: Labeling Organic Products [PDF]
- Nielsen survey: “The Dirt on Cleaning: Home Cleaning/Laundry Attitutde and Trends Around the World.” [PDF]
- USDA National Organic Program: 7 C.F.R. § 205.605
- Whole Foods: Unacceptable Cleaning Product Ingredients
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Angie –
You state that there may be no front label claims on “organic” household cleaners. This is not completely correct. There is NO regulation over cosmetic or household cleaners. The only thing the USDA Standard regulates is food and the use of the USDA Organic seal.
best regards
Gay Timmons
Thank you for the clarification.
Many problems with the preservatives allowed for household cleaners. Most of them are synthetic and they cannot be used in natural formulas anche the natural ones are not listed as authorized preservatives for household cleaners…
Have you found any good alternatives, Michela?
At this moment I’m using a blend of essential oil, so I can declare “Without preservatives” on the label. 2 problems with this solution: the cost and the fragrance, that is not so bad, but cannot be used in all lines of product.
Great! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi Angie, do you know if companies in the UK have to adhere to the same kind of guidelines as the USA in order to label their products as being organic?
I am not personally familiar with European regulations, but this looks like a good place to start researching: http://www.organicresearchcentre.com/?go=Policy%20and%20debates&page=Organic%20regulations
Michela,
There are many different natural preservatives you could use instead.
Let me know if you need any suggestions.
Luisa
“There is NO regulation over cosmetic or household cleaners. The only thing the USDA Standard regulates is food and the use of the USDA Organic seal.”
This is actually old or somewhat misleading information.
The USDA Organic Seal and the agencies that approve its use have determined that it CAN be used on non-food products, and therefore any cleaning product that has the word “organic” on it anywhere has to be certified organic and have the proper documentations, certifications in place.
It is true the original government law that was passed concerning the seal only concerned organic food products. But in the meantime after the law was passed, the agencies that govern this seal determined they have jurisdiction over ALL industries, not just food. I have first hand knowledge of a case where a non-organic cleaning product labeled one of it’s dish products with the claim “Made with Organic Lavender.” The FTC made them remove that claim and change the label because it was not a certified organic product, and hence they couldn’t use the word “organic” anywhere on the label (including the ingredient list).
All of our FIT Organic cleaning products are certified USDA organic and hence we have had a lot of experience and discussions concerning this matter.
It is very true there are a LOT of formulation challenges to make effective cleaning products that are also certified organic. But we unfortunately can’t post how we overcame those challenges here – we consider those formulation inventions our critical trade secrets.
Yes, in the UK they have similar restrictions and guidelines which are governed by the UK Soil Association. The “Soil Association” seal is the equivalent to the USDA seal here.
The list of approved ingredients for the Soil Association seal is even restrictive than the USDA organic list of approved ingredients. That is, there are ingredients approved for USDA organic products that are not approve for the UK Soil Association.
Muchos son los retos de las formulaciones de productos verdes, en mi pais es el precio es uno de ellos, se encuentran lavaplatos de 2500$ de 1 litro, la industria se mueve por el menor precio, claro esta este seria un target totalmente diferente. Otro es que aca en Colombia el accseso a las materias primas organicas es mas limitado para emprendimientos. Me gusta mucho el tema y comence hace poco a investigar sobre estas formulaciones.
Diana,
Qué bueno que estás investigando como lograr tener productos que son sanos y salvos para personas y tierra igual. Yo soy la dueña de una compañia aquí en los estados unidos que tiene 2 partes:
1- Nosotros producimos y vendemos productos ya preparados para limpiar que son 100% natural y no hacen daño a personas, animales, ni a la tierra
2- Nosotros ayudamos a mujeres (particularmente las de bajos recursos) como abrir su propio negocio de producir productos de limpieza, a cambio de un chiquito porcentaje de sus ganancias.
Si usted está interesada en ser nuestro representante allá en su área de Colombia, por favor comunicarse con nosotros por e-mail a [email protected]
y pide más información. Buena suerte !