OASIS Organic Standard Launched

MILPITA, Calif.—OASIS, an organic standard for the U.S. beauty and personal care market, was formed and launched by a group of concerned trade professionals representing the beauty and personal care industry supply chain. The organization’s mission is to provide verifiable standards that support and promote organic and sustainable production for the beauty and personal care industry, utilizing principles of incremental improvement and continuous change. “The beauty of OASIS is that as an industry consensus standard its members range from large, global brands such as Estee Lauder Companies and L’Oreal to third party and private label manufacturers to smaller, specialist brands such as Perfect Organics and Juice Beauty,” said Gay Timmons, chairperson of OASIS and founder of Oh, Oh Organics.

OASIS was formed primarily from 30 founding membersfrom suppliers, manufacturers and distributors—working together to set standards and clarity for organic beauty products. “Until today, the US has not had a dedicated organic standard for the beauty and personal care industry,” said Tim Kapsner, founding member of OASIS and senior research scientist for Aveda. “In absence of a true industry standard, companies applied the USDA Organic food standard for beauty and personal care ingredients and products. But the USDA’s food standards were never designed for this industry, and its strict guidelines limit even certain types of ‘green chemistry’ and pose significant challenges for those seeking to create certified products.”

At launch time, OASIS will require 85 percent certified organic content, which will likely increase as “green chemistry” continues to evolve. The organization aims to improve standards to the benefit of the manufacturer, the consumer and the environment. Member experience with ECOCERT, the prevailing European standard and certification process, and the USDA’s National Organic Program has helped tailor the standard, which is the first of several standards that the group plans to create within the field of sustainability.