Global Vegan Certification Trends. The era of vegetarianism, which goes beyond a vegetarian diet by eating plants or fruits, has begun, where skin care and adornment are made with plant ingredients. Veganism, which started in Europe and America, is expanding into veganism in line with the movement to protect animal rights and avoid cosmetics made of animal products. Thus providing its way for manufacturing large range of vegan cosmetics products, and it is where BeVeg opens entry for vegan products into US vegan market, by providing certification and competitive edge for vegan cosmetics products to enter US market.
Veganism has established itself as a trend that affects not only food, but also cosmetics, fashion, and household items, as well as overall life. In particular, the MZ generation embraces the vegan lifestyle as a routine and a ritual, and embraces it deeply in their daily lives.
Global trends are also in line. The vegan cosmetics market is growing every year. Statista, a global market research firm, estimated the size of the global vegan cosmetics market to be 17 trillion won last year. The vegan cosmetics market is expected to reach 23 trillion won by 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 6.3%. Latest growth in the market shows the opportunity for vegan cosmetics product, which can be availed as BeVeg opens entry for vegan products into US vegan market for wide variety of vegan products including vegan cosmetics.
In the US, the craze for vegan cosmetics is strong. ‘Eco-friendly’, ‘sustainability’, ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘plant-based’ have emerged as representative keywords of the US beauty market. This is why domestic companies that are about to export to the United States should pay attention to vegan certification.
The BeVeg system, a representative vegan certification used in the US and global markets, will be implemented for the first time in Korea. NSF International (CEO Yang Kyung-hee) announced that it will officially operate BeVeg, a US cosmetic vegan certification.
BeVeg, a US vegan certification, is applied not only to cosmetics, but also to foods, health functional foods, and pharmaceuticals. BeVeg is provided from finished cosmetic products to processes and services. It is an international standard that guarantees the vegan conformity of products and manufacturing processes. Cosmetic brand companies, raw material companies, manufacturing plants, subdivision companies, and distributors can acquire BeVeg certification.
In particular, BeVeg follows the global standard set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). NSF International is the only certification body in Korea that has obtained ‘ISO/IEC 17065’. ‘ISO/IEC 17065’ is granted to a certification body whose conformity has been guaranteed by the International Organization for Standardization.
NSF International is a strategy to broaden the way for Korean domestic cosmetics companies to export to the US by introducing BeVeg, a credible US vegan certification.
NSF International and TNC Certification Institute held a seminar on ‘Vegan Certification for American Market Entry’ at Samsung-dong, Seoul.
In this seminar, △ U.S. consumption trends and benefits of BeVeg certification (NSF International branch manager Yang Kyung-hee) △ BeVeg certification standards and requirements (NSF International product certification team leader Lee Sang-hyo) △ preparations for vegan certification (Kim Kwan-jung, Ph.D., TNC Certification Institute) were explained.
TNC Certification Institute, a cosmetics and food consulting agency, is in charge of marketing and consulting for BeVeg certification in cooperation with NSF International.
Hong Young-bae, CEO of TNC Certification Institute, said, “K-beauty and K-food are popular amid the K-culture craze. In line with the value consumption trend, consumer interest in vegan certification has also increased. At this seminar, we will accurately inform the American market entry points and BeVeg certification.”
An official from NSF International said, “NSF is a non-profit organization that develops and enacts US national and international standards. It is certified organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is also responsible for inspecting and examining the safety and quality of food and water.”
He continued, “NSF International, the Korean branch of NSF, is in charge of operating BeVeg, a US vegan certification. A domestic cosmetic brand must understand the qualifications of an examination agency before receiving vegan certification. It is helpful for export by carefully examining whether it is a vegan certification that is practically used abroad and whether it meets international standards,” he said.
Lastly, “BeVeg is the only global vegan certification that has obtained ISO/IEC 17065. BeVeg opens entry for vegan products into US vegan market, for getting certification of wide variety of vegan products, including vegan cosmetics. It has high reliability in the global market including the US. Products bearing the BeVeg mark can gain public confidence from consumers around the world.”