When we say ishga products are certified organic, it’s not just a label we put on our packaging - behind the message sits a rigorous certification process that looks at every ingredient, batch, label and process we use. So, what does it take to be Soil Association certified? Let’s take you behind the scenes.
COSMOS & the Soil Association
Our products are certified under two organic standards: the Soil Association’s UK Health & Beauty standard and the COSMOS Organic standard. Both standards are closely aligned and are independently audited by the Soil Association.
Ingredient standards
COSMOS certification starts with ingredients and the bar is high.
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95% of all plant-based ingredients must be organic
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95% of all physically processed agro-ingredients (such as oils, herbs and extracts) must be organic
And just as importantly, COSMOS draws firm lines around what’s not allowed:
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No genetically modified (GM) ingredients
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No controversial chemicals
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No parabens or phthalates
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No synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances
Making changes
Once a product is certified, we’re required to notify the Soil Association in advance if we want to change:
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A formula
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A packaging component
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Or the manufacturing process
It's not just about ingredients
A Soil Association audit goes far beyond what’s in the bottle...
Packaging
Every component - jars, bottles, pumps and caps - must be validated as compliant. Auditors look at indicators like:
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Recyclability
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Overall environmental footprint
Cleaning
Even the products used to clean our lab matter. Any cleaning products used on surfaces that come into contact with skincare must be COSMOS approved.
Storage and segregation
Certified products and ingredients must be clearly separated from any non-certified materials to prevent contamination and protect product integrity.
Traceability: from shore to shelf
One of the most detailed parts of the audit is traceability. We must be able to trace every ingredient, batch and product unit from it's source all the way to the end customer.
Auditors carry out batch-level trace audits, checking that:
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Stock coming into the lab matches what’s produced
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Production records match sales records
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Organic ingredients bought equal organic ingredients used
The audit
Each year, the Soil Association notifies us of our audit, although unannounced visits can also happen. They will:
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Select a random product/s for audit
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Review documents and records in advance
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Carry out a full-day on-site inspection at our lab in Stornoway
If everything meets the standard, we’re issued updated certification which is valid for one year.
Why it matters
Certification isn’t an easy route - it’s detailed, demanding and constantly evolving. It matters to us because organic skincare should be proven, not just promised and when we say an ishga product is certified organic, we want you to know exactly what stands behind those words. From shore to shelf, every step is checked - so you can enjoy skincare that’s genuinely natural, organic and results-driven.
