As someone who has been reviewing vegan-friendly supplements for a while, Ora Organic caught my attention because it’s one of the few brands on the market that focuses on creating vegan-friendly supplements made of organic ingredients.
Many people wonder whether Ora Organic is a legitimate brand, and I’ve got to say it’s easily one of the most transparent and ethical brands on the market, starting with the fact it shares a certificate of analysis for all of its supplements.
Let’s Dive Deeper Into Ora Organic’s Testing Practices
I really appreciate the approach that Ora Organic takes when testing its products— because it answers the three fundamental questions I love to see addressed for any supplement out there:
- Is this product clean? Or in other words, is it safe?
- Does it really have the ingredients it says it has and the respective dosages?
- And can these two things be confirmed?
To answer these questions, Ora Organic publishes a Certificate of Analysis (also called a COA), which is basically a document that shows that a given product has been tested comprehensively by an accredited third-party laboratory in the US.
Every batch of products is tested to figure out whether the ingredients come in accurate dosages and whether it has harmful agents like heavy metals, microbial contaminants, and pathogens.
Ora Organic follows two quality standards: United States Pharmacopeia and European Commission for Food so their products can be sold in the US and Europe.
Unfortunately, not all companies can afford to test every batch, particularly if they’re a wholesaler with tighter margins, which is not the case for a brand like Ora Organic that sells products at a higher markup— because yes, their supplements are significantly more expensive than the average brand.
But at the same time, you feel safer because you know each batch of product sold is being tested according to the highest standards, and this is tremendously important for supplements that incorporate a panoply of ingredients to create complex formulas.
In addition to batch testing, there are also annual tests that screen for supplement fact verification, allergens, and pesticides.
Here’s a sample of a COA published by Ora Organic:
It’s pretty comprehensive, and if you’re planning to buy any supplement, the brand you’re purchasing from should have one of these publicly available.
Is Ora Organic Considered Ethical?
I’ve analyzed different supplement brands over the years and Ora Organic is, again, one of the few that has a more stringent conduct when it comes to manufacturing.
Every supplier goes through a rigorous vetting process that includes a wide variety of criteria. One of the most crucial aspects of this process focuses on labor rights.
For Ora Organic to establish a relationship with any given supplier, the supplier must adhere to the following criteria:
Forced Labor: Suppliers will not use forced, bonded, or involuntary prison labor, and shall take measures to ensure that forced, bonded, or involuntary prison labor is not used by sub-suppliers.
Freedom of Movement: Suppliers will not withhold wages or unreasonable “deposits” of worker compensation or withhold identity papers, and shall state that workers are always free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.
Freedom of Association: Suppliers will enable workers, without distinction, to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively. Workers’ representatives shall not be discriminated against and shall have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.
Workplace Health and Safety: Suppliers will provide a safe and hygienic working environment based on the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Suppliers will take adequate steps to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimizing, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the workplace.
Child Labor: Suppliers will not use child labor, and will not permit the use of child labor in any sub-suppliers. Policies and procedures surrounding any labor of a worker under the age of 18 shall conform to the provisions of the relevant ILO standards.
Living Wages: Suppliers will pay living wages, meeting at a minimum the national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income. All workers shall be provided with written and understandable Information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
Working Hours: Suppliers must restrict working hours to be in compliance with national laws, collective agreements, whichever affords the greater protection for workers. All overtime shall be voluntary. Overtime shall be used responsibly, taking into account all the following: the extent, frequency, and hours worked by individual workers and the workforce as a whole. It shall not be used to replace regular employment. Overtime shall always be compensated at a premium rate, which is recommended to be not less than 125% of the regular rate of pay. International standards recommend the progressive reduction of normal hours of work, when appropriate, to 40 hours per week, without any reduction in workers’ wages as hours are reduced.
Non-Discrimination: Suppliers will not practice discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination, or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership, or political affiliation.
Regular Employment: Suppliers will not seek to avoid obligations to employees under labor or social security laws and regulations through the use of labor-only contracting, subcontracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, not shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment.
Respectful Treatment: Suppliers will not tolerate harsh or inhumane treatment of workers or stakeholders. Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment, verbal abuse, or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.
The list is relatively long, but it shows that Ora Organic, at least, makes an effort to have a more positive impact in the world, especially when compared to most brands— that oftentimes don’t even care about labor rights— and only about the bottom line.
At the time of writing, Ora Organic is partnering with four contract manufacturers that adhere to the aforementioned criteria.
What About Sustainability?
Ora Organic stands out not only for their commitment to ethics, ensuring that their products are free from exploitation throughout the supply chain, but also mention being pro-sustainability.
In the document that states the criteria I’ve mentioned, there are sections dedicated to the efficient use of resources to protect the climate and the implementation of essential waste management principles.
When sourcing ingredients, Ora Organic prioritizes organic options from farms committed to sustainable practices.
However, they currently use plastic in their packaging.
Recognizing the need for change, they are transitioning to recyclable bags for their powders, moving away from plastic bottles.
By 2024, they aim to eliminate plastic bottles altogether, introducing things like plastic-free scoops, aluminum lids, compostable packaging, and reusable containers for subscription refills.
It’s a step in the right direction… but I’ll be honest, I was expecting them to be a step further in the sustainability game.
So, Is Ora Organic a Legitimate Brand?
Absolutely, Ora Organic has truly won my trust. They don’t just prioritize top-notch safety and quality for their supplements; they also deeply care about the ethical practices of their suppliers.
Compared to many other brands, which often seem just out for profit, Ora Organic shines brightly. Now, I get it—maintaining such high standards doesn’t come cheaply.
So, if you’re looking for the absolute cheapest supplements out there, they are not it.
But, when you choose Ora Organic, you’re not just buying a product. You’re supporting a brand that genuinely values ethics over pure profit, and to me, that feels right.
