The EU Ecolabel, which was previously confined to “rinse off cosmetic goods,” can now be used for all cosmetic categories, including skin care and make-up. The European Commission has proposed new qualifying requirements for this purpose.
New European Union Ecolabel requirements for cosmetics and animal-care goods have been established by the European Commission. As a result, any cosmetic product that meets the requirements of the EU Cosmetic Regulation can now apply for the label. Previously, the EU Ecolabel’s standards for cosmetics only applied to a small number of ‘rinse-off’ goods including body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. ‘Leave-on’ cosmetics like as creams, oils, skin-care lotions, deodorants and antiperspirants, sunscreens, and hairstyling and make-up products are all included in the new restrictions.
The EU Ecolabel’s goal is to assist decrease products’ environmental effect on water, soil, and biodiversity, therefore contributing to “a clean and circular economy and a toxic-free environment.”
H2 Substances that are prohibited
In the case of cosmetics, the ecolabel standards encourage items with low environmental toxicity and biodegradability, as well as products with minimal packaging that can be readily recycled. It is encouraged to utilize recyclable materials and refillable containers. Some materials, such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, and their derivatives, must be sourced in a sustainable manner.
Substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction, as well as substances of very high concern, nanomaterials, those identified or suspected of having endocrine disrupting properties, phthalates, and perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances, as well as microplastics, are all completely banned under the new regulations.
The EU Ecolabel also establishes guidelines to ensure that packaging is minimal and/or recyclable.
“I encourage businesses to apply for the EU Ecolabel and take advantage of its well-deserved reputation.” “The EU Ecolabel aids the transition to a clean and circular economy by guiding concerned consumers toward dependable, verified green products,” said Virginijus Sinkeviius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
This designation, which was given after an independent organization assessed it, might help to provide reality to clean beauty, which is still a nebulous concept for many customers.
The extension of the eco-label to new categories, according to the European Environment Bureau, might help combat greenwashing, which the NGO claims is rampant in the cosmetics business, with “three out of four items in the EU showing some environmental claim or badge.”
H2 Consumers must be protected against greenwashing by the EU.
The European Commission has already taken some excellent initiatives to safeguard consumers against greenwashing, but it must keep moving forward.
The EU must produce a white list of trustworthy labels based on solid principles (publicly available criteria, third-party verification, stakeholder consultation, etc.) and only allow the use of voluntary labels or emblems that satisfy these requirements as part of the new ecolabel program.
Similarly, the Commission should create a blacklist of statements that are ambiguous, imprecise, or misleading in order to expose deceptive marketing directed at consumers. The development of comprehensive governance and market surveillance mechanisms is critical. Before hitting the market, any green claims should be backed up with evidence. Creating a database to track green claims and using the ‘product passport’ to track them will greatly simplify market surveillance and boost transparency.
The EU might raise economic incentives to make ecolabelling more appealing to the sector as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen it. There is still room to strengthen and expand the environmental excellence criteria for best-in-class goods to include new product groupings and services.
The European Green Deal is not just a political blueprint, but also a pledge to many Europeans to live more environmentally friendly lives. We anticipate more bold measures from EU institutions to assist us in navigating the green transition, not the green lie.
