Ecocert Ecodetergents Certification Service for Cleaning Products

The eco-friendly cleaning products market does not compete on fragrance or cleaning power alone. Competition centers on ingredient transparency, environmental impact management, and the credibility of label communication, particularly as brands expand into modern trade retail channels, cross-border e-commerce, or B2B business where supporting documentation is required.

Having an environmental label backed by a proper verification system reduces the risk of overclaiming and turns “sustainability” into information that is auditable, not just marketing language.

Within Ecocert’s homecare product standards, Ecodetergents is one of the most widely applied categories. Ecocert defines the key framework as encompassing environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, promotion of natural and organic ingredient sourcing, responsible resource management, and the restriction or control of certain ingredient categories, all to ensure that label communication rests on verifiable evidence.

Ecocert’s key strength lies in being a Certification Body with an established international network. Ecocert notes its experience in inspection and certification across France and “more than 130 countries,” making the assessment process well-suited to businesses operating across borders.

Ecocert also maintains a certified entity database listing the names and certification status of approved businesses, so trade partners and consumers can independently verify a brand’s standing. This reduces the risk of overclaiming and builds credibility on a factual basis.

In practice, businesses that typically pursue Ecodetergents certification include manufacturers of laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, floor and bathroom cleaners, multipurpose cleaning products, and other homecare products seeking to raise the standard of ingredient sourcing and label communication.

The most cost-effective starting point, however, is not necessarily immediate submission. The recommended first step is a gap assessment to determine which aspects need addressing before the formal certification process begins, including a review of the formula (ingredients and proportions), verification of supplier documentation and readiness, and an assessment of manufacturing records and lot traceability documentation at the production facility.

The Ecodetergents standard places emphasis on 4 areas:

1. Ingredient selection and origin
2. Restrictions on certain ingredient categories
3. Manufacturing methods and quality control
4. Label consistency and communication

Ecocert specifies that this standard focuses on environmentally responsible manufacturing processes and promotes the use of natural and organic ingredients. The key question for brands is therefore not simply “do we want the label,” but “are we ready to bring our ingredient systems and documentation to an auditable standard?”

To ensure label claims have a substantiated basis, Ecocert specifies that Ecodetergents operates across 2 label tiers, each with clear numerical thresholds and governance parameters that support careful and auditable communication:

Tier 1: The “Ecodetergents” Label

• Requires an emphasis on natural-origin ingredients; synthetic ingredients are permitted up to a maximum of 5% and must appear on a restricted approved list.
• Environmental claims considered at risk of overclaiming are not permitted on labels or product materials.

Tier 2: The “Ecodetergents Made with Organic” Label

• Requires at least 95% of ingredients from natural origins.
• Requires at least 10% certified organic ingredients.
• At-risk environmental claims are equally not permitted on labels.

From a business perspective, these thresholds give brand teams a clearer framework for managing label language risk. Claims become tied to auditable criteria rather than open-ended interpretations, which is a meaningful distinction in markets where scrutiny of environmental claims is increasing.

In practice, the primary challenge lies in supply chain management: obtaining the right documentation from ingredient suppliers, verifying origins, and categorizing ingredients in a way that aligns with the standard’s criteria. Many formulas require a review of certain ingredient groups that may fall under restricted categories, which calls for both an R&D lens and a documentation lens to ensure that formula adjustments are genuinely aligned with certification requirements, not simply reworded descriptions.

One of the key accelerators for a successful certification outcome is preparing a complete and well-organized Technical File from the outset. This typically covers formulas and ingredient specifications, safety data sheets or supplier specification documents, manufacturing procedures, quality controls, lot traceability records, and sample label copy or communication drafts. A documentation-ready approach reduces back-and-forth exchanges with the certification body and helps international assessments proceed within the planned timeline.

The Ecodetergents certification application is best managed as a structured project with clear phases:

1. Readiness assessment
2. Closing gaps in formula and documentation
3. Submitting the application and document file
4. Preparing the team for the audit
5. Addressing observations raised (if applicable)
6. Establishing systems to maintain the standard for annual surveillance

A common concern among brands is “how do we communicate without risk?” The safest approach is to communicate only what the standard and certificate substantiate, with claims traceable to a verified inspection process. Ecocert’s certified entity database gives trade partners and consumers a way to independently confirm whether a brand or manufacturer holds a given standard, including Ecodetergents.

Ecocert also notes that Ecodetergents certification is aligned with ISO 14024, the framework for multi-criteria environmental labels that require third-party verification. This means the certification is not based on a single attribute but on a comprehensive set of criteria backed by independent audit, which meaningfully reduces the risk of overclaiming in practice.

This is why “certification” is fundamentally different from “a claim”: it carries verifiable evidence and a traceable system behind it, reducing the risk of miscommunication or misinterpretation at both ends.

TIBD works with Ecocert as a Strategic Partner, supporting Thai clients throughout the project lifecycle by translating standard requirements into practical, auditable actions from start to finish.

TIBD’s scope of work typically covers initial readiness assessment, gap assessment, organizing documentation and project plans in a format aligned with the certification body’s requirements, managing technical questions with the relevant team, preparing the team and facility for the audit, and following up on any observations raised to keep the process moving forward in sequence with minimal revision rounds.

The inspection and issuance of certification remain the direct responsibility of the Certification Body within Ecocert’s system, not TIBD.

If you are a brand owner or cleaning product manufacturer seeking to raise the credibility of your products in the eco-friendly cleaning category, the Ecodetergents certification framework provides a structured system covering everything from ingredients and manufacturing processes to technical documentation and label communication. At its core, the aim is to make every label claim traceable through the process of an internationally recognized certification body.

If you are ready to start the Ecocert certification process for Ecodetergents, or would like to begin with a gap assessment to inform your decision, TIBD’s team is ready to support you with documentation planning, project organization, and step-by-step coordination with the certification body, so you can achieve a verifiable result and communicate on your labels with confidence. [Contact TIBD]