Logona  has been a strong supporter of the European movement to define and regulate the term natural personal care ("Naturkosmetik"). Consumer confident had suffered over years because of its rampant misuse by manufacturers. To address this problem, German  trade association  BDIH worked diligently to define border between natural and conventional personal care products. The BDIH formulated a set of guideline to which products must comply in order to receive the BDIH Seal of Approval. Manufacturers must submit their nominated products to an independent laboratory for analysis. If the lab results comply with the guidelines, the product receives the BDIH Seal.

Below are BDIH minimum requirements to receive the BDIH seal of approval :

1.Botanical  ingredients - Use of  botanical ingredients whenever possible is encouraged. Plants should be grown organically or wild -harvested, although consideration is given for alternatives based on quality and availability.

2.Animal Protection Issues - No testing on animals, whether conducted by manufacturer or outsourced to a third party. Also, no ingredient or raw materials derived from vertebrates, such as animal fats or oils, animal collagen or spermaceti, may be used.

3.Mineral ingredients - The use of inorganic salts, such as magnesium sulfate and mineral ingredients, such as sodium chloride , is generally allowed.

4.Restricted Ingredients - Emulsifying agents and surfactants may be used if they are obtained by hydrolysis, hydrogenation, esterification or trans-esterification of the following materials : fats, oils and waxes; lecithin, lanolin. monosaccharides , oligosacchrides, polysaccharides; proteins and lipoproteins.

5.Unacceptable ingredients - Synthetic coloring agents; synthetic fragrances, ethoxylated ingredients ; silicones ; paraffin and other petroleum products. The criterion for permitted fragrances is the ISO Norm 9235.

6.Preservatives - Certain preservatives identical to those found in nature are allowed along with natural preservation systems for the safety and stability of the product. These include: benzoic acid ,its salts and ethly esters; salicylic acid and its salts ; ascorbic acid and its salts ;benzyl alcohol.

7.Irradiation - Sterilization of natural ingredients and their cosmetic end products through radioactive treatment is not allowed.

8.Independent laboratory certification - The independent testing institute Ecocontrol in Osterode, Germany evaluates the compliance of the above criteria. Compliance with the criteria is rewarded with the BDIH  " Certified Natural Cosmetic" seal.

BDIH also recommends compliance with following supplemental criteria :

• full ingredient disclosure

• avoidance of genetically-engineered ingredients

• environmental responsibility regarding raw materials, manufacturing and packaging

• social responsibility regarding domestic employees and with 3rd World suppliers of raw materials