Related Articles
What has been known for more than three decades as the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association now has a new name, the Personal Care Products Council, and with the new persona comes a fact-laden product safety Web site designed to win consumer trust.
These changes represent a bold step for the 113-year-old, Washington-based trade association. Throughout its history, the organization has focused inwardly on the needs of the beauty industry, expending its efforts on safety and product research and legislative lobbying. Now the organization is reaching out to the consumer world, in recognition of how society’s habits have dramatically changed, especially in the last decade.
“We’re seeing a sea change in what consumers desire in product safety information,” said Marc Pritchard, president of global strategy at Procter & Gamble Co. and chairman of the Council. He added there is a craving for the kind of specific information that is packed on the Council’s site. “It’s pretty clear that product safety is a subject on the radar screen.” Pritchard noted that 200 business publications have printed stories on cosmetics public safety. “Consumers really want the whole story on what they are buying; what is in it and everything they can get.”
So the Council decided to open its files. “We have an incredible wealth of information and expertise from scientists, dermatologists and biologists — thousands of studies,” Pritchard said. “We wanted to make sure that we were turning outward to consumers. That’s what we are in business here for, the consumer,” he added. “What we want to do involves a simple objective — become the consumer’s best resource.”
The new Web site offers detailed information, test findings and regulatory opinions on 1,500 ingredients, lumped into 13 personal care product categories, which the organization claims represents a majority of all products used in cosmetics and personal care products. The site offers videos, such as a seven-minute documentary shot in a laboratory and other clips showing scientists talking about their work.
In addition, there are links to organizations like the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, which provide information on product safety laws and safety test data and conclusions. Controversial ingredients are covered in depth, according to a spokeswoman for the organization.
For more, see Thursday’s issue of WWD.