Annie Leonard is the founder of The Story of Stuff Project in 2008. This project focuses on systems of production and consumption with a strong emphasis on the harmful environmental and social impacts of current methods of producing, consuming and disposing of goods. This project is solutions-focused and change-driven.
The Story of Cosmetics
The long-awaited The Story of Cosmetics promises to be an incredible exposé on skin cosmetics that are laced with toxic products that cause unwanted health problems. There is a $50 billion cosmetics industry that uses toxic chemicals in everything from lipstick to baby shampoos and these chemicals are proven to be linked to cancer and birth defects.
This new video will show viewers that too many cosmetic ingredients are unsustainable toxic petrochemicals and that the system of regulating chemicals in personal care products is in dire need of an overhaul. In the Annie Leonard fashion, The Story of Cosmetics offers solutions.
Chemical Laws in the U.S.
The Environmental Defense Fund reports that of the more than 80,000 chemicals used in the United States over the past few decades, approximately only 200 have been required to get fully tested for safety. Only one group of chemicals have ever been fully banned, PCBs.
America’s main law that governs chemical safety, The Toxic Substances Control Act, requires the government to prove chemicals are harmful instead of requiring manufacturers to prove they're safe.
The Story of Stuff team says that legislation was introduced in the spring of 2010 to overhaul chemical laws in the U.S. However, this team of dynamic individuals sum it up well by stating, “Not surprisingly, the chemical companies are hard at work to weaken the proposed laws – they'd rather we just trust them.”
Chemicals in Cosmetics
The Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) is a large group of scientists, engineers, lawyers, policy experts and other dedicated individuals who have an extensive database (Skin Deep) of most cosmetics and other products people use (such as personal care products and oral care). Skin Deep lists all the ingredients in many store-bought products by brand names and shows how dangerous these ingredients are to human health.
EWG scientists have identified that many cosmetics manufactured by big-name companies such as L’Oréal, Elizabeth Arden, and Sally Hansen© (Coty US LLC) are using chemical ingredients that can cause cancer and other serious health concerns.
The Story of Stuff
The Story of Stuff Project is innovative because it is presented in such a way that people of all ages, including school children, can understand. Their goal is not just to educate, but to hopefully show that public change must happen.
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute web-film that explores hidden environmental and social consequences of the United States’ love affair with its “stuff”. To date, this eye-opening film has been viewed over 10 million times online, in thousands of schools, places of worship, community centers and in businesses around the world.
Other productions include:
- The Story of Bottled Water
- The Story of Cap and Trade
- In the fall of 2010, The Story of Electronics (working title) is expected to be released.
The Story of Cosmetics was made possible due to Annie Leonard’s partnership with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Free Range Studios.
Sources:
Environmental Working Group
Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org)
Further Reading:
Cosmetic Regulatory System is Self-Governed
Karen Stephenson - Karen has written for several newspapers and print media in addition to many online publications. She holds a B.A. in English and an ...
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