Environmental Laws
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California Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Ingredients Right to Know Act
As promised, I am posting the safer alternative to toxic fragrance.
We have conventional fragrance, greenwashing fragrance, and safer fragrance.
𝙏𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 : As I mentioned on my Reel, according to EWG the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the product label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals.
👩🔬Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress, and potential effects on the reproductive system!
It is not required that manufacturers disclose fragrance ingredients.
The International Fragrance Association has a list of over 3,000 ingredients found in fragrance mixes. They are associated with allergic reactions, cancer, endocrine disruption, and potentially dangerous to fertility and to an unborn child.
𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: “Natural fragrance” since the word “natural” is not regulated by U.S. law, if the brands don’t disclose what is in it, they may have something to hide! You could still find unsafe ingredients such as solvents, pesticides, and preservatives conventionally found inside synthetic fragrance.
𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: the safest alternative is JUST 100% essential oils, no other ingredients in the mix. Some added ingredients are ok as long as they are safe and organic oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil found in USDA Organic fragrance.
To prevent companies continuing to serve us toxic, undisclosed secrets packed in fancy glass bottles, California stepped in on this fight with the
𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧 𝙄𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝘼𝙘𝙩 of 2019 (SB 312 – Leyva), signed into law in October of 2020, to require cosmetics companies to publicly disclose toxic fragrance and flavor ingredients present in beauty and personal care products sold in the state. The first step to consumer protection, and not towards companies’ profit.
💚Learn about My favorite fragrance brands and
the safest candles that use only disclosed therapeutic essential oils!
California PFAS Ban
PFAS are man made toxic chemicals known as a forever chemical.
Risks of PFAS are relevant, since they sink into the groundwater or are released into the air.
They can travel and bioaccumulate, they build up in the human body over time.
PFOA, also known as C8 because of eight carbon molecules, is found in the blood of 99.7% of Americans.
High cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyroid disease
testicular, and kidney cancer.
•1951 3M Started to sell PFAS to Dupont to make Teflon, found in many products including, non-stick pans!
•1981 3M knew that PFAS created birth defects and Dupont found that their employees had 7 birth defects among their employees. They have been dumping PFAS in the water for years without tracking.
•1993 It could have been replaced with a less toxic alternative, but they didn’t want to lose Teflon’s $1 billion in annual revenue.
•2015 Dupont promised to phase out C8, but they came out with another unsafe alternative: GENX, a different chemical under a different name: Chemours
EPA requires testing for chemicals only when it’s been provided evidence of potential harm. This self-regulating company rule is not enough!
❌Many brands have used this toxic material including:
•Shoe brand Wolverine used this chemical in its waterproof Hush Puppies
•Lululemon, The North Face, and Patagonia in some of their items.
•Starbucks, Subway, Chick-fil-A sold in their food wrappers
Learn more here: ewg.org/PFASMAP
🚫Avoid Teflon pans, waterproof fabric, clothing, and shoes!
👏To prevent companies continuing to sell us toxic PFAS undisclosed in products in fancy packaging, California stepped in on this fight with signed legislation that bans the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from paper, paperboard, or plant-based food packaging, utensils, and paper straws, effective January 1, 2023.
The first step to consumer protection, and not towards company profit. Thank you, Gavin Newsom
Checkmy favorite eco-friendly shoes.
California's legislation (AB-2379)
💙Yayyy! Legislation has been proposed for a new label in the apparel industry, which would help protect marine life!
If passed in California, a new label will require disclosing when a garment is made of 50% or more from synthetic fibers!
This new proposed law targets plastic micro fibers shed from clothing made with synthetic fabrics.
California State Assemblyman Richard Bloom says, “...synthetic fibers are, by count, the single largest contributor to watershed plastic pollution in developed countries and account for a significant portion of plastic waste entering the ocean.” It is suggested the label read, “This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution.” If the governor signs it, the law would take effect on January 1, 2020.
A study found about one-quarter of the fish sampled in a California market contained plastic!! This is fish that will end up on someone’s plate.
What can we do until then?
Avoid synthetic materials such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, and spandex. Choose instead GOTS certified material such as cotton, linen, wools, silk, and eco-friendly bamboo, hemps, and ramie (flowering plant). There are so many options now for eco-friendly, beautiful apparel. The choice is up to you!💙