Good Environmental Choice Australia - www.goodenvironmentalchoice.org.au

TOILETRY & PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Not long ago, the only beauty products available to most of us were ordinary soaps for our hair and bodies, toothpastes, and a few simple cosmetics. Today, in the United States alone, personal care products represent a $20 billion a year industry—and one that has changed dramatically in recent decades.

The potions and lotions lining our shelves are chemical powerhouses of dyes, preservatives, detergents and antimicrobials. All of these agents are included with the promise of cleaner, brighter and disease-free living.

Contrary to their billing, however, many of these products have damaging effects on our health, as well as to our water and wildlife. Some of these impacts can occur during use, particularly to young children or to those of us with more sensitive bodies.

Other consequences are felt far away, occurring only after the products are flushed down the drain. And almost all of these products come with extensive packaging that is quickly discarded, contributing to mountains of plastic and paper waste.

The environmental loads from the production and use of Hair sprays, Shaving Foams, Deodorant Sprays and Roll-ons are widespread and numerous. The primary purpose of this standard is to define environmental performance criteria for the most harmful environmental and human hazards of Hair sprays, Shaving Foams, Deodorant Sprays and Roll-ons and to use these criteria as indicators of general environmental performance of this product group.

For more specific information on these products use the Good Environmental Choice Standard for Personal Care Products. This standard is used to assess the environmental performance of a range of toiletry and personal care products sold in Australia and determine if they deserve the Australian 'Good Environmental Choice' Label.

GECA 6-2007 - PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS