Top Cosmetics

L'Occitane and others commit to phase out hazardous chemicals in their products

love is...l'eau de toxines

Greenpeace urges MEPs to follow good example at crucial vote in EU next week

Top cosmetics company L'Occitane has announced it is to phase out certain hazardous chemicals, including some suspected of hormone disruption, in their consumer goods. The move comes soon after top electronics firm Motorola made the same pledge. Both initiatives occurred after discussions with Greenpeace.

The leading brand names moves come at a crucial time for the EU chemicals industry and the public as MEPs are due to take part in a vote in Brussels on the REACH chemicals proposal (1) next week, which offers the chance to provide currently unavailable safety data on 1000's of chemicals, a step that would give all companies the opportunity - and incentive - to phase out hazardous chemicals from their products.

"L'Occitane, Motorola and other progressive companies are showing the way ahead for responsible use of chemicals by business. Now we need our representatives in Europe to back this up with a safe EU chemicals policy. We currently lack safety data for 75% of chemicals in use, (2) and are using hazardous chemicals where there could be safer alternatives. If MEPs vote for a strong REACH policy next week we can start to put an end to this dangerous situation." said Nadia Haiama-Neurohr of Greenpeace European Unit.

The leading companies' decisions follow on the heels of similar decisions by Samsung, Nokia, Adidas, Reebok, H&M and Chicco toys to adopt a precautionary approach and end the use of chemicals of concern in their products.

Motorola (mobile phones) will phase out brominated flame retardants and PVC in their products. L'Occitane is in the process of replacing all synthetic musks and phthalates in products that still contain these chemicals. Melvitacosm, manufacturer of Melvita's Iris Blue perfume (which in the Greenpeace Valentine's Day perfume tests had the second highest quantity of phthalates of the 26 perfumes tested), will phase out phthalates and synthetic musks in new ranges of eaux de toilette by October 2005. Other products will be free of these chemicals from June 2006. Alqvimia's chemical policy forbids phthalates and synthetic musk compounds in its cosmetics.

Haiama-Neurohr continued "These commitments are good news, since they confirm that hazardous chemicals can be replaced with safer alternatives. But there are still 1000's of chemicals being used today without sufficient safety data. Lets hope the European Parliament resists the polluters' attempts to downgrade REACH next week, so we can start the identification of hazardous chemicals and crucial research for cleaner products," said Nadia Haiama-Neurohr.

Brominated flame retardants, synthetic musks and phthalates (a common ingredient in plastics such as PVC) are particularly harmful as they have been found to build up or persist in human bodies and in the environment. These chemicals have the ability to contaminate blood or build up in other body tissues and to travel from the mother to the unborn child while it is in the womb, exposing an infant to chemical contamination during the most vulnerable phase of development.

For more information contact:

Nadia Haiama-Neurohr, EU policy adviser on chemicals, Greenpeace European Unit, tel +32 (0)2 274 1913

Or Helen Perivier, Toxics campaigner, Greenpeace International, tel +32 (0)496 127 107

Notes

[1] REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) - COM 2003 0644 (03)

[2] EEA/UNEP: Chemicals in the European Environment: Low Doses, High Stakes?, UNEP/ROE/97/16

Greenpeace and other environment, health and women's NGOs have called on members of the environment committee, when they vote on REACH, to ensure that:

1. Chemical manufacturers/importers provide sufficient basic safety information to evaluate the hazards, exposures and safe uses of chemicals; 2. Very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances, Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxics (PBT) substances, and substances of equivalent concern - like endocrine disrupting substances - are prioritised for registration; 3. A legally binding duty of care applies for all chemicals produced; 4. Chemicals used in imported articles have the same information requirements as those in EU-made articles; 5. Precautionary action can be taken against endocrine disrupting chemicals; 6. An authorisation for the use of "chemicals of very high concern" will be granted only if no safer alternatives are available and the use is essential to society; 7. REACH is a transparent and trusted system for chemicals so that consumer confidence in chemicals products can be restored.

love is...l'eau de toxines

Greenpeace urges MEPs to follow good example at crucial vote in EU next week

Top cosmetics company L'Occitane has announced it is to phase out certain hazardous chemicals, including some suspected of hormone disruption, in their consumer goods. The move comes soon after top electronics firm Motorola made the same pledge. Both initiatives occurred after discussions with Greenpeace.

The leading brand names moves come at a crucial time for the EU chemicals industry and the public as MEPs are due to take part in a vote in Brussels on the REACH chemicals proposal (1) next week, which offers the chance to provide currently unavailable safety data on 1000's of chemicals, a step that would give all companies the opportunity - and incentive - to phase out hazardous chemicals from their products.

"L'Occitane, Motorola and other progressive companies are showing the way ahead for responsible use of chemicals by business. Now we need our representatives in Europe to back this up with a safe EU chemicals policy. We currently lack safety data for 75% of chemicals in use, (2) and are using hazardous chemicals where there could be safer alternatives. If MEPs vote for a strong REACH policy next week we can start to put an end to this dangerous situation." said Nadia Haiama-Neurohr of Greenpeace European Unit.

The leading companies' decisions follow on the heels of similar decisions by Samsung, Nokia, Adidas, Reebok, H&M and Chicco toys to adopt a precautionary approach and end the use of chemicals of concern in their products.

Motorola (mobile phones) will phase out brominated flame retardants and PVC in their products. L'Occitane is in the process of replacing all synthetic musks and phthalates in products that still contain these chemicals. Melvitacosm, manufacturer of Melvita's Iris Blue perfume (which in the Greenpeace Valentine's Day perfume tests had the second highest quantity of phthalates of the 26 perfumes tested), will phase out phthalates and synthetic musks in new ranges of eaux de toilette by October 2005. Other products will be free of these chemicals from June 2006. Alqvimia's chemical policy forbids phthalates and synthetic musk compounds in its cosmetics.

Haiama-Neurohr continued "These commitments are good news, since they confirm that hazardous chemicals can be replaced with safer alternatives. But there are still 1000's of chemicals being used today without sufficient safety data. Lets hope the European Parliament resists the polluters' attempts to downgrade REACH next week, so we can start the identification of hazardous chemicals and crucial research for cleaner products," said Nadia Haiama-Neurohr.

Brominated flame retardants, synthetic musks and phthalates (a common ingredient in plastics such as PVC) are particularly harmful as they have been found to build up or persist in human bodies and in the environment. These chemicals have the ability to contaminate blood or build up in other body tissues and to travel from the mother to the unborn child while it is in the womb, exposing an infant to chemical contamination during the most vulnerable phase of development.

For more information contact:

Nadia Haiama-Neurohr, EU policy adviser on chemicals, Greenpeace European Unit, tel +32 (0)2 274 1913

Or Helen Perivier, Toxics campaigner, Greenpeace International, tel +32 (0)496 127 107

Notes

[1] REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) - COM 2003 0644 (03)

[2] EEA/UNEP: Chemicals in the European Environment: Low Doses, High Stakes?, UNEP/ROE/97/16

Greenpeace and other environment, health and women's NGOs have called on members of the environment committee, when they vote on REACH, to ensure that:

1. Chemical manufacturers/importers provide sufficient basic safety information to evaluate the hazards, exposures and safe uses of chemicals; 2. Very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances, Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxics (PBT) substances, and substances of equivalent concern - like endocrine disrupting substances - are prioritised for registration; 3. A legally binding duty of care applies for all chemicals produced; 4. Chemicals used in imported articles have the same information requirements as those in EU-made articles; 5. Precautionary action can be taken against endocrine disrupting chemicals; 6. An authorisation for the use of "chemicals of very high concern" will be granted only if no safer alternatives are available and the use is essential to society; 7. REACH is a transparent and trusted system for chemicals so that consumer confidence in chemicals products can be restored.