What is the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

How many companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

How many companies are currently compliant with the Compact?

What is the goal of the Compact?

Do companies have to pay to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

How do I purchase products from companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

Where are Compact-signing businesses located?

I hear the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sunsetting the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Why?

When will the Compact sunset?

Will companies and consumers still be able to use EWG's Skin Deep database to research safer ingredients and products?

Will there be a way for cosmetics shoppers to know which companies are making safe products now that the Compact is closed?

Is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics going away?

I’m a cosmetics manufacturer that did not sign the Compact before it closed. How do I engage with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics now that the Compact is closed to new signers?

What do current signers need to do to reach compliance with the Compact?

If I’m already a signer, who should I contact about my company status?

Q. What is the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

A. Some companies are making safer products today and striving to make even safer products in the future. Many of those companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to remove hazardous chemicals and replace them with safe alternatives. Click here to search for Compact signers.

Q: How many companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

A: More than 1,500 companies have signed the compact over its 6-year existence.

Q: How many companies are currently compliant with the Compact?

A: At present, more than 250 companies are fully compliant with the provisions of the Compact and hundreds more are working toward compliance.

Q: What is the goal of the Compact?

A: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics created the Compact for Safe Cosmetics to improve the safety of cosmetics and personal care products and to provide better information about product ingredients so consumers can make informed decisions about the products they buy.


Q: Do companies have to pay to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

A: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics does not take any money from Compact-signing companies, and there is no fee to sign the Compact.


Q: How do I purchase products from companies who have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics?

A: Click here to search for companies that have signed the Compact by company name, product category or location. We link to each company's Web site (if they have one), where you can find information about purchasing products.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a non-profit coalition and does not handle any sales.

Q: Where are Compact-signing businesses located?

A: Compact-signing companies are based in 44 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces, five Australian states and territories, numerous counties in the UK, and 22 other countries around the world.


Q: I hear the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is sunsetting the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Why?

A: We have been amazed by the number companies that have signed the Compact, and it has been challenging for us – a coalition of non-profit organizations – to manage the volume of data and communication required to publicly reflect company efforts to meet this pledge. At the same time, the Compact has yielded many significant relationships and shown the world that making safer products is both possible and the wave of the future. In addition, we hope that setting a closure date for the Compact will motivate companies to take the steps to reach full compliance, so we can highlight these leaders at the final sunset. The closure of the Compact will allow for more meaningful engagement of companies who share the Campaign’s goals of increasing cosmetics safety, transparency and public education.

Q: When will the Compact sunset?

A: We have already closed the Compact to new signers. From now until June 2011 we will work with existing Compact signers to achieve compliance on the following schedule:

• March 1: As of this date, all Compact signers who have not entered any products or logged into their account in the past year will be removed from the Compact.
• March 15: Deadline for remaining Compact signers to enter all their products into Skin Deep
• May 15: Skin Deep completes review of products entered by March 15
• June 15: Company deadline for addressing issues highlighted in Skin Deep review
• June 31: Final Skin Deep review of products finished
  

Q: Will companies and consumers still be able to use EWG's Skin Deep database to research safer ingredients and products?

A: The Skin Deep database will still be available after the closure of the Compact. Companies who reach compliant status with the Compact will be listed as such in Skin Deep, making it easy for consumers to select companies and products that have fully participated in the Compact’s call for greater safety and transparency.

Q: Will there be a way for cosmetics shoppers to know which companies are making safe products now that the Compact is closed?

A: As noted above, the Skin Deep database will still be available after the Compact sunset, and compliant companies will be noted and searchable within Skin Deep. Skin Deep also features information on when product ingredient listings were last updated—ensuring consumers can know ingredient listings are current. In addition, compliant companies will be listed at www.safecosmetics.org and publicized by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics after the final closure of the Compact.

Q: Is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics going away?

A: No, not at all! We will continue to advocate for safe personal care products for everyone through our work with businesses, policy makers, communities and individuals.  Closing the Compact will actually free up more Campaign time for research and report-writing, education and outreach, and working closely with businesses committed to safety and sustainability.

Q: I’m a cosmetics manufacturer that did not sign the Compact before it closed. How do I engage with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics now that the Compact is closed to new signers?

A: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working closely with current signers to develop a streamlined way for cosmetics manufacturers to engage with the Campaign around product safety, ingredient transparency and public education. Companies who wish to be notified about the new program can leave their contact information here. They will be contacted in mid to late summer 2011 with an invitation to join the new program.

Q: What do current signers need to do to reach compliance with the Compact?

A: All current signers were sent e-mails on January 25, 2011, detailing their current status with the Compact and their next steps to either remain compliant or reach compliance. If you are a current Compact signer and did not receive an e-mail describing your status, e-mail compact@safecosmetics.org.

Signers of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics are required to meet six provisions of the Compact to attain compliance with this voluntary pledge of safety and transparency. Those provisions are detailed here. The provisions are met when companies fully enter and regularly update all of their products and ingredients (including constituents of fragrances and essential oil blends) into the Skin Deep database, and when they avoid chemicals of concern that are restricted or prohibited by the Compact. By logging onto their company account in Skin Deep, companies can get a report of which provisions they have met and what they need to do to meet remaining provisions.

Q: If I’m already a signer, who should I contact about my company status?

A: You can reach the Compact team at compact@safecosmetics.org.