040824_miljouppdraget-rapport

Information on qualitative and quantitative composition
Sales volumes and mass flows for cosmetics and hygiene products have been studied by collection of data
from the relevant branches. Total volumes for different groups of products (soap, shampoo, etc.), and the
most important functional product groups (tensides, softeners, etc.), could be roughly estimated. Volumes
of individual ingredients could be calculated only in a few cases.
The total volume of cosmetics and hygiene products on the Swedish market amounts to about 40 000
tons/year, of which 24 000 tons is water. If the total consumption is spread evenly over the Swedish population,
each person, on average, uses 12 g of cosmetics and hygiene products per day.
Tensides and softeners/moisture-regulating substances are two large functional groups in cosmetics and
hygiene products. They make up about 30 % and 20 %, respectively, of the amount of dry matter in the
products. The total tenside amount from cosmetics and hygiene products is estimated to be about 5 000 tons
per year, which is only a relatively small proportion, about 4 %, of the total flow of tensides in Sweden.
The effort to estimate volumes and flows of cosmetics and hygiene products has demonstrated that there
are considerable difficulties in obtaining necessary data. Information has been collected from individual
companies as a one-time input by the branch organisation. A future follow-up of the flows will require a
more organised system for data collection. Collection of data on a continuous basis may require regulation.
The Medical Products Agency keeps a register of cosmetics and hygiene products that are retailed or used
professionally in Sweden. The register contains relatively little detailed information about the products, but
is a valuable tool in the supervision of manufacturers and importers. The Medical Products Agency has
examined the possibility to expand the current register to also include data on the contents of the products
and their retail volumes. The Medical Products Agency is of the opinion that the benefits of such an expansion
of the product register are disproportional to the estimated costs.
Packaging
The total amount of packaging from cosmetics and hygiene products amounts to about 5 % of the packaging
flow in Sweden. Packaging for cosmetics and hygiene products is not considered to cause any particular
environmental problems.
Proposed measures
Efforts to reduce the use of environmentally hazardous substances, which may cause environmental risks,
in cosmetics and hygiene products should be continued.
The Medical Products Agency proposes the following measures:
• Increased knowledge of environmental risks associated with cosmetics and hygiene products
• Increased consideration of environmental aspects in the EU legislation on cosmetics and hygiene products
• More and improved environmental risk assessments
• Improved reporting of qualitative/quantitative somposition and flows
• Increased information to stimulate environmental awareness
The Medical Products Agency has identified that it is important to promote, at the EU level, the development
of a cosmetics directive that also considers environmental aspects. Possible trade hindrances caused
by Swedish national environmental requirements on cosmetics and hygiene products are also central issues
that need to be further studied if the Medical Products Agency is to be able to act in accordance with the
intentions of the Swedish Environmental Law.
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