Sun Safety and Wellness After COVID

By Carl D’Ruiz
Senior Manager, NA Personal Care Regulatory Affairs
DSM Nutritional Products LLC

Summer unofficially kicks off Memorial Day weekend, and many people will soon be spending more time outdoors, in the water and traveling to sunny destinations. As more people receive COVID-19 vaccinations and restrictions are lifted, it feels more exciting than ever to be outside enjoying the sun and summer season. But, it’s also critically important to protect your skin from over-exposure to the sun. And health experts worldwide agree that sun protection helps prevent sunburns, premature skin aging and skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Facts

Over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light – invisible sun rays that can damage skin cells – causes most skin cancers. In the Unites States alone, nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year. Although those with lighter skin are at higher risk, anyone can get skin cancer. People with darker skin may often be diagnosed with skin cancer at a later stage, making it more difficult to treat.

While skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, it is also one of the most preventable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), four out of five cases can be prevented by following safe-sun practices including limiting your time in the sun, seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and using sunscreens regularly.

Sunscreens are a key factor in preventing and reducing the risk of skin cancer and UV-induced skin damage. Nonprofit health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Mayo Clinic and Skin Cancer Foundation, recommend using sweat- and water-resistant broad-spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB rays) sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher as part of a safe-sun regimen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes the importance of daily sunscreen use, including on cloudy and overcast days, to help prevent most skin cancers.

Sunscreen History and Regulation

What many people don’t know is that sunscreens are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs under a monograph system by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A monograph gives instructions for how to manufacture a product and establishes various requirements for it to be sold and used in the U.S. You can think of it like a recipe in that it provides the types of ingredients, dosage forms, testing methods, labeling requirements and so forth for a given product category, such as sunscreens or antiperspirants. FDA, the regulatory body in the U.S. that comes up with the recipe for all OTC products, requires all sunscreens meet strict product safety, efficacy and labeling standards before they can be marketed or sold in the U.S.

 

The sunscreen monograph has undergone many different regulatory updates throughout the decades.  For example, in early 2019, FDA published a proposed rule for updated sunscreen regulations, called the Sunscreen Tentative Final Monograph (TFM). In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, a relief legislation in response to the COVID crisis, which also contained some provisions related to sunscreens and the OTC drug system, generally OTC Reform. These provisions referred to earlier FDA sunscreen regulations and took precedence over the proposed 2019 TFM. As part of additional language in the CARES Act, FDA is expected to propose new sunscreen regulations by this fall.

Practically speaking, this is all a bit confusing, and we are waiting to get more information on the implementation of OTC Reform. Here’s what you need to remember in the meantime:

FDA emphasizes that Americans should continue to use sunscreens with other sun-protective measures. The dangers of sun exposure are clear and universally recognized by public health professionals and dermatologists worldwide.

As an industry, we remain deeply committed to product safety and providing consumers with safe and effective products that meet their diverse needs. The more products consumers can choose from, the more likely they are to use the ones they choose. Cosmetics and personal care products companies are proud of the innovative sunscreen products they develop to help protect consumers from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.

This Memorial Day weekend, remember to apply your sunscreen – 30 minutes before going outside and then every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating – and enjoy being outside after 14 months of COVID.  

Carl D’Ruiz serves as chair of PCPC’s Sunscreen Consortium, which leads and aligns the U.S. industry’s strategy and approaches for substantiating the safety and efficacy of sunscreen UV filters, and advocates the public health benefits associated with sunscreens.

More from PCPC

Looking Towards a More Beautiful, Sustainable Future

By Lisa Powers
EVP, Public Affairs & Communications
Personal Care Products Council

Climate change is among the most pressing issues of our time. While we have made progress – as an industry and as a country – we still have a long way to go. The Biden administration recently put climate change back at the center of U.S. domestic and international policy by rejoining the Paris Agreement, which aims to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future. This renewed focus on sustainability will impact our economy and the way we conduct business.

The Paris Agreement works to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to assist developing countries in their efforts to combat climate change.[1] More than 70% of the global economy has set targets to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. “Net-zero” has become a global rallying cry and is a necessary step to beat back climate change and its devastation successfully.

The United Nations notes that a key element is powering economies with clean energy, replacing polluting coal, gas and oil-fired power stations with renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar farms. Climate action and investment in green industries create jobs and drive economic growth. Companies across all sectors are taking ambitious action to halt the devastating impacts of climate change.

The beauty industry has long been committed to ethical and transparent practices, as well as the responsible management of its environmental impacts and economic and social value. Many cosmetics and personal care products companies are taking action by committing to improving the efficiency of their energy use in transportation and operations, shifting toward renewable energy sources, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

More than two-thirds of PCPC members are actively managing energy use and carbon emissions in their operations. Companies have also set targets to reduce water consumption and improve water efficiency. Many have committed to zero waste to landfills for their manufacturing sites and have set ambitious goals to make all plastic packaging recyclable, reusable, compostable or refillable.

While we are proud of the efforts individual companies are making in the sustainable management of their businesses, we recognize companies large and small still have more to do. Our goal is to work in coalition, together with other like-minded organizations, to help create a more beautiful and sustainable world for us all.

As Earth Day approaches, we can all do our part in helping to address climate change. EARTHDAY.ORG offers these simple ideas:

  • Get informed. Learn more about the science behind climate change, the responsibility that all sectors hold and their actions to address the crisis. Find out about emerging, evidence-based data that directly relates to changes in our climate.
  • Hold yourself accountable. Take a personal inventory of your impact on the planet by calculating your carbon footprint. Consider offsetting carbon emissions by investing in clean and renewable energy projects worldwide that support local communities, drive sustainable development and protect our planet.
  • Unplug. Unplug items when they are not in use, buy goods with high energy-efficient standards and consider switching to renewable energy.
  • Travel smarter. Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States. No matter where you live, travel by car or airplane contributes heavily to our shared carbon footprint. Take public transit, bike or walk when possible – it’s good for your health, your wallet and the planet.
  • Consider your food. Your food’s carbon footprint is the GHG emissions produced by growing, harvesting, processing, transporting, cooking and disposing of the food we eat. Research revealed the tremendous impact that the mass production of meat, dairy and eggs has on our planet.
  • Shop smarter. Support companies driven by sustainability and committed to transparency throughout the supply chain. Your power as a consumer can have an enormous impact. Shop smarter with thoughtful purchasing to minimize waste, and consider reused items to take part in the circular economy and keep goods out from filling our already overflowing landfills.

We can combat climate change, but it takes all of us — industry, consumers and the government. This Earth Day, what will you do to lead us to a more beautiful, sustainable future?

 

[1] https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement/key-aspects-of-the-paris-agreement

More from PCPC

Standing Stronger and Better Together

By Louanne Roark
Executive Director
Look Good Feel Better Foundation

International Women’s Day marks a moment in time to reflect and to celebrate how women continue to shape and transform our world. As an organization led by women to serve women – with the support of an industry where nearly 77% of the workforce is women – the Look Good Feel Better Foundation (LGFB) is a microcosm of what can be.

Of the 27 LGFB global affiliates, 24 are led by female executive directors – myself included. Women lead all aspects of our LGFB operation in the U.S. – from technology deployment to partnership management, program development to delivery. The vast majority of our network of more than 3,000 professional beauty volunteers are women, many of whom are enterprising entrepreneurs and business owners. 

LGFB has helped 2.1 million women around the world regain their confidence in the midst of cancer treatment. Numbers are impressive, but they don’t tell the whole story. Every level of our organization is fueled by passion and collaboration, shared values and experiences. For more than 30 years, we – and our global LGFB affiliates – have maintained an unwavering commitment to stand strong alongside other women as they endure the greatest challenge many will ever face.   

LGFB’s bedrock philosophy is to transform crisis into community. We built our program to provide a safe space for women to connect and share, and to provide the tools, knowledge and products to help them regain a sense of control and restore some normalcy at a time in their lives that is by no means normal.

When the pandemic changed the rules of how we operate as an organization, our teams responded. With in-person workshops simply not feasible in the midst of COVID-19, we rapidly expanded our capacity to reach and connect women virtually.

Today, 90% of LGFB global affiliates – representing 24 countries – feature enhanced virtual programming or online resources to serve patients. Women around the world can still find comfort, support and community through LGFB during a time when they feel more isolated and more vulnerable than ever before because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I am excited about the future of LGFB and our industry. I see emerging leaders from within our ranks, like our recently appointed Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and Look Good Feel Better Foundation Chair Keech Combe Shetty. Keech is fueled by purpose and desire. She is eager to share new perspectives, explore new approaches and solutions to the challenges we face today, and anticipate what may come.

“Our industry is made by women for women. We have the opportunity to step up and do even more to support each other.”

Keech Combe Shetty
Executive Chair, Combe Inc.
PCPC and LGFB Chair

I am inspired by our BeautyCares Next Gen committee supporting our annual DreamBall event and by the visionary young women representing the next generation of beauty industry leaders.  Inside the Look Good Feel Better organization itself, an infusion of strong, young, female talent helped us navigate a challenging 2020 and evolve into a more digital, connected and nimble organization than ever before. These young leaders have a new vision of what’s possible and necessary to create a more vibrant, equitable and inclusive industry. Let us all step up to support that talent, passion and vision.

At the same time, there is an important opportunity to instill in a new generation the understanding that, despite being fierce market competitors, our industry shares a common mission. Cancer is indiscriminate. It doesn’t choose who to affect or when to strike. It recognizes no political boundaries or philosophies. It does not care about education, skin color, culture or economic circumstance. The women we serve are our mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters, our friends and colleagues from every walk of life. LGFB is there for them all.

Our strength and shared mission are women helping other women in the midst of a frightening health diagnosis by lifting one another up, helping all to feel confident and more beautiful inside and out. Standing stronger and better together. 

More from PCPC

Let’s Do Better

By Esi Eggleston Bracey
Chief Operating Officer, EVP Beauty & Personal Care for Unilever North America
Board of Directors Member, Personal Care Products Council

Over the past year, we’ve seen a societal outcry for racial justice like we have never seen in our lifetimes. And as we reflect on the importance of Black History Month, it’s a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more equitable society and helping to end systemic racism. Actions speak louder than words and people are demanding that brands take action. People are taking notice and voting with their dollars. Consumers are looking to buy brands that take a stand and act on issues that are important to them.

Often, I receive questions from brand leads like, “When is the right time to act?” or “Do I have my house in order?” If we waited for everyone to get their houses in order before taking action, we would be waiting a very long time. My perspective is no, brands do not need to wait to have their houses in order before taking action. You can multitask – commit to taking meaningful action and work on your internal changes at the same time.

At Unilever, we know that our portrayals of beauty, the ecosystem of developing products, creating content and sharing stories can change lives – negatively and positively. We want to make a positive impact in the world. We want to be the beauty company that makes the most impact on people, communities and planet, and we know we have a critical role to play in creating an equitable society which is intolerant of intolerance. We know that beauty and race have a long, intertwined history, which gives us the extraordinary opportunity to evolve how we reach, impact, serve and represent beauty in our brands. It has always been something at the core of what we believe in at Unilever. That’s why our work on Dove and its co-founding of the CROWN Coalition in support of the CROWN Act, Vaseline’s work to improve skin equity, and Shea Moisture’s commitment to invest in the Black community and Black female entrepreneurs is more important than ever before. 

The first step is acknowledging where your brand sits on this journey. It’s important to own your current state – wherever you are on your journey. This requires being brave and risking being vulnerable. Truly commit to doing better and use it as an opportunity to commit to what the future looks like and build a specific and transparent plan to get there.

When it comes to products, think about what you are creating or putting out into the world. It is one thing to make something that is intended to show your stance, which can be perceived as performative. It’s another thing to develop products that are intended to actually serve the Black community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed so many areas of inequity. Brands should ask themselves how they can help and where they have the right to play. Get specific about where racism is showing up. There are so many areas that the pandemic has illuminated: images and stereotypes, health inequities, economic inequity and disparity. Break down the problems that need to be solved and assess where your brand can make a meaningful difference. Not all brands can have the same impact in all areas.

As we look to the future, we need to evaluate how we can make the biggest impact and more fully address the needs of the Black community, which has been marginalized. Also, let’s actually move a step beyond being allies for the Black community and actually become active advocates for equity and systemic change through meaningful commitments and deliberate action. Making this change will require each of us to grow and evolve together. We are stronger together. I truly believe that together we can change the world. Let’s do it. 

More from PCPC

Partnerships: An Essential Ingredient for Success

Lezlee Westine
President & CEO, Personal Care Products Council

Each new year presents an opportunity to examine our priorities and focus on what matters most. As our nation continues to address the many challenges from 2020, PCPC stands ready in 2021 with renewed energy and sense of purpose.

As our country begins to heal from the tragic events of January 6 and focuses on unity in light of a new administration and new Congress, PCPC and our member companies remain steadfast in our commitment to bipartisan collaborations that enable and enhance our member companies’ ability to provide safe and innovative products to countless American families.

Partnerships are key to achieving meaningful solutions to some of our biggest challenges. From my professional experience in government and the private sector, I know we can accomplish the seemingly impossible by working together. I have seen incredible things achieved when people work towards a common goal.

The spirit of collaboration inspired PCPC to work with policymakers, regulators and NGOs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We engaged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress to issue temporary guidance allowing non-traditional manufacturers to address the critical shortage of hand sanitizers. Our members quickly converted manufacturing lines and increased production to provide these essential products. Companies donated more than 20 million units of hand sanitizer to hospitals, community clinics, medical and emergency professionals, first responders, industry employees and made them available to retail customers.

The nation also grappled with issues of systemic racism and calls for equality and social justice this past year. As an industry, we intend to be a positive agent of change and a force for good aiming to engage in partnerships that are both authentic and meaningful. We don’t have all the answers and know there is much work still to be done to address diversity. Working in coalition with many diverse organizations in 2020, PCPC supported anti-discrimination legislation, including the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, which passed the House in September. The CROWN Act became law in seven states in 2020 and is currently pending in 20+ states this year, preventing discrimination based on characteristics – such as hair texture and cultural styles, particularly those common in the Black community – and specifically recognizing that Black people are disparately impacted and excluded from some workplaces based on physical appearance. Similar legislation has been passed in seven states. Looking ahead, PCPC is committed to taking continued action to examine and address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), both within our organization and in the industry at large, and in partnership with others committed to the same goal.

PCPC’s work with Cruelty Free International proved to be another successful partnership, resulting in compromise agreement on state animal testing legislation, now pending in several states. At the federal level, we worked closely with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to introduce the Humane Cosmetics Act, which would ban cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. We will continue to work with HSUS and our congressional partners to pass this legislation in the 117th Congress.  

The power of partnerships was also demonstrated in our work with the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and more than 60 other health, education and parent groups to support legislation that specifically allows sunscreens to be used in schools. To date, 26 states and Washington, D.C., have passed the “SUNucate” model.

Partnerships are key to our industry’s continued success, and we remain committed to deepening and broadening them in the year ahead. As President Biden noted: “To live together and work together. That’s how I see America. That’s how I see the presidency, and that’s how I see the future.” This year, PCPC re-dedicates itself to boldly push forward – confronting the challenges ahead while ensuring our member companies can continue to enhance the well-being of countless American families with the cosmetics and personal care products they trust and enjoy every day. 

More from PCPC

Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Lisa Powers
EVP, Public Affairs & Communications, Personal Care Products Council

Increasing demands from stakeholders for improved environmental performance and transparency appear to be fueling the recent peak of interest in life cycle assessment (LCA). As more companies, both large and small, make commitments toward a more sustainable future, science-based tools like LCA help them chart a strategic course forward and, more importantly, objectively measure progress.

Life cycle assessment is a multi-staged, detailed process of identifying and measuring the inputs that go into making something and the outputs that occur as a result. It’s a valuable tool for understanding how impacts occur as a result of the materials used throughout the value chain, from cradle to grave. Despite its highly technical nature, a growing number of marketing and sustainability executives (not just supply chain or process engineering professionals) are commissioning LCA studies, recognizing the opportunity to drive both business and social value.

While LCA can be used in a variety of applications, the most common are:

  • Identifying greatest impacts along a supply chain;
  • Establishing a baseline for improvement;
  • Making meaningful comparisons of like, but not identical, objects;
  • Helping guide a product or process development;
  • Telling a product story; or
  • Supporting product environmental declarations.

Earlier this month, PCPC hosted the third webinar in its sustainability series, introducing the concept of LCA to member companies. This series is intended to advance the capabilities, know-how and understanding of sustainability best practices among PCPC members. Judging by the questions posed during the webinar, life cycle assessment is a topic of growing interest to our member companies.

Guest speakers Dr. Jim Fava and Dr. John Heckman, both executive directors at Anthesis, shared their 60+ years of combined experience working with LCA. In addition to providing a brief history on LCA’s development and real-life examples of its potential applications, their presentation provided a simple explanation of the phases, or steps in the LCA process, and stages, which are tied to aspects of the product life cycle (see below). Fava and Heckman also shared their perspective on widely used LCA software tools, and the types of human health, ecosystem and resource impact categories most commonly measured as outputs in LCA.

Many PCPC member companies are well versed in LCA. Some have been exposed to the principles through their membership in the Sustainable Packaging Initiative for Cosmetics (SPICE), whose life cycle assessment, eco-design webtool was demonstrated during an earlier webinar. Others have invested in low-cost or open-source tools for non-experts that provide decision making support in procurement or product design.

Member companies recognize the growth of LCA-based ecolabels and other stakeholder pressures to better manage limited resources and any impacts created along the value chain. Science-based tools, whether used in calculating greenhouse gas emission reductions or facilitating a choice between different packaging materials, provide a data-informed approach to decision making and a credible way forward for all companies on a sustainability journey.

More from PCPC

Climate Leadership in the Beauty and Personal Care Industry

Lisa Powers
EVP, Public Affairs & Communications, Personal Care Products Council

This week, CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project), one of the most comprehensive and globally respected sustainability reporting platforms, released the 2020 scores for disclosures on climate change management. More than 9,600 companies – a record number – disclosed their performance and progress, a 17% increase over last year and a 70% increase since the signing of the Paris Accord in 2015. 

With the publication of CDP’s annual scores, stakeholders can learn more about how companies are incorporating sustainability into their business strategy and practices, as well as how they are addressing climate change. Scores are awarded from A to D- based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks. The scores also consider best practices associated with environmental leadership, such as setting ambitious and meaningful targets. CDP measures performance on climate change, forests and water security.

Of the companies reporting to CDP this year, 270 achieved CDP’s climate change “A” list, compared to 179 in 2019. Several members of the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) – Beiersdorf, Colgate-Palmolive Company, The Estée Lauder Companies, Firmenich, Givaudan, International Flavors & Fragrances, Johnson & Johnson, Kao Corporation, Kering, L’Oréal, Symrise and Unilever – were among the companies with the highest scores.

CDP, the gold standard in environmental reporting, presents several benefits to companies disclosing their environmental impact. Companies can build stakeholder trust through greater transparency and enhance their reputation by responding to public concerns about the environment. The process of reporting also helps companies identify emerging environmental risks and opportunities and stay ahead of regulatory reporting requirements. Action on environmental management is desperately needed.

In September, a new multi-agency report from leading science organizations, United in Science 2020, was released and indicated that although emission saw a temporary decline attributed to the pandemic lockdown, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to rise. The report also acknowledges that the world has seen its warmest five years on record and is not on track to meet agreed targets to keep global temperature increase well below 2 °C, or at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels as deemed critical in the Paris Accord. Climate change is impacting all eco-systems, from mountains to oceans, accelerating sea-level rise and posing a significant threat to human life.

The need for climate action has never been more pressing. The beauty and personal care industry is committed to being part of the solution. Through transparent disclosures of its approach to managing climate impacts created along the value chain and by setting ambitious, science-based goals to GHG emissions mitigation, our industry continues to demonstrate its leadership. In addition to reporting to CDP annually, many of PCPC’s member companies have also made commitments to science-based targets, which align with the goals of the Paris Accord and provide a clearly-defined pathway to reduce GHG emissions.

We cannot wait for government to lead the way on climate change. The private sector has a fundamental role to play in reducing GHG emissions, and I am proud to be part of an industry that is leading the way.

More from PCPC

Gratitude is Beautiful

by Keech Combe Shetty
Executive Chair, Combe, Inc. and
Board Chair, Personal Care Products Council

This Thanksgiving, like so much this year, will be different than those most of us have experienced before. Our friends and family may not be with us in person. Our feasts may be smaller. While it won’t be normal, we can all be thankful that we may be able to see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel. But, as we have since our first president called on us to celebrate Thanksgiving, we, as a nation will reaffirm our values. We can see the future of our country—no matter how far away it may seem—and it looks bright.

This year’s events caused significant economic uncertainty, tragically took too many lives, made many of us work from home and learn to teach our kids in new ways. As we continue to struggle with the “new normal,” there are glimmers of hope as we witness the generosity of spirit and the kindness of others.

The beauty and personal care industry is grateful to front line workers, including medical professionals; nonprofit and relief organizations working to ensure the well-being of those less fortunate; and everyday citizens looking for ways to protect themselves and their families from this horrible pandemic. All of those who put their lives on the line to protect us makes all of us better people.

Throughout our history, personal care products and cosmetics companies have put safety at the forefront of everything we do. This year, safety took on a new meaning. The Personal Care Products Council and I are very thankful for the families who trust and use our products every day. It is an honor to produce safe products that support people’s well-being and provide comfort and normalcy at a time that is anything but normal.

Writer Alice Walker once said, “’Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say…Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility and understanding.” On behalf of the Personal Care Products Council and its member companies, I thank you and wish you a happy, safe Thanksgiving. Most of all, I hope you can take some time and remind yourself of the things you are thankful for and thank those around you who make a difference in your life.

More from PCPC

Innovations in Sustainable Packaging

Lisa Powers
EVP, Public Affairs & Communications, Personal Care Products Council

As public and regulatory concerns about single-use packaging waste increase, consumer goods companies are proactively taking steps and making commitments to improve the sustainability of their packaging while also rethinking packaging systems. Focused for decades primarily on convenience, consumers are increasingly aware of packaging waste that ends up in oceans and landfills. Companies are working together, pre-competitively, on systems-level approaches with a common understanding of the challenges and need for collaboration along the entire packaging value chain.

The beauty and personal care industry is taking numerous actions to reduce its use of plastic packaging, use more recycled plastic and increase the recyclability of plastic packaging. Last year, PCPC joined the Sustainable Packaging Initiative for Cosmetics (SPICE) as an associate member. SPICE, co-founded by Quantis and L’Oréal, brings together organizations in the cosmetics sector to work towards a common goal of shaping the future of sustainable packaging. SPICE develops and publishes business-oriented methodologies and data to support decision-making to improve the environmental performance of product packaging.

For some beauty and personal care products, packaging drives the most significant impact within their value chain, especially if it’s complex, multi-material, heavy or uses special finishing processes. SPICE aims to establish a harmonized packaging footprint platform and common methodology for evaluating environmental performance.

As part of our continued efforts to advance the capabilities, know-how and understanding of sustainability best practices, PCPC recently hosted a webinar on sustainable packaging, focusing on trends and business drivers; an introduction to SPICE; and a demonstration of its new open source sustainable packaging tool.

Webinar guest speaker Dimitri Caudrelier, CEO of Quantis, a global sustainability consulting firm, demonstrated a new eco-design webtool to help companies assess the environmental performance of packaging based on an industry-aligned methodology. The tool features an easy-to-use interface developed specifically for cosmetics packaging designers and engineers and can:

  • Calculate the footprint of any cosmetics package, create an aggregate score for that package and detail for its environmental performance by stage in the lifecycle
  • Simulate multiple materials and design scenarios to assess ways to reduce a package’s impacts and help evaluate different packaging approaches (single-use, recharge/refill systems)
  • Inform a company’s sustainable packaging policy, goals and progress

Webinar attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Nicol Sobczyk, director of Sustainable Packaging at L’Oréal USA. Sobczyk spoke about an innovative life cycle assessment tool that L’Oréal developed, called Sustainable Packaging Optimization Tool (SPOT), which helps product development teams within the company assess the social and environmental performance of new and renovated products. Sobczyk indicated that SPOT is used not only to motivate teams to set ambitious goals but also to enable them to measure results, which can be shared with external stakeholders.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, the beauty and personal care products industry is working in pre-competitive coalitions like SPICE to address the challenges associated with packaging design, materials and waste. Several companies, including Colgate-Palmolive, Henkel, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, The Estée Lauder Companies and Unilever, have set ambitious, time-bound goals for all plastic packaging to be recyclable, reusable, compostable or refillable. Many companies are also making recycling easier for consumers, incentivizing them to bring empty packaging back to point of sale, or return by mail, thereby increasing the use of recycled content and testing innovative approaches to refillable packaging.

While we recognize there is more to be done, the industry’s common progress can be accelerated through best practices and by working together with harmonized standards and science-based tools. More information about industry initiatives on sustainable packaging can be found in our 2019 sustainability report, Creating a More Beautiful World.

 

More from PCPC

Breast Cancer Awareness and COVID-19

Lezlee Westine
President and CEO, Personal Care Products Council

Each October, communities across the country align to raise awareness for breast cancer and promote the need for education, screening, early detection, new treatment therapies and patient support. With sustained focus over the last 40 years, significant advances have increased survival rates and improved the quality of life for the one in eight people diagnosed with the disease.

The pandemic has impacted our everyday lives in countless ways, including delays of life-saving screening tests necessary for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Mammogram rates across the country are down significantly versus screenings at pre-COVID-19 levels, as hospitals shifted their focus to treat those diagnosed with COVID-19 and patients opted to delay screening tests for fear of contracting the virus.

Although the pandemic has caused tremendous devastation and loss of life, it is also a reminder that we are all in this together. By uniting as a community to face the health and safety consequences of this virus, we continue to demonstrate our resilience when we work together against a common enemy. Breast cancer is no different.

More than 30 years ago, the beauty and personal care industry came together to support women being treated for cancer. Look Good Feel Better was the first program of its kind to help cancer patients manage the appearance-related side effects from treatment. The program was based on the belief that by helping to improve appearance, the workshops could also improve morale, confidence and hope. Having now served more than 2 million people in 27 countries, the program helps women – and men and teens – face cancer with confidence. Look Good Feel Better is a clear demonstration of the good that can happen when we unite behind a larger purpose.

While in-person LGFB workshops have been suspended through the end of 2020 due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns for participants, volunteers and hospital staff partners, the beauty industry’s signature philanthropic program offers live virtual workshops as a safe, convenient way for women to realize the benefits of the program from the comfort of their homes. Truly among the most vulnerable of populations, anyone who is being treated for cancer needs to take extra precautions to ensure their health and safety.

As an industry committed to women’s health and well-being, many beauty and personal care companies – including Avon, The Estée Lauder Companies, Mary Kay, Revlon and Henkel, among others – support longstanding educational programs and campaigns for breast cancer. In addition to raising awareness, these companies advocate for public policies that support reproductive health; commit funds for life saving research and treatments; and provide emotional support programs for the millions of men, women and teens affected, directly or indirectly, by breast cancer.

While researchers around the world are working to advance breast cancer treatment and eradicate the disease, we know that early detection is key to more available treatment options, increased survival and improved quality of life. This makes routine breast cancer screenings all the more important even during COVID-19. Many hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country have reopened and are offering mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs. If you have postponed your mammogram because of COVID-19, check with your primary care physician or gynecologist about rescheduling.

Breast cancer impacts the lives of so many people. Together, we can show our support for those affected by the disease and celebrate its survivors with these simple acts:

  1. Know the facts
    Know your risk factors and how to identify key symptoms of breast cancer.
  2. Wear and shop pink
    Help raise awareness for breast cancer by adding a touch of pink to your wardrobe.
  3.  Volunteer
    Offer your time to an organization focused on the disease, such as the Breast Cancer Charities of America (BCCA) and Susan G. Komen.
  4.  Make a donation
    Give a gift in honor of a survivor or loved one to help those still fighting against cancer. Donate to a worthy organization, such as Look Good Feel Better, Susan G. Komen, or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

More from PCPC