Why is PureBee not certified?

This topic is not only a central question for us at PureBee, but actually for all manufacturers and importers of natural cosmetics. We regularly get the question why our products are not "certified natural cosmetics". This is not surprising, because if you take a closer look at the market, there is an abundance of seals and logos that "certify" natural cosmetics for customers. Of course, "certified natural cosmetics" first create trust and the customer feels more confident in their purchase decision. The next time you stroll through the cosmetics department of your supermarket or drugstore, pay attention to how many seals you see and how they feel in you. But can you really rely on all seals?

Since we consciously decided against certification, it is clear that we also have some points of criticism and there are reasons why we are not certified.

However, this should not be a contribution to the pros and cons of existing natural cosmetics seals and we do not want to evaluate them. Rather, we would like to explain our philosophy to you and why these seals do not suit us. "PURE. PURE NATURE. NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL." That is our motto and we live it holistically. For us, sustainability and naturalness do not stop with the ingredients of the products, but extend through the supply chain to product development and delivery to your doorstep. Most seals, however, only revolve around ingredients.

The subject of natural cosmetics certification is far more extensive than you might initially think. A certification does not necessarily say whether a product is "good" or "bad" and since transparency is important to us in all areas, we would like to disclose our reasons why we decided against it.

In order to be able to talk more precisely about the certifications, we first have to be clear about what "natural cosmetics" actually is. We also refer to our cosmetics as "natural cosmetics". For us, this means products that contain only natural ingredients and that are not harmful to our health. We think that this is also what most people understand by "natural cosmetics". However, the term natural cosmetics is not legally protected, so anyone can write it on their packaging, regardless of the ingredients it contains. So there are no legal regulations and products with harmful chemicals or synthetic substances can theoretically be called natural cosmetics.

However, all products manufactured in Europe are not tested on animals. Since March 11, 2013, animal experiments on cosmetics and their raw materials have been completely prohibited in the European Union due to the provisions of the Cosmetics Ordinance. These are legally binding bans, which means that all cosmetics manufacturers in the EU must adhere to these requirements. In the case of very large companies, especially those with sales in China, however, it is possible that animal experiments are carried out in China. As a rule, however, this does not apply to smaller manufacturers. Since we manufacture our products 100% in southern Germany, our products are of course also animal-free.

But if PureBee only offers natural, pure, environmentally friendly and cruelty-free products, why don't we have the whole thing certified by a seal?

Unfortunately, there are a huge number of certifications and seals in Germany that are intended to create trust in customers. Often the holistic sustainable philosophy is not in the foreground of these seals, but profit-oriented companies. Products with seals simply sell better than those without. For customers, however, these standards are often difficult to understand and not transparent.

With some certifiers, the standards are also significantly lower than the ones we set ourselves. In many certifications, for example, preservatives are permitted, which we categorically exclude from the start. In addition, our suppliers must also have their raw materials certified so that we can then use them. Larger raw material dealers already have the most common certificates, but we can also use raw materials from very small manufacturers who deliver very good quality and produce very high-quality raw materials, but often cannot afford certification. Because no matter which standard a certification pursues, they all have one thing in common: They are incredibly expensive.

These are the main reasons why we have so far decided against certification, even though our cosmetics are pure, natural and sustainable.

For us, the production of cosmetics is not just about the raw materials used, we also pursue a more holistic concept. Both the environmental compatibility of the raw material and the skin compatibility play a very important role, not only in the end product, but in the entire product development through to packaging and shipping. Before a product comes onto the market, we give a lot of thought to all aspects. Of course, the ingredients also play a very important role: How can the raw materials be best obtained? How can production be optimized? What are the production conditions like? How can we pack the products in the most environmentally friendly way? How can the products best be shipped? These are just a few of the questions that are part of a comprehensive concept for us and that are often not so strongly represented in the certifications.

That is an important and legitimate question! Unfortunately, it is incredibly difficult for consumers to keep track of which seal corresponds to their own standards. In the end it is up to you to check the ingredients of the products and to form your own opinion. At PureBee we always try to make this as easy as possible for our customers. In addition to the legally required INCI, we always print the German names directly on the packaging and on the product pages you will find an additional explanation of why this ingredient is actually contained and what it should do on the skin or in the product. Then everyone can judge for themselves whether the product is "good" or "bad" for them and you do not have to rely on the seal, but can make your own decision.