Read the full article by Monica Amarelo (Environmental Working Group)
“SACRAMENTO – Technology giant Honeywell is lobbying California Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill that would ban the sale in the state of cosmetics intentionally made with the toxic ‘forever chemicals‘ known as PFAS, say Sacramento advocates familiar with the situation.
California’s Assembly approved the bill, AB 2771, in a 60-7 vote at the end of August, sending it to Newsom’s desk. If enacted, it would be the latest of the state’s hard-hitting steps to tackle PFAS. Two years ago, it was the first to ban 13 PFAS from personal care products, and also banned PFAS in firefighting foam. Last year, Newsom signed two bills to ban the use of PFAS in juvenile products and in food packaging.
Now Honeywell, which describes itself as a multi-sector technology company, is trying to impede California’s leadership on the issue, because banning PFAS is bad for its bottom line – no matter the health risks people face when exposed to the chemicals.
Honeywell is a major producer of chemicals known as hydrofluoroolefins, or HFOs. These are part of the much larger family of PFAS chemical compounds and are widely used as propellants and solvents
in products like industrial cleaners and refrigerants. The company wants to sell its HFOs to cosmetics manufacturers to use in spray- and foam-based personal care products, such as hair spray, body lotion, makeup, antiperspirant, sunscreen and even baby ointment.
The plan to profit from PFAS in personal care products will be viable only if the chemicals can be sold in the Golden State, the fifth largest economy in the world and the biggest of the 50 states. If AB 2771 becomes law, cosmetics containing harmful PFAS will not be allowed for sale in California.” …