Natural cosmetics manufacturer Kneipp has had 16 of its best-selling products certified as microplastic-free. In future, Kneipp products across nine categories – ranging from aromatic shower gels and hand creams to body and bath oils and lip care – will bear the so-called ‘Flustix seal’. As part of the Flustix certification process, the ingredients were not only checked against the so-called INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), but also by TÜV SÜD, which has the products tested in laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. These laboratories are capable of detecting microplastic particles as small as one micrometre. All tested Kneipp products have been found to be free of microplastics, according to Kneipp.

Neither intentionally nor accidentally

No microplastics have been intentionally added to the products, nor do they contain solid microplastics that have entered the products via contaminated raw materials. “Consumers must be able to trust the credibility of our product claims,” says Sven-Olaf Hansen, Head of Marketing at the Kneipp Group. “Although certifications involve a certain amount of effort, they provide our customers with peace of mind.” Flustix uses the definition of microplastics set out in the EU’s REACH Regulation as the basis for its testing. According to this, microplastics are solid, water-insoluble plastic particles measuring up to five millimetres in size. In addition, TÜV SÜD makes a distinction between water-soluble synthetic polymers. Accordingly, the tested Kneipp cosmetic products do not contain any compounds with long chain lengths that are difficult to biodegrade.

Initiative for plastic sustainability

The Flustix initiative was founded in Berlin in 2017 and offers labelling for plastic sustainability. The seal is intended to serve as a guide for market players and consumers in making sustainable purchasing decisions and to support companies with a sustainability strategy. TÜV SÜD, with more than 200 employees in Austria, is regarded as a specialist in industry, mobility and certification, and acts as a process partner for inspections, tests and expert reports. The Kneipp Group, based in Würzburg, has stood for natural and naturopathic products for health and wellness for 135 years, based on the holistic teachings of Sebastian Kneipp.

Source: Kneipp