Adnkronos Brussels, 18 March – (Adnkronos) – The CEOs of the Value of Beauty Alliance met today in Brussels to continue a constructive dialogue with the EU institutions on the impact of EU policies and regulations on the sector’s global competitiveness and sustainability goals. The CEOs – reads a note – underlined the sector’s long-standing commitment to a sustainable future and called for a collaborative decision-making process that recognises the sector’s unique characteristics, challenges and significant contributions to the EU economy.
The Alliance also launched a new report by Oxford Economics, which highlights the significant socio-economic impact of the beauty and personal care supply chain. The beauty and personal care supply chain contributes €180 billion to the EU’s GDP, or €496 million generated every day, and supports almost 3,2 million jobs. EU beauty and personal care companies also export €26 billion worth of goods to customers outside the EU, making the EU-27 the world’s largest exporter of beauty and personal care products. The EU beauty and personal care industry continues to grow and lead the global competition, with 5 of the 7 largest beauty companies based in the EU, but this success is not a given.
The CEOs called on the EU institutions to engage in a constructive dialogue to discuss the impact of EU policies and legislation, in order to ensure that the beauty and personal care value chain can maintain its leading position on the global stage.
For example, the Alliance calls on the EU to urgently review the recently adopted legislation on urban wastewater treatment to ensure that all sectors contributing to micropollutants in water are held accountable, in line with the polluter pays principle. This will not only drive the development of more sustainable products across all industrial sectors, but will also ensure that this does not impose a disproportionate cost burden on one of the few world-leading sectors in Europe. The Alliance believes that the upcoming Omnibus process is an ideal opportunity to correct this imbalance and promote a level playing field for all industries contributing to water pollution.
Looking ahead, the CEOs also urged the EU to prioritise the following key areas: Revisions of REACH and the Cosmetics Regulation: focus on consumer safety and environmental protection based on robust risk assessment and real-world use of ingredients, while maintaining high scientific standards; Trade agreements: prioritise market access, reduce regulatory barriers and support the export of high-quality European products. Strengthen customs controls and strictly enforce environmental and sustainability requirements for imported products, both online and offline, to ensure a level playing field. – Transition to the bioeconomy: implement policies that support sustainable ingredient production, address the ‘green premium’ for sustainable technologies and ensure a reliable long-term supply of sustainable raw materials. – Workforce development: work with industry to develop targeted training programmes and investment tools to improve workforce skills and meet the evolving needs of the sector.
The Value of Beauty Alliance continues to work closely with EU institutions to develop policies that foster innovation, create jobs and ensure the continued global competitiveness of the European beauty and personal care industry. This collaborative approach will be essential to ensure the industry's continued contribution to the European economy and a sustainable future.