From Personal Care to Planetary Care

The cosmetics and personal care sector has enormous potential to advance safer chemicals, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future. Bringing together representatives from government, industry, civil society, and youth, this highly interactive session will explore how the sector can accelerate progress towards safer and more sustainable value chains.

Facilitated by Malgorzata Stylo, Programme Management Officer at UNEP, the session will feature insights from Emma Trogen, Deputy Director General of Cosmetics Europe; Adeola Omotunde, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Nigeria; Jashaf Shamir Lorenzo of Ban Toxics Philippines; and a youth representative. Through a rapid-fire lightning round, speakers will share the single most important action needed by 2030 to transform the cosmetics sector and explain how progress can be measured, drawing on perspectives from industry, government, civil society, and youth.

Participants will then take part in an interactive cosmetics value chain mapping exercise, exploring challenges and opportunities across the full product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to consumer use, reuse, and end-of-life management. Working alongside experts and peers, attendees will help identify priority actions, measurable indicators of success, and opportunities for collaboration that can drive meaningful change.

The session offers a unique opportunity to gain practical insights into safer and sustainable-by-design products, regulatory approaches, ingredient transparency, consumer engagement, and circular business models. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the cosmetics sector, examples of emerging solutions, and a shared roadmap for accelerating progress towards safer products, healthier communities, and a cleaner environment.