All ideas from the customer must be transformed into the concept. Our expertise in the field of cosmetics and food supplements is utilized in this step.

The realistic conclusion must be made to see if the customer’s expectations can be turned into practice and end products. Our expertise are novel, innovative, and complex projects, so we tend to find solution for every customer’s demands.

Working team: Work is done by Herbana employees under the supervision of the chief research officer. Other experts might be included in the project if necessary.
Working time: 1 – 2 months (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for usual projects)

The selection of primary packing is selected based on product composition and in cooperation with the customer. The steps of product formulation and packing selection are interdependent. In some cases, the customer already has his own selected packing, in this case, the formulation of the product can be adjusted to be compatible with it. Our suggestions are functional, recyclable, and user friendly packs.

External looks of the products and/or brand started to be created in this step if not already done so. Herbana Company does not create designs directly. All of the services are usually done by customers themselves or are outsourced to qualified professionals.

Customers get sample products for testing or possible corrections. It might take just one or in some cases more sample tests to achieve a final version of the formulation.

Final product composition and an approved pack are needed to finish the development phase. When customers confirm the final version of the product/s, lab work is done and activities on paperwork begin.

All cosmetics or food supplement products have master document done with basic information including composition sheet, data for label, specifics, etc. The Technical (manufacturing) sheet with instructions for the production phase is also prepared. Exact data with all the documentation is needed for the next, regulatory phase.

Working team: Work is done by Herbana employees under the supervision of the chief research officer. Other experts might be included in the project if necessary.
Working time: 1 – 12 weeks (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for usual projects)

All the data needed for the products label creation are prepared for the customer. The final version of the label needs to be added to the product information file.

Complete selection of allowed claims (if any) is reviewed and proposed to the customer for marketing purposes.

All cosmetic products on the EU market need to be notified via the cosmetic products notification portal (CPNP). Composition sheets and labels are also uploaded to the CPNP in this step.

Working team: Work is done by ECOGEA Institute experts in cooperation with Herbana employees. ECOGEA may use external accredited laboratory services to get all necessary analyses if needed (microbiology, heavy metals, stability tests, etc). All documents are prepared in accordance with EU regulations.
Inspections and control: Herbana company is regularly controlled by Slovenian health inspectors together with inspectors for natural and organic products (SI-EKO-001 and ECOGEA).
Dietary supplements and food: Different regulation applies for food products and cosmetics. Dietary supplements and food do not need the same product information file as cosmetics. Focus on dietary supplements and food is on correct claims, correct label creation, and certificates of analysis with supporting documentation.
Working time: 1 – 6 weeks (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for the usual projects)

All cosmetic products can be certified together with product information file / safety assessment preparation during the regulatory phase. The cost of certification is significantly reduced in comparison to making both processes separately.

Working team: Work is done by ECOGEA Institute experts. With the customer’s consent, ECOGEA Institute can collect all necessary information directly from the manufacturer (Herbana). In this way, the client avoids the additional bureaucratic work of obtaining all the needed documentation.  Herbana company is certified for the production of natural and organic products in accordance with the ECOGEA standard.
Working time: 1 – 4 weeks (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for the usual project)

All packings are ordered from reliable suppliers. All supporting documentation needs to be received. Primary packing materials are the ones in direct contact with the product. Usually, these are for example jars, bottles, cans, pouches, etc. Usual documentation for primary packs includes a declaration of conformity, certificates of analyses, specifications, usage level statements (cosmetics, food or pharma), and others. Secondary packs are usually cardboard product boxes, plastic blisters, etc. Tertiary packs include combined product packs and/or transport boxes.

All incoming raw materials and packing are checked by qualified receiving control manager on site. Customers are informed if any kind of non-compliance is registered during the receiving of goods. All activities to solve the issue (if possible) start immediately in coordination with supplier and customer.

All raw materials and packings need to be delivered from suppliers to our manufacturing facility/warehouse before production starts. Production of the product does not start until all raw materials and packing are in stock.

Working team: Work is done by Herbana employees under the supervision of chief technology officer in coordination with the plant manager and logistic manager on-site.
Working time: 1 – 6 weeks (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for the usual project)

The weighting of raw materials is the first “real” step of the production phase. This needs to be done for each product. A quantitative product specification sheet is used for exact quantities.

Most of the production procedures require some kind of melting of raw materials that can be incorporated with other ingredients in later steps. A typical example of the melting procedure is the melting of the beeswax and mixing it with various liquid oils.

This is one of the most important steps in the production. Each product needs to be mixed with appropriate mixing parameters. All products have their exact mixing parameter program set during the development phase. Homogenization is done with special equipment and mixing techniques. Properly homogenized product is the key goal of each production. It impacts product visual appearance and stability. Almost all products require stabilizing procedures during manufacture. It may vary from slow mixing of bulk to time set settling in special vessels. This operating manufacturing step is finished when the product is properly mixed, homogenous, and stable, and so ready for further manipulation.

Products are stored in so-called bulk tanks for easier manipulation. In some cases products need to settle in tanks for some period of time before being manipulated further.

All products need to have pre-defined control parameters check. These are usually color, odor, appearance, pH, viscosity, etc. These need to be checked during the manufacturing phase.

All products are filled in some kind of packing, such as bottles, jars, cans, pouches, etc. Bulks are filled using appropriate filling equipment and techniques. Capping or sealing of these packs is done in the same step.

Labeling is done after the filling step. Information such as batch, the expiry date is also printed on the packs in this step.

Working team: Work is done by Herbana employees under the supervision of chief technology officer in coordination with the plant manager and on-site responsible technician.
GMP: All products are manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practices.
Working time: 2 – 4 weeks (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for the usual project)

All products are properly sorted and packed into suitable transport boxes. Each transport box must be labeled and marked with Lot/batch number and expiry date.

Pallets are prepared before dispatch. Extra protection is added to the pallet to protect the product during transport.

Various options are available. We can organize transportation within our network or customers can pick-up the pallets themselves (EXW).

Working team: Work is done under the supervision of chief technology officer in coordination with the plant manager, logistic manager, and on-site technicians.
Working time: up to 1 week – usually a day or two (Working time depends on the project and is orientation value only – for the usual project)

In some cases, additional consulting services are required regarding the products. It might be from the area of regulations, raw materials, documentation, marketing strategies, or other related fields. Our goal is long term business cooperation, so we always help our customers also after the sale.

Working team: Work is done by Herbana employees in coordination with the responsible person. Other experts might be included in the project if necessary.
Important: If the customer is manufacturing the products in Herbana company according to their own formulation, they are responsible for the final stability of the products!
Working time: depends on the issue and project.