Micro-plastics, nanosilver banned from eco-label cosmetics

Strengthened and expanded EU eco-label rules for shampoos, soaps and other wash-off cosmetics have entered force, including a new requirement to use only sustainable palm oil and a ban on micro-plastics.

Nanosilver, parabens and EDTA are also added to the list of substances that cannot be used in eco-labelled cosmetics. And shaving foams have been brought under the scope of the ecolabel for the first time.

More stringent requirements are introduced on products’ toxicity to aquatic organisms, through tighter ‘critical dilution volume toxicity’.