Our Soil Association Accreditations | What Do They Really Mean?

In our previous blog, we explored why accreditation matters and our partnership with the Soil Association. Today, we want to go a step further and explain the different certifications we hold, what they stand for, and how they directly benefit you as a customer.

Soil Association certifications may look technical, but behind each one is a guarantee of quality, authenticity, and sustainability. By understanding these accreditations, you can feel confident that the ingredients you source from O&3 meet the very highest organic and natural standards.

Our key Soil Association accreditations

COSMOS ACS

Products under this certification:

• Have been independently assessed and approved for use in natural or organic cosmetics.
• Are fully traceable from origin to supply chain.
• Can be safely used in certified organic formulations without jeopardising compliance.

What this means for our customers – When building formulations, you don’t have to second-guess whether an ingredient meets certification rules. If it’s COSMOS ACS, you know it’s safe, sustainable, and ready for inclusion in certified products.

COSMOS Natural – TC

Products under this certification are made from natural-origin ingredients but not necessarily organic but still responsibly sourced and have been produced with:

• No GMOs, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, or controversial synthetics.
• Production methods that protect biodiversity and minimise environmental impact.
• Clear, honest labelling for consumers.

What this means for our customers – if you want to launch products that are rooted in natural integrity (but aren’t positioned as organic), COSMOS Natural – TC gives you confidence that you are still buying something sustainable and certified.

COSMOS CI – TS24

Awarded to finished cosmetic products that meet the strict COSMOS Organic standard. It confirms that:

• A significant percentage of the total product is organic (with strict minimum thresholds).
• The rest of the formulation is natural and sustainably sourced.
• Packaging, processing, and labelling follow rigorous organic rules.

What this means for our customers – These products are organic, independently verified, and produced to a high standard.

COSMOS CI – TS25

• TS25 is very similar to TS24, but the technical rules differ slightly depending on the product category. For example, certain formulations (such as wash-off products or those with higher water content) fall under TS25 rather than TS24. Both are COSMOS Organic certifications.

What this means for our customers – TS24 and TS25 ensure that different categories are judged fairly but consistently, so you can expand across product ranges with confidence.

Soil Association Organic Food and Farming Certification

Unlike the COSMOS accreditations for cosmetics, this certification applies to organic food and drink products. Means that O&3 has been:

• Inspected against Soil Association Organic Standards.
• Found compliant with retained EU Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008.
• Officially recognised under Article 29(1) of these regulations.

What this means for our customers – When sourcing organic food ingredients from O&3, you know they’ve been certified at every stage of production and handling. It’s an assurance that your food products are organic, legally compliant, and trustworthy.

Why this matters for you as our customer

Accreditations can seem like a box-ticking exercise, but they are far more than that. Each one represents a promise to you:

• Trust

every ingredient has been independently verified.

• Transparency

you can confidently tell your customers where products come from and how they’re made.

• Compliance

your formulations won’t run into issues when seeking certification for finished products.

• Sustainability

certifications prove our shared commitment to protecting people and the planet.

O&3 thoughts…

As consumer demand grows, so does scrutiny. Certifications like these make claims credible and set products apart in a crowded marketplace. Whether you’re developing an organic skincare line, launching a natural cosmetics range, or creating certified organic food products, our Soil Association accreditations assure you that that the ingredients you receive are backed by strong assurances.

Join us this Organic September and beyond, as we raise standards and shape a more sustainable future.