Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has been penalized $750,000 by federal authorities for utilizing “forever chemicals” in certain eyeliner products. The company admitted to two violations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. During a May 2023 inspection, Environment and Climate Change Canada officials discovered that Estée Lauder was marketing eyeliner products containing perfluorononyl dimethicone, a silicone polymer used to enhance makeup longevity and water resistance, categorized as PFAS. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemical compounds known as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to breaking down in the environment or the human body.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Estée Lauder failed to notify the government before importing, selling, or distributing products containing this substance, which is a crucial step for assessing potential health and environmental risks beforehand. Despite receiving an environmental protection compliance order in June 2023 outlining necessary actions for compliance, the company did not comply with the directives.
Following a court ruling in Ontario, Estée Lauder is mandated to inform its shareholders of the conviction and will be listed in the government’s environmental offenders registry. The imposed fine will be channeled to the federal government’s environmental damages fund, supporting environmental restoration and conservation projects. Environmental advocacy groups have expressed satisfaction with the enforcement of chemical reporting regulations against Estée Lauder, emphasizing the need for Canada to align with global efforts in phasing out PFAS to prevent becoming a destination for banned products.
In a joint statement, the advocacy groups called for stringent regulations to eliminate PFAS from various products, including cosmetics and textiles, to ensure compliance with international standards and secure market access. They also urged the government to finalize the PFAS class listing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, allocate permanent funding for the chemicals management plan, and provide adequate resources for regulatory enforcement to safeguard public health and the environment.
Estée Lauder is not the sole company facing penalties for incorporating perfluorononyl dimethicone in its products. In March 2024, Groupe Marcelle Inc. was fined $500,000 by the Court of Quebec for selling cosmetic items containing the substance, prompting the withdrawal of these products from circulation, as confirmed by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
