The world is changing fast, and with it our consumer habits. For several years now, a silent but powerful revolution has been taking hold on our plates and in our cupboards: veganism. This lifestyle has grown exponentially, in all areas and on all five continents.
In this context, it is crucial to know how to differentiate between products that are truly vegan and those that are not. This is where EVE Vegan certification comes in.
This certification mark plays a decisive role in the industry by assuring consumers that products bearing this certification are compliant and embody a real difference compared to their traditional version. It has become a mark of trust for all those whose impact on the consumption of animals matters. In September 2024, EVE Vegan celebrates its 8th anniversary, a milestone that underlines not only the relevance of this certification, but also its growing success. Eight years of success, rigour and innovation deserve to be celebrated, and this anniversary offers a unique opportunity to look back at the history, achievements and future of this iconic certification.
The origins of EVE Vegan Certification Mark
The story of EVE Vegan certification began with a simple idea: to create a strict, reliable and international standard to identify vegan products. The aim was simple, but ambitious: to enable consumers to make choices in complete confidence, and products to have better impact on planet. With the market for vegan products growing rapidly, there was an urgent need to define precise standards in absence of regulation. At the time of its creation, many other labels and certifications already existed, and did not guarantee the same thing. Sometimes the labels are sector-specific, i.e. some are available for food products and others for non-food products. Finally, the degree of verification carried out and the difficulties involved in obtaining it were clearly not satisfactory by international certification standards.
Initial motivations
The initial aim of EVE Vegan certification was to provide a rigorous international standard guaranteeing that products are not only free from ingredients of animal origin, but that they also respect traceability processes and the absence of tests on live animals. The founder was also motivated by a desire to help companies better understand and meet the expectations of vegan consumers. Certification was a simple way of reaching them and raising awareness of the issues surrounding animal ingredients.
The founder of this certification, Hélène Modrzejewski, was also driven by the need to bring greater security to this market, and wanted to fill a gap. What’s more, no service of this type existed in France, the founder’s home country. The language barrier was slowing down companies’ needs in this area.
The major stages of development
EVE Vegan has come a long way since its creation. In its first year, the certification only had a handful of member companies, mainly in France. But the movement quickly gained momentum thanks to growing consumer demand and the increasing number of vegan products on the market.
Over the last eight years, EVE Vegan has established itself on a global scale. Its label is now recognised in over 25 countries, including South Korea, and hundreds of brands have their products certified each year. This expansion has been facilitated by the constant updating of the certification process, in order to adapt to the constraints of companies.
Contributions to Industry
EVE Vegan has played a key role in the evolution of the industry in recent years, not only by facilitating access to trusted products for consumers, but also by stimulating innovation in the food, cosmetics and textile sectors. The success of EVE Vegan certification has encouraged many companies to review their manufacturing practices and develop new products that respect vegan ethics.
Since its creation, over 11,000 products have been certified, ranging from food and clothing to cosmetics and household products. Companies large and small have seen this certification as an opportunity to position themselves in a booming market.
The challenges of certification
Despite its success, EVE Vegan certification has not escaped certain challenges. These include competition from other vegan certifications. Some markets, such as the United States or England, already have local strong certifications, and it has sometimes been difficult to convince companies to adopt an international certification like EVE Vegan.
Another challenge: the slander and dishonest actions of its former audit partner Global Standard Certification (GSC), based in South Korea. The breakdown in collaboration with this company has plunged EVE Vegan into financial problems at a time when certification has never been so much in demand. The company is now working to ensure that this does not happen again and to reopen services in South Korea.
It is certain that following these challenges, strategic changes are planned to further protect the EVE Vegan brand in the future.
Future Opportunities
Despite these challenges, the future looks bright for EVE Vegan certification. The demand for product and factory certification has never been greater. One of the major opportunities for EVE Vegan is expansion into emerging markets. Particularly in China, where the population is beginning to turn towards more ethical alternatives. Chinese manufacturers are also keen to follow the trend for product made for European market.
In addition, EVE Vegan plans to focus on sectors that are still under-exploited, such as the textile and plastics industries. Many fashion brands and manufacturers in this field are now seeking vegan certification for their products, and EVE Vegan could play a central role in this.
The year 2024 marks the 8th anniversary of EVE Vegan certification and of our EVE mascot.
It also marks a turning point in the brand’s strategy to restart its product analysis and registration business after a temporary suspension. The whole team has suffered from the events of the last few months, and we have been fortunate to have the support of our clients during this difficult period.
Eight years may seem a short time, but in the world of veganism, it’s a marker of success! Indeed, since the COVID 19 crisis, many vegan aimed companies and brands that have launched but not survived.
The circumstances of the confinements and economic crisis do not make it possible to resist for long. Making vegan products can make them more expensive for a number of reasons. The market for vegan products is still growing, which means that economies of scale are not always achieved in the same way as for traditional products. Finally, the products in question need to find their audience.
We are particularly pleased to be celebrating 8 years of EVE Vegan certification, an adventure made possible thanks to the commitment and passion of our teams, but above all thanks to you, our clients.
Since the beginning, your unfailing support and trust have enabled us to grow, innovate and progress. You have helped to make EVE Vegan a benchmark for ethics and responsibility, and for that we say a huge thank you. Your commitment inspires every step of our work, and together we will continue to build a future that is more respectful of animals and the planet. Thank you for these 8 wonderful years, and this is just the beginning of a long and wonderful adventure!
