World Green Organisation announces the 2nd batch of baby lotion on the ‘White List’ (3rd White List Launch)
World Green Organisation (WGO) conducted and published a survey last November regarding the baby lotion market in Hong Kong. In this study, WGO found that many parents are concerned about the safety of baby products available. However, because of insufficient information, it is difficult to determine the best and safest choice for their children. In order to help protect the interest of consumers, WGO partnered with three internationally recognised laboratories and developed a ‘three defence methodology’ that raises safety standard for baby products in the market. Today, WGO is launching the third ‘White List’ of this three year project on baby lotion.
WGO announced the 22 new products in the ‘White List’ that passed the ‘three defence methodology’.
These 12 products of baby lotion in the ‘White List’ are HKD150 or below.
Products were categorised by price. These 10 products are HKD151 or more.In the aforementioned study, WGO surveyed over 200 parents with children under the age of 3 to understand the current market situation and what factors parents consider when buying baby products. WGO found that more than 30% of respondents prioritised product safety when purchasing baby personal care products. 23% of respondents looked at the quality of the product. As baby skin is extra sensitive, 30% of parents avoided certain baby products as it caused allergic reactions. 20% avoided products as they found them to be poor quality.
Over 80% of respondents answered that they were worried about the safety of the baby personal care products that they purchase. However even though a majority of parents question the safety of the baby products, only about 60% read the ingredient label at the back of the package. 60% of parents interviewed did not understand or know how to read the label. Findings also found that although 60% of parents were worried about excessive estrogen in baby products, over 51% did not even know what the consequences of having excessive estrogen are.
Current regulations only require chemical testing. As long as products pass the chemical requirements, they are allowed to be sold to the public. It does not take into account estrogen at all. However, as mentioned by Dr. Szeto King Ho, Medical Director and CEO of Hong Kong Emergency Medicine, estrogen can accumulate in the human body. If a pregnant women is exposed to excessive estrogen, it can get passed to the fetus’ and the fetus’ children. In other words, excessive estrogen can harm three generations.
Dr William Yu, Chief Executive Officer of WGO (pictured right) and Dr Szeto King Ho announced the first ‘White List’ launch for baby lotion last November.
Dr Szeto King Ho reminds the public that exposure to excessive estrogen, especially pregnant women can be very harmful. It can harm up to three generations. That is why he strongly supports WGO’s ‘White List’ for baby personal care products.
Dr William Yu, Chief Executive Officer of WGO explaining the ‘White List’ and certification logo.
Dr Szeto King Ho also pointed out that
the World Health Organisation announced in 2012 that excessive estrogen are endocrine disruptors which can lead to ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancer. Long term exposure to excessive estrogen can also disrupt the menstrual cycle and cause abnormal bleeding for females. Young children’s hormones will also be affected. Young girls may have early menstruation while boys may have some reproductive problems.
In the survey, around 60% of parents did not know what ingredients or chemicals to look out for. Due to lack of knowledge within the general public, WGO found that 40% parents were forced to rely on word of mouth from friends and family to decide which baby product to buy. 35% of respondents searched for reviews online.
Due to all of the above reasons, WGO decided to launch a ‘White List’ on baby personal care products that have passed the ‘three defence methodology’. This methodology includes biological testing, chemical analysis, and ingredient checking. All products that have passed the standards will be included in the ‘White List’ (The list can be found at http://wgo.org.hk/whitelist/en/lotion.php).
Humans are the ones that allow estrogen and other hazardous chemicals to enter and affect our environment through the production, packaging, transport, and disposal of products
says Dr William Yu, Chief Executive Officer of WGO.
We hope that through consumer power, producers and retailers will reduce and even prohibit estrogen and other hazardous chemicals at the source. This way, the environment and people’s health can be protected.
Since its inception last year, WGO’s ‘White List’ project has already announced two ‘White List’ launch for baby lotion (batch one) and baby cream. In the coming year, WGO plans to test even more categories of baby products. WGO’s goal is to equip consumers with product safety knowledge and to incentivise manufacturers and retailers to pursue higher safety standards (please refer to Appendix 1 for the newest ‘White List’).
Testing Methodology
Samples were randomly purchase from seven retailers all over Hong Kong. These samples were then sent to internationally renowned laboratories for testing. The biological tests quantifies the amount of estrogen in the product through EEQ testing. In order to be on the ‘White List’, products must pass the World Health Organisation’s standard for EEQ levels. The products also go through chemical analysis which measures the level of heavy metals, methanol, and formaldehyde inside the product, and ingredient checking which looks for banned ingredients using four international guideline databases (For more information on the methodology, please refer to Appendix II).
Many health organisation including the World Health Organisation have been very clear on the detrimental effects of excessive estrogen as it affects the endocrine system. This can lead to fatal health consequences such as development disorders, reproductive problems, respiratory issues, or cancer. Chemical testing cannot account and test for estrogen in a product. That is why biological testing is so important. Only products that have passed the ‘three defence methodology’ are included in the ‘White List’. Through this project, WGO hopes to cultivate a safety baby personal care market.
About Us
The World Green Organisation (WGO) is an independent non-governmental organisation concerned with environmental conservation and environmentally related livelihood and economic affairs. Through science-based policy research and community projects, the WGO aims to enhance the quality of the environment, promote a greener economy, and improve people’s livelihoods. In particular, it will focus on the social concerns of underprivileged groups and on the creation of a green economy to help realise its vision of sustainable development. For more information, please visit http://www.thewgo.org/。
Disclaimer: http://wgo.org.hk/whitelist/en/t&c.pdf
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