SPCA
British Columbia’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has developed a food labelling system for humanely-raised meat and poultry products. Strict standards have been put in place to ensure that cheese, eggs and meat support animal welfare. These standards include no battery cages for egg-laying hens and access to pasture and/or an outdoor paddock for dairy cows.

TransFair Canada
This is a national non-profit certification and public education organization that promotes fair trade-certified products; these products include coffee, flour, rice and tea. Most fair-trade products are monitored by independent third-party agencies, which audit all requests and deem them suitable. This is so that companies don’t confuse the public by freely using the mark.

USDA Organic
This is most often found on fruit, meat and dairy, but is now being endorsed by beauty brands. This label can mean one of three things: that the product is 100 percent organic; the product contains 95 percent organic ingredients; or it’s made with organic ingredients. When you see this seal, you know the product is at least 95 percent organic.

Green Seal
Probably one of the most well-known certifications, this standard ensures that paint, laundry-care products and bathroom and glass cleaners are safe. The organization uses a life-cycle approach, meaning it evaluates a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ends with recycling and disposal.

ECOCERT
This is an independent organization that inspects textiles, as well as food and cosmetics, in more than 80 countries. In fact, ECOCERT educates consumers when it comes to a variety of fibre labels. For instance, they will state exhaustive composition details and the exact percentage of organic fibres used.

Natural Products Seal
Started by the Natural Products Association in the U.S., this certification has four cornerstones to help protect consumers and inform them of what’s in their personal care products. These guidelines include: the products must be made up of at least 95 percent natural ingredients; contain no ingredients that can be harmful to humans; utilize pure processes that don’t compromise ingredient composition; and contain ingredients that come from a renewable source like mineral.

NSF
Recently launched in February 2009, NSF International announced that if you see its logo along with the phrase “Made with Organic Personal Care Products,” rest assured that the product has at least 70 percent organic contents. Also, many experts have come on board to ensure safety — it was developed based on balanced participation from many pros including organic personal care manufacturers, trade associations and regulators.