P&G’s Small Steps On Preservative Disclosure – A Help, But Still Falling Short

In a nod to greater disclosure, P&G issued a press release to announce a preservative tracker to let consumers know which preservatives are included in different categories of P&G’s products, such as baby wipes, skin care, and hair care products. The company issued a table of preservatives by category and a tool to allow consumers to search by ingredient or by product type. In its updated policy statements, P&G said it no longer uses triclosan in any products and is in the process of exiting triclocarban, which has been linked to hormone disruption. P&G is also phasing out from its baby wipes the chemical phenoxyethanol that has been linked to nervous system problems in infants, allergic reactions and eczema, but will continue to use it in some skin care and hair care products. Still, the company is not disclosing this information on packaging, remains quiet about other ingredients, notable ingredient “fragrance” (or “parfum”) that can include around 3,000 chemicals, some of which are linked to cancer.  Greater disclosure is a positive move and will help P&G avoid widespread consumer disapproval, but lacks real conviction and doesn’t position it well for the broader push towards naturals.  [ Image credit © Jason Lander ]