Germany-based supplier of specialty chemicals, Evonik Industries has commissioned an examination of its plants in Essen and Duisburg for compliance with Islamic law and obtained their classification as “pure” (“tahir”) and “permitted” (“halāl”).

Evonik Industries AG headquarters in Essen

Evonik Industries AG headquarters in Essen

The Evonik Industries plant in Essen manufactures a multitude of esters (sorbitan esters, glyceryl- and polyglycerylesters, glycolesters, sucrose esters, emollient esters) and fatty ethoxylates. The plant is entitled to use the Ḥalāl Certificate for all these products. In Duisburg the Ḥalāl Certificate covers various esters (glyceryl- and polyglycerylesters, sucrose esters, emollient esters) and zinc ricinoleates.

The certification means that these products do not contain any additives that could be qualified as impure (najis) according to Islamic law, are not produced from any impurity (najasat) and do not get in contact with any impurity during the production process. “Muslim experts have evaluated this based on the existing list of additives and additional detailed documents as well as the visits of the plants in Essen and Duisburg on November 7, 2013,Evonik explains.

The Arabic word Ḥalāl (permissible) covers not only food and drink but also all matters of daily life. Muslims must ensure that all food, as well as non-food items like cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, are Ḥalal. The certification should therefore help Evonik to better address the needs of its customers in the personal care industry that target Muslim populations, in particular in Asia, the Middle East and the Maghreb region.

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’s Business Line Personal Care.

The Ḥalāl Certificate is valid for one year. Evonik said it will be renewed year after year and that it will report any changes in the production process during the certified period.