Report on the Safer Beauty Bill Package and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

On July 17, 2025, a legislative initiative known as the Safer Beauty Bill Package was introduced in the United States Congress by Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, and Ayanna Pressley. This package comprises four distinct bills aimed at strengthening federal regulation of chemicals in beauty and personal care products. The legislation builds upon the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, seeking to close significant gaps in consumer safety and align industry practices with key public health and sustainability benchmarks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Legislative Components

The Safer Beauty Bill Package includes the following four proposed acts:

1. H.R. 4433 Toxic-Free Beauty Act: Proposes a ban on 18 of the most hazardous chemicals and two entire chemical classes, including lead, mercury, formaldehyde, asbestos, phthalates, and parabens, which are associated with severe health issues.
2. H.R. 4436 Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color & Salon Workers: Allocates $30 million for research and public education and directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate synthetic hair products, which disproportionately affect communities of color.
3. H.R. 4435 Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act: Mandates the full disclosure of hazardous ingredients within fragrance and flavor formulas on both product labels and company websites.
4. H.R. 4434 Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act: Requires the sharing of ingredient and safety data throughout the cosmetics supply chain to promote transparency and the manufacturing of safer products.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Safer Beauty Bill Package directly supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals through its focus on public health, environmental justice, and corporate accountability.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The legislation advances Target 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals. By banning known carcinogens and reproductive toxicants from personal care products, the bills seek to mitigate daily chemical exposure and prevent associated diseases.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The package strongly addresses Target 10.3 to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome. H.R. 4436 specifically targets the disproportionate health burden faced by communities of color and salon workers, who are often exposed to more toxic products, thereby promoting environmental justice and health equity.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By establishing safety protections for salon professionals, the legislation contributes to Target 8.8, which calls for protecting labor rights and promoting safe and secure working environments for all workers.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The bills promote Target 12.4 concerning the environmentally sound management of chemicals. The requirements for supply chain transparency (H.R. 4434) and ingredient disclosure (H.R. 4435) empower consumers to make informed choices and encourage manufacturers to adopt safer production patterns.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This legislative effort strengthens the regulatory capacity of the FDA, contributing to Target 16.6 to develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions. It establishes a more robust legal framework for the cosmetics industry, enhancing public safety and corporate accountability.

Conclusion

The Safer Beauty Bill Package represents a comprehensive approach to reforming cosmetic safety in the United States. Its framework is intrinsically linked to the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting improved public health, reducing systemic inequalities, ensuring safer working conditions, and fostering responsible production and consumption. The initiative has garnered significant support from over 150 health, environmental justice, and consumer organizations, indicating a broad consensus on the need for legislative action to align the beauty industry with global health and sustainability standards.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article focuses on new legislation, the “Safer Beauty Bill Package,” aimed at making personal care products safer. It directly addresses health by seeking to ban toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, formaldehyde, and asbestos, which are explicitly linked to severe health issues such as “cancer, brain damage, and reproductive harm.”

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article highlights the disproportionate health impact of toxic cosmetics on “communities of color & salon workers.” It notes that products marketed to Black women contain unregulated chemicals leading to “increased incidences of cancer, respiratory issues, and adverse reproductive outcomes.” The “Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color & Salon Workers” bill is specifically designed to address this inequality.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The proposed legislation promotes responsible production by banning hazardous chemicals and mandating transparency. The “Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act” requires data sharing to help manufacturers create safer products, while the “Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act” demands full disclosure of ingredients to consumers, fostering more responsible consumption choices.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article addresses the occupational health and safety of salon workers, who are exposed to toxic chemicals in their work environment. The “Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color & Salon Workers” bill aims to create a safer working environment for these professionals by funding research and promoting safer alternatives.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Explanation: The “Toxic-Free Beauty Act” directly supports this target by proposing a ban on “18 of the most hazardous chemicals – including lead, mercury, formaldehyde, asbestos, phthalates, and parabens” from beauty products, which are known to cause illnesses and harm human health.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
   • Explanation: The article points out that Black women “disproportionately suffer” from adverse health outcomes due to toxic chemicals in beauty products. The “Safer Beauty Bill Package,” especially H.R. 4436, is a legislative action designed to reduce this specific health inequality faced by communities of color.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Target 12.4: By 2020, 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.
   • Explanation: The legislation aims to manage chemicals in cosmetics by banning the most toxic ones and requiring transparency throughout the supply chain via the “Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act.” This ensures manufacturers and brands can make safer products, minimizing adverse impacts on human health.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…
   • Explanation: The article identifies salon workers as a vulnerable group. The “Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color & Salon Workers” bill specifically addresses their work environment by funding research for “safer alternatives” and directing the FDA to oversee the safety of products they frequently use, thus promoting a safer workplace.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Implied Indicator for Target 3.9: Number and list of hazardous chemicals officially banned in cosmetic products.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly lists chemicals targeted for a ban, such as “lead, mercury, formaldehyde, asbestos, phthalates, and parabens.” Progress can be measured by the successful passage of the “Toxic-Free Beauty Act” and the removal of these substances from products.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Implied Indicator for Target 10.3: Allocation and use of funds for research and education benefiting communities of color and salon workers.
   • Explanation: The article mentions that the bill “funds $30 million in research, public education, and safer alternatives” for these specific communities. Tracking the disbursement and impact of these funds would be a direct indicator of progress.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Implied Indicator for Target 12.4: Percentage of cosmetic products providing full disclosure of hazardous fragrance and flavor ingredients.
   • Explanation: The “Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act” requires “full disclosure” on labels and websites. Progress can be measured by the rate of compliance and the number of products that meet this transparency requirement.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Implied Indicator for Target 8.8: Establishment of FDA oversight for the safety of synthetic hair products.
   • Explanation: The article states that the bill “directs the FDA to oversee the safety of synthetic hair products.” The implementation of this directive would be a clear indicator of progress in protecting the health of salon workers who use these products.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jsonline.com