Legislative Initiative to Advance Sustainable Development Goals in the U.S. Cosmetics Industry

Introduction: The Safer Beauty Bill Package

A legislative effort has been introduced in the United States Congress to enhance the safety of beauty and personal care products, directly aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and three colleagues have presented the Safer Beauty Bill package, a comprehensive initiative aimed at regulating hazardous chemicals within the cosmetics industry.

The package consists of four distinct bills:

• H.R. 4433: The Toxic-Free Beauty Act
• H.R. 4434: The Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act
• H.R. 4435: The Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act
• H.R. 4436: The Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The primary objective of the proposed legislation is to safeguard public health, a core tenet of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The bills seek to prohibit numerous hazardous substances from being used in personal care products sold in the U.S.

1. Exposure Reduction: Reports indicate the average American adult is exposed to approximately 168 unique chemicals daily through the use of about 12 personal care products. The legislation targets the more than 10,000 industrial chemicals currently used in product formulation.
2. Banning Harmful Substances: The bills would explicitly ban chemicals linked to severe health issues, including cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive harm. Prohibited substances would include:
   • Lead
   • Mercury
   • Formaldehyde
   • Asbestos
   • Parabens

Addressing Inequalities: A Focus on SDG 10 and SDG 8

The Safer Beauty Bill package places significant emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Key Provisions for Vulnerable Groups:

• Communities of Color: The legislation acknowledges that women of color are disproportionately affected, as products marketed towards them often contain a higher concentration of toxic chemicals. H.R. 4436 is specifically designed to address this health inequity.
• Salon Professionals: The bills recognize professional salon workers as a high-risk group due to prolonged occupational exposure to hazardous substances in their workplaces. By creating safer products, the initiative promotes a safer working environment, in line with the principles of decent work.

Promoting SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The initiative strongly supports the framework of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by fostering transparency and encouraging the development of safer, more sustainable products.

Mechanisms for Responsible Practices:

1. Enhanced Transparency: The bills mandate the clear disclosure of hazardous ingredients on both product labels and company websites, empowering consumers to make informed and safer purchasing decisions.
2. Funding for Innovation: The legislative package includes provisions to fund research and education focused on developing safer alternatives, particularly for synthetic hair products, thereby encouraging a shift in production patterns away from hazardous materials.

Legislative Context and Future Outlook

This legislative package builds upon the 2022 Modernization of Cosmetic Regulations Act (MoCRA), which expanded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight of the cosmetics industry. However, stakeholders like Janet Nudelman of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners note that MoCRA did not grant the FDA sufficient authority to ban specific toxic chemicals. The Safer Beauty Bill package is designed to fill these critical regulatory gaps, moving the industry towards greater alignment with global health and sustainability standards.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Safer Beauty Bill package highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals addressed are those concerning human health, sustainable production and consumption patterns, and social equity.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article. The proposed legislation aims to prohibit hazardous chemicals from beauty products that have been “linked to cancer, brain damage and reproductive health issues.” By seeking to eliminate consumer exposure to toxic substances like lead, mercury, and formaldehyde, the bills directly support the objective of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article addresses the need to reform how beauty and personal care products are made and sold. It mentions that “over 10,000 industrial chemicals” are used in formulations. The bills aim to achieve more sustainable production by banning harmful ingredients (The Toxic-Free Beauty Act) and promoting transparency in the supply chain (Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act). Furthermore, by requiring the disclosure of ingredients, the legislation empowers consumers to make more responsible and informed purchasing decisions, aligning with the principles of responsible consumption.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article specifically points out that the health risks from toxic chemicals in beauty products are not distributed equally. It states that “women of color and professional salon workers are the most vulnerable because toxic chemicals are present in the beauty and personal care products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces.” One of the proposed bills, the “Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers,” directly targets this disparity, aiming to reduce health inequalities among different population groups.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified as being directly relevant to the proposed Safer Beauty Bill package.

1. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The article’s core focus is on eliminating dangerous chemicals from personal care products. The text explicitly mentions that the bills would “ban dozens of chemicals, including lead, mercury, formaldehyde, asbestos and parabens,” which are known to cause severe health problems. This legislative effort is a direct attempt to reduce illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous chemicals, aligning perfectly with Target 3.9.

2. Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

   The Safer Beauty Bill package is a mechanism for the “sound management of chemicals.” By prohibiting certain substances from being used in product formulations, the bills aim to prevent their adverse impacts on human health. The “Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act” further supports this target by ensuring oversight of the chemicals used throughout the production process.

3. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity… or other status.

   The article highlights a specific bill, H.R. 4436 – “Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers.” This bill is designed to address the disproportionate exposure to toxic chemicals faced by these specific groups. By creating targeted legal protections, the legislation aims to mitigate a source of health inequality, thereby promoting the well-being and safety of vulnerable communities, which is a key aspect of Target 10.2.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to track progress towards the identified targets, primarily centered around the implementation and enforcement of the proposed legislation.

• Indicator for Target 3.9: Number of hazardous chemicals banned or restricted in consumer products.

  A direct indicator of progress is the successful implementation of “The Toxic-Free Beauty Act” (H.R. 4433). The article provides a specific, though not exhaustive, list of chemicals to be banned: “lead, mercury, formaldehyde, asbestos and parabens.” Progress can be measured by the number of chemicals officially prohibited from use in beauty products sold in the U.S.

• Indicator for Target 12.4: Adoption and implementation of national legislation on hazardous chemicals.

  The primary indicator is the passage of the four bills that make up the Safer Beauty Bill package. The article names each bill (H.R. 4433, H.R. 4434, H.R. 4435, H.R. 4436). The successful enactment of this package into law would serve as a clear measure of progress in establishing a framework for the sound management of chemicals in the cosmetics industry.

• Indicator for Target 12.8 (related to Target 12.4): Percentage of companies providing information on product sustainability.

  The “Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act” (H.R. 4435) would “require the disclosure of hazardous materials on product labels and websites.” An indicator of success would be the number or percentage of beauty and personal care products sold in the U.S. that provide this mandated information, allowing consumers to make informed choices.

• Indicator for Target 10.2: Existence of laws and policies that ensure equal access to health and safety protections.

  The introduction and potential passage of the “Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers” bill (H.R. 4436) is itself an indicator. It demonstrates a policy-level commitment to addressing health inequalities. Further progress could be measured by studies tracking the reduction of chemical exposure and related health issues within these specific communities following the law’s implementation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcchicago.com