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What parents should know about organic labels
How organic is organic? What parents should know about organic labels
According to the latest figures, more than 106,000 different products in Germany carried an organic label in 2023 - in the food sector alone.1 Not only the number, but also the rate of growth is impressive: In 2010, there were just over 61,000 products, an increase of more than 40 percent. The statistics are an impressive indicator of the growing importance of the organic label.
And what applies to the market as a whole is particularly important in our sector: when it comes to their kids, parents - for understandable reasons - set high standards for the products with which they surround their little ones on a daily basis. It can be assumed that, in addition to sustainability, organic quality plays an important role in purchasing decisions - not only for food, but also for textiles, care products, etc. across all segments.
However, as the organic concept has boomed, more and more labels have entered the market competing for consumers' trust. Consumers are increasingly faced with the question: which labels are trustworthy?
Food: Strict standards for safe nutrition
Whether it's infant formula in the first few months of life or the first baby food, there are few areas where parents are as concerned about product quality and safety as they are about nutrition. No wonder, as experts attach particular importance to nutrition in the first years of life. Babies' and toddlers' organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are not fully developed and therefore less able to break down chemicals and toxins than adults'.
he standard labels for organic quality in the food sector are the German bio-label and the European Union organic label, which are equivalent to each other. Products bearing these seals must meet the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation - including the absence of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers, animal welfare and low use of additives. Product ingredients must come from farms that are 95 percent organic.
In addition, there are the organic standards of the German agricultural associations, which are awarded according to even stricter criteria. The best known are demeter, Bioland, Naturpark and Naturland.
Textiles: Skin contact? Only without harmful substances!
More and more parents are aware that what babies and toddlers wear so close to their skin, such as their everyday clothing, should be safe and as free from harmful substances as possible. In the past, a number of reliable textile labels have been established to give parents peace of mind when choosing clothing, but also bedding, sleeping bags, etc., or upholstery fabrics for strollers and baby car seats.
One of the best-known labels and almost a minimum requirement for baby textiles is the Oeko Tex Standard 100, which certifies textiles according to globally valid criteria and limit values. The standard has four product classes based on skin contact, with baby clothing in Class I and being the most strictly regulated.
The following labels go even further, covering the entire textile value chain, setting high ecological and social standards, and are considered trustworthy:
- GOTS-label, Global Organic Textile Standard: globally applied standard for the processing of textiles made from organically produced natural fibers.
- OEKO-Tex Made in Green-label: goes beyond the well-known Oeko-Tex Standard 100; all materials tested for harmful substances, strict regulation of chemicals
- IVN Best-label for natural textiles: mainly represented in Europe, certification by the International Association of the Natural Textile Industry (IVN) exclusively for textiles made from natural fibers whose source material is 100 % organically grown; in addition, there are strict social standards.
Baby care: Label of quality for lotions & co
Experts advise the principle of "less is more" when it comes to baby care. Anything that ends up on baby's still particularly sensitive and permeable skin in the form of bath oils, shampoos or lotions should be strictly tested. But how do parents find safe products in the wide range on offer? Caution is definitely advised, as terms such as "natural", "organic" and "natural cosmetics" are not legally protected for care products and can be misleading. Quality seals can also help here: The BDIH-label (BDIH = Bundesverband Deutscher Industrie- und Handelsunternehmen für Arzneimittel, Reformwaren, Nahrungsergänzung und Körperpflege) or the ECOCERT certificate guarantee that a product has actually been produced organically. Certified natural cosmetics are produced according to strict guidelines and may also bear the demeter label, for example. Certified products are free from synthetic fats, fragrances and colorants, developed without genetic engineering and without animal testing. The NATRUE-label is also an independent label and stands for the guarantee of natural and organic ingredients and the positioning against greenwashing.
And what about "organic-washing"?
Consumers are on the safe side with the organic labels mentioned above. However, if you look carefully at the wide range of baby and toddler products, you will find many other labels promising organic quality. It is difficult for customers to know whether this really means organic production and strict limits on harmful substances. When in doubt, it is worthwhile to do some research or simply asking the supplier critically before making a purchase. After all, perhaps the most important currency in our industry is the trust of parents - and no company can afford to gamble that away with "organic washing”.
