The Personal Care Products Council Announces Second Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558                            

The Personal Care Products Council Announces Second
Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Beauty Industry Recognizes Esi Eggleston Bracey, President Unilever U.S. & CEO Unilever Personal Care North America, as DEI Champion

Washington, D.C. – The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is proud to announce its second annual Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The Award recognizes individuals in the beauty and personal care products industry who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to DEI through strong leadership and sustained efforts with a focus on workplace culture, program and policies, or through external engagement with consumers and communities.

Presented last night at the PCPC Leadership Summit 2022 opening reception, the selection committee awarded this distinction to Esi Eggleston Bracey – president of Unilever U.S. & CEO of Unilever Personal Care North America – in recognition of her dedication to advance DEI. Bracey is widely recognized and admired across the industry as someone who leads with respect and brings fresh thinking to businesses. She champions high-impact, purpose-driven efforts like Dove’s founding of the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Coalition to foster beauty inclusivity and eradicate hair discrimination through the support of the CROWN Act legislation.

“This award means the world to me because the business of diversity is a team sport. Madam C.J. Walker knew that it wasn’t just about her own financial success, it was about the success she bestowed on others,” said Bracey. “The work that we do changes the narrative around beauty. So, let’s embrace it as a team sport. Let’s make this all of our award, raise the bar high, and commit to making this world more inclusive and more equitable for all people.”

The Award honors industry pioneer Madam C.J. Walker who started her hair care business at the turn of the century, during a time when women of color had few rights and little opportunity. The Award is given each year to individuals in the cosmetics or personal care industry. Nominees are judged on areas of achievement based on predetermined criteria.

“Madam C.J. Walker, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein were among the women who started this industry when nobody else was paying attention,” said A’Lelia Bundles, event mistress of ceremonies and Madam Walker’s great-great-granddaughter. “And it turns out that this is not just about products, but it is about empowering people. Making women feel confident, but also giving people economic opportunity. And that’s very much what Madam Walker was about.”

“We owe so much to Madam C.J. Walker. She was a true trailblazer and one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history. She created jobs that helped thousands of women of color achieve financial independence. She is one of the reasons we have people like Esi leading the industry today,” said PCPC President and CEO Lezlee Westine. “Young women of color have many more opportunities and role models today, thanks to women like Madam Walker and Esi Bracey.”

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $484.1 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

For more information on cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org. 

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Beauty and Personal Care Industry Leaders Gather During Leadership Summit to Envision a More Beautiful, Inclusive and Sustainable World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558

Washington, D.C. – After more than two years of virtual meetings, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) brings together industry executives and thought leaders for its first-ever Leadership Summit, an in-person gathering in the nation’s capital on September 28-29. Following the tradition of PCPC’s Annual Meeting, attendees will reflect on the beauty industry’s past, present and future with a focus on creating a more beautiful, inclusive and sustainable world.

In recognition of the release of PCPC’s second industry sustainability report, the Summit program highlights important issues of the day covered in the report, including regulation, environmental impacts and social issues challenging the nation. This year, PCPC is honored to be joined by prominent experts who will provide insights, lead panel discussions and challenge current thinking:

  • Bruce Mehlman, Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, providing analysis of policy and political trends driving the 2022 midterm elections
  • Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., U.S. Food and Drug Administration, discussing industry topics and his vision for the Agency’s future
  • Larissa Jensen, The NPD Group, sharing insights and analysis of global beauty trends
  • Angela Diesch, Amin Talati Wasserman, providing insights on state legislation and regulation impacting the industry
  • Esi Eggleston Bracey, Unilever, moderating a discussion on how increased diversity helps government and business address challenges facing our nation, featuring Rep. Linda T. Sánchez and Heba Mahmoud, MITRE Corporation  
  • Pamela Gill-Alabaster, Mattel, moderating a panel on ESG practices, commitments and regulations, featuring subject matter experts from Covington and Burling, Dan Feldman, Laura Kim and Matt Franker
  • Ambassador Sarah Bianchi, Office of the United States Trade Representative, along with Hideaki Fujisawa, Rodrigo Godinho and Andrew Jory from the Embassies of Japan, Brazil and Australia respectively, highlighting new initiatives to address global challenges and expand market access for U.S. companies

The Summit’s first day concludes with a reception overlooking the Capitol to celebrate the second annual Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellent in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to DEI through strong leadership and sustained efforts with a focus on workplace culture, programs and policies, or through external engagement with consumers and communities. 

“While we know there is more work to be done, we are proud of how our commitment to a more beautiful, inclusive and sustainable world is reflected in the work of our members and our association,” said PCPC President and CEO Lezlee Westine. “It is critically important that our industry helps address social and environmental challenges and communicate that our commitment remains strong.”

Keech Combe Shetty, PCPC Board of Directors chair and Combe Inc. executive chair, noted: “Our industry’s products literally touch the lives of nearly every American household every day, and our constant pursuit of healthy people and a healthy planet is both good business and good stewardship.”

Newly elected at the PCPC Board of Directors meeting held at the Summit are the following:

Thomas Baudry, senior vice president, Finance & Operations; LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics North America

Pascal Berthe, global head of worldwide product safety, Regulatory Affairs; Claims Substantiation & Microbiology; L’Oréal

Chris Heiert, senior vice president NA, Skin Care & Global Olay; Procter & Gamble

Luciana Castro, senior vice president, Legal & Compliance Strategy; Advocacy and Business Ethics; Firmenich

To learn more about PCPC’s Leadership Summit 2022, visit PCPC’s website. Follow Summit updates on Twitter at @PCPC_News. For more information about cosmetics and personal care products, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $484.1 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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Sunscreens, Waterways and Science – What We Know

By Iain Davies, Ph.D.
Director of Environmental Science Programs, PCPC

While sunscreens may not be top of mind as the weather turns cooler, sunscreens are a critical tool in a daily regimen, year-round. Last month, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released an important report about the environmental impact of currently marketed sunscreens and the potential human impacts of changes in sunscreen usage. The report noted sunscreens’ public health benefits and provided much-needed perspective on the current state of scientific knowledge related to sunscreens, specifically ultraviolet (UV) filters.

UV filters are essential ingredients used in sunscreens to absorb, scatter or reflect the UV radiation, protecting the skin from excessive sun exposure. By filtering out harmful UV rays, sunscreens help to reduce the risk of skin cancer, sunburn and premature skin aging.

Many people use sunscreens when they are enjoying time outdoors, including in rivers, lakes or oceans. The NAS report sought to address the potential impact on aquatic life if UV filters are present in water systems, as well as the efficacy of sunscreens in preventing UV damage to human skin and the potential health impacts. Sunscreen ingredients also rinse off when people are bathing or showering, entering the wastewater system and potentially being discharged into bodies of water.

The report summarizes the findings of a multidisciplinary expert panel that reviewed the available science. In short, the study found that there is currently insufficient relevant and reliable scientific data to conduct a realistic environmental risk assessment. Additionally, there is not enough scientific data to support UV filter bans that some U.S. states and other parts of the world have implemented.

Importantly, the report put forward three broad recommendations to address the information gaps:  

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should conduct an ecological risk assessment (ERA) for all currently marketed UV filters and any new ones that become available.
  • Government agencies, together with sunscreen formulators and UV filter manufacturers, should conduct and disseminate comprehensive research on multiple aspects of UV filters and their impact on aquatic environment.
  • Epidemiological risk modeling and behavioral studies related to sunscreen usage should be conducted to better understand human health outcomes from changing availability and usage.

While the report confirmed what PCPC’s scientists have long concluded – insufficient environmental safety data have been used to justify sunscreen bans or changes in consumer behavior – NAS further acknowledges that changes in consumer sunscreen use could lead to significant adverse public health impacts of increased UV-induced skin cancers. Medical experts and regulatory authorities worldwide agree that sunscreens play a critical role in a safe-sun regimen and nothing in the report changes that recommendation.

PCPC and our member companies welcome the opportunity to work with federal agencies and other interested stakeholders to fill in some of the scientific information gaps as they relate to UV filters’ impact to aquatic environments. We are committed to conducting the innovative and cutting-edge environmental research needed to not only assess potential environmental risks but to also address consumer questions and maintain consumer trust in products that help protect their skin every day.

For more information on sunscreens and other beauty and personal care products, visit www.cosmeticsinfo.org.

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