Our process
What Does Certified Organic Really Mean?
You see the word “organic” everywhere, but using an organic ingredient and making a Certified Organic product are not the same thing.
For us, certification means there is a process behind the claim. The ingredients we choose, the suppliers we work with, the way we manufacture and the records we keep all play a part in making sure that standard is met.
Canada Organic
USDA Organic
JAS Organic
GMP
Third Party Tested
You’ve seen these logos before. But have you ever wondered what actually goes into earning them?
1. It Starts Before We Buy an Ingredient
Finding an ingredient isn't enough. Before an organic ingredient can become part of one of our certified products, we need to verify the supplier, review the appropriate organic certification and confirm that the ingredient itself is covered.
2. Every Ingredient Has a Paper Trail
Certificates, specifications, lot information and Certificates of Analysis are part of how we know what we are receiving and where it came from. Our team carefully reviews the information required for each ingredient and keeps supplier documentation up to date. Every lot we receive is documented so we can trace it back when needed.
3. How We Make the Products Matters Too
Certification doesn't stop when ingredients arrive at our facility. How materials are stored, handled and processed also matters. Organic and non-organic materials must be appropriately managed, production follows established procedures, and our facility operates under Good Manufacturing Practices designed to protect the quality and integrity of what we produce. Even the less visible parts of production, like how equipment is cleaned or which pest-control products can be used, have to follow specific standards.
4. We Need to Be Able to Trace It Back
One of the most important parts of Organic Certification is traceability. Our organic programs are audited annually, and during an audit a specific product or lot can be selected for review.
We may need to show which ingredients were used, where they came from, which suppliers provided them and the production records connected to that lot. Changes to suppliers, ingredients, formulations or certain packaging may also require review before they can be used in a certified product, that traceability is part of what gives certification real meaning.
5. More Than Our Own Word
Our organic certifications are reviewed through regular audits and ongoing documentation requirements. Separately, for certain products and quality checks, we also send samples to independent third-party laboratories to test things such as microbiological quality and heavy metals. This testing is separate from organic certification, but it adds another layer of quality control.
Formulations, ingredients, suppliers and even packaging may also require review before they can be used in a certified product. A certification mark isn't something we simply decide to put on a label: there is work behind every product we make.
One Process, Different Organic Standards
If you've noticed different organic certification logos on our products, there is a reason. Nova works with certification requirements for Canada, the United States and Japan, and those requirements are not always the same.
An ingredient that meets the requirements for one market may not automatically meet the requirements for another. That's why the ingredients, suppliers and documentation behind each certified product need to match the standard that product carries.
Different markets and different requirements, but the same responsibility: making sure every certified product meets the standard on its label.
And Where Does GMP Fit In?
Organic certification focuses on the organic integrity of our certified products, but it isn't the only standard behind how we operate. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guide how products are handled and manufactured inside our facility.
For our production team, that becomes part of the everyday routine: dedicated production footwear, sanitizing processes, protective clothing, controlled movement between production areas and cleaning procedures designed to help prevent contamination and cross-contact.
You may never see these steps on the label, but they are part of the standards behind every product we make.
What This Means for You
For us, clean has to mean more than what appears on the front of a package. It has to be reflected in the ingredients we choose, the standards we follow and the way our products are made.
From sourcing and documentation to traceability, audits and quality controls, every step is part of what gives that promise real meaning.
Clean Beyond the Claim.
