The company says that the certification came about following a detailed process that included an in depth examination of its plants in Essen and Duisburg, Germany, to ensure that all the production methods were in line with Islamic law.
Evonik says that the Halal certification covers a wide range of multipurpose ingredients produced at the two facilities, including a range of Esters, Glycolesters, Zince Ricinoleates and Fatty Ethoxylates.
Produced according to what is Halal permissible
To gain the certification, the company had to ensure that the manufacturing process for the ingredient does not include any impurities according to Islamic law, while also ensuing that such impurities will at no point come into contact with any part of the manufacturing process.
Muslim certification experts inspected the facilities last month and inspected the list of materials and additives involved in the production process, before granting the Halal certification, which is formed by several Islamic representative groups in both Germany and Austria.
“With this certification we have achieved an important step to
significantly expand our business opportunities for oleochemicals
based ingredients for personal care in the globally emerging
markets”, said Dr. Klaus Jenni, senior product compliance manager
of Evonik Personal Care.
Halal Cosmetics on the up and up
According to a recent Organic Monitor report, halal products are becoming more popular with international manufacturers and suppliers, and an increasing preference for natural and organic products in the Middle East has seen the sector grow by 20 per cent in 2011.
Last year a report by the University of Malaysia Perlis revealed that as cosmetic companies begin to tap into this significant market, the segment, although noted as doing particularly well in the Middle East, is also growing on a global basis and is estimated as worth between €5bn-€14bn.
The demand is said to be coming from increased consumer knowledge of the ingredients used in halal formulations and the way they are produced, while organic ingredient concepts are thought to be along the same principles