L’Oreal, Kao and Unilever have partnered with Genomatica, Inc. (Geno) to develop sustainable surfactants by replacing feedstocks such as palm oil and fossil fuels with biotech alternatives.

The European Commission is preparing a legal proposal to revise the Cosmetic Products Regulation in line with Green Deal objectives, including the phasing out of chemicals deemed “most harmful." Cosmetics Europe director-general John Chave discusses the problematic approach, possible impacts, and the bizarre and unintended results it could produce.

To cosmetics industry stakeholders, the EU’s talk of instituting a generic risk management approach to eliminate “most hazardous” chemicals spells wholesale adoption of the precautionary principle, the disposal of exposure and risk considerations, and, ultimately, increased cosmetic ingredient restrictions and bans without proportionate human health benefits.