Present as a contaminant in some personal care and cleaning products, 1,4-dioxane continues to be a concern for California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control under the state’s Safer Consumer Products regulation despite limits already imposed on 1,4-dioxane content in those product categories by New York.

Key challenges facing companies working to implement the European Sustainability Reporting Standards have been identified by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group. Onur Durmus, Partner at sustainability consultancy ERM, shares his thoughts on EFRAG’s findings and offers takeaways for firms that will be subject to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

In this installment of HBW Insight’s “Inside Regulatory Affairs” series, Morgane Mondon discusses the accelerating pace of global regulatory change and how AI-enabled technology, including Ecomundo’s COSMETIC Factory, is helping the firm and its clients stay ahead of the curve.

Key challenges facing companies working to implement the European Sustainability Reporting Standards have been identified by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group. Onur Durmus, Partner at sustainability consultancy ERM, shares his thoughts on EFRAG’s findings and offers takeaways for firms that will be subject to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

Legislator education is key to checking state bills that overreach, says Ross, executive VP of government affairs at the Personal Care Products Council, discussing the rising tide of US state bills aimed at restricting ingredient use.

FDA reminds companies which registered with agency solely to manufacture OTC sanitizers during COVID-19 public health emergency they will be subject to FY2025 OTC monograph user fees if they don’t delist and deregister as monograph drug manufacturers by 12 a.m. on 31 December.

Bicoastal litigation against DDG alleges that its labeling of “C+Collagen” items misled consumers into believing the products contained collagen. The defendant argued that “vegan” declarations on the products’ labeling and “Collagen Amino Acids” in their ingredient lists provided sufficient clarification, but California and New York federal courts have not been persuaded.

The National Advertising Division provides guidance to “minimalist” beauty and personal-care marketers with its review of “simple” claims on Native deodorant, body wash and other personal-care products.

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling is expected to have a minimal impact on drug approvals and other scientific determinations, but matters steeped in the interpretation of regulation and statute, such as marketing exclusivity, could face a heightened risk of challenge, legal experts say.

The public-private partnership follows a meeting in June between Unilever’s chief sustainability officer Rebecca Marmot, USAID administrator Samantha Power, EY global vice chalir, sustainability, Amy Brachio, and Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-AK, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, to discuss the impetus for the CIRCLE Alliance and Unilever’s experience to date implementing its plastics strategy.

L’Oréal and Galderma have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on complementary research projects to discover ‘new avenues and accelerate innovation’ in the field of dermatology. L’Oreal has arranged to purchase a 10% stake in its partner.

Estee Lauder Companies taps a CFO; L’Oréal SA expands SkinCeuticals brand in Japan through Cutera partnership; IFF's Shanghai Creative Center operational by September; vegan hair care brand Naturaz expanding retail with seed funding; American Exchange Group acquires Indie Lee; and US men using skin care up 68% since 2022.

Bayer’s Midol and nonprofit Period. provide PeriodTalk campaign for awareness of the gaps in period education; “The M Factor” film coming day before World Menopause Day in October; Exeltis USA’s Blues Away provides postpartum mood support; and Doctor's Best Women's Collection includes menopause, sleep, digestive, heart and hair/skin/nails support products.

“We have a relatively low exposure to private label to start with. But we don't see penetration of private label going up in 2024,” says CEO Thibaut Mongon. Recent research from analysts, though, shows increase in consumers turning to lower-priced health and personal care alternatives.

“We're significantly investing more in reaching more consumers, but we're doing it in a very different way,” says CGO Charmaine England. Brands may be “iconic,” but on their own they’re not driving sales growth, says CEO Thibaut Mongon.

The Bolingbrook, Ill.-based beauty retailer cuts its fiscal full year 2025 guidance, citing shoppers’ migration to value-based products and competitive intensity, among other factors. The firm reported net sales for the fiscal second quarter inched up 0.9% to $2.6bn.

CEO Sue Nabi says Coty has created a “multi-functional, stand-alone organization” within its Consumer Beauty business to drive rapid-fire innovation. In a 20 August presentation, Nabi said the firm’s innovation pipeline undergirds its fiscal 2025 outlook of 6%-8% growth.

The beauty giant expects organic sales growth for fiscal 2025 to range between -1% and 2%, falling well short of analyst consensus of 7.2%, reflecting the firm’s overexposure in China and Asia travel retail. A new CEO is incoming with Fabrizio Freda set to step down in June 2025.

Laifen, Opalescence Moon, Lewie and quip are among US companies with recent launches to boost their oral care market shares. Recent launch by Arm & Hammer global oral care brand also targets driving growth in the category.

Wild.AI women's health and wellness app available on Zepp’s Amazfit Active; WAT Medical’s app helps users lose weight; and firm Cronometer adds feature to answer users’ most frequent question, "How do I track water?"

Estee Lauder Companies’ TOM FORD signs Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie as the face of its Runway Lip Color Campaign launching 3 September. Dolly Parton introduces her first beauty range, Dolly Beauty, through Scent Beauty. More cosmetics and personal-care news in brief.

Mentholatum says two line extensions made with 2% salicylic acid and its "Oxy for Every Kind of Ne" campaign reinforce the brand’s “commitment to tackling every type of acne—from face-ne and chin-ne to body-ne.”

The Fragrance Creators Association president and CEO discusses the group’s vision for fragrance industry stewardship and opportunities provided by AI, biotechnology and wellness trends in an exclusive Q&A with HBW Insight.

Marking a first for the iconic brand, Eucerin Face is rolling out in Target doors now, Beiersdorf leaders noted in a 7 August half-year earnings presentation. The firm’s Consumer business segment recorded nominal sales growth of 5.4% to €4.3bn in the first half of 2024, led by Nivea.

FTC Division of Marketing Practices assistant director concerned direct selling self-regulation group’s guidance “will encourage deceptive conduct and facilitate deceptive earnings claims.” DSA president says the concerns might reflect the thinking of agency’s staff more than the intent of the agency’s regulations.

Exclusion from procurement processes, confiscation of revenues, and a fine of at least 4% of annual turnover are some of the penalties the European Parliament is considering for greenwashing as part of its position on the EU Green Claims Directive. 

Some advertisers try to avoid scrutiny of regulators and the National Advertising Division when making health-related claims by making a claim “softer.” Annie Ugurlayan, NAD’s assistant director, offers advice on assuring substantiation and a health claim match.