However, this isn't the first time the mica industry has been plagued by child labour abuses. Odylique stated that its mica was “ecologically and ethically obtained according to organic standards.”. Ethical Consumer looked at all the brands’ websites included in the make-up guide and found that all companies were using mica in their products – mostly it was being used in eyeshadows. The mainstream banking & insurance industries continue to invest in shady investments such as fossil fuels and nuclear weapons. “[Poverty] forces people from disadvantaged communities to take up these risky jobs and rely on children to help provide for their families instead of sending them to school,” says Jakub Sobik, the communications manager at Anti-Slavery International. Grenier says the majority of customers are really understanding of this product inconsistency because it’s important that brands are transparent. The booming beauty market is far from pretty. We will contribute with our expertise and help companies and governments to have the Indian mica supply chain responsible in five years. Though “cruelty-free makeup” has long been about animal testing, these numbers make it clear: it’s high time the term starts to encompass child labour, too. Most of them were more or less working on the theme, but our research demonstrated the urgency to speed up the process. Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images. Mine collapses are quite common, children use hazardous equipment, like picks and hammers and, according to a recent article in Marie Claire, they’re constantly breathing in “fine particles [of mica, which] can lead to respiratory conditions like asthma, silicosis, and tuberculosis.”, “That kind of poverty is not very familiar to Canadians,” says Cheryl Hotchkiss, the vice president of public engagement at World Vision Canada. (FLARE reached out to Procter & Gamble, Coty Inc., Maybelline and L’Oreal Paris Group for comment, but didn’t receive a response by press time. However, there has been a rise in sustainable fashion brands, making everything from sportswear to underwear who are putting people and the planet before profit. They also have to conduct independent audits to ensure such commitments are respected and invest in community-building activities in the areas where they operate to address underlying causes. EmpowHer: Is Mineral Makeup Dangerous to Long-Term Health? From an ethical stand point, Mica is linked to child labour and even worse, children being trapped and dying in India’s Mica mines (www.hindustantimes.com).The Guardian posted an article online in 2014 (www.theguardian.com) that stated how most of the Mica in cosmetics is mined by children in India’s mines.It is dangerous and illegal. One of the reasons manufacturers tend to prefer natural mica powders over synthetic ones boils down to cost. However, mica is a common ingredient in mineral makeup, and products that use ultra-fine nanoparticles in their ingredients carry the risk of inhalation. Your Sparkly Makeup Might Be Wreaking Havoc on the Environment Repeated high exposure to mica can cause fibrosis in the lungs, where the constant irritation from inhaling mica dust causes scarring of the lung tissue. This will make a major difference to thousands of children. While the report questioned several large Dutch companies, including Unilever, about their mica supply chains, it found that, for the majority of mica imported from Jharkhand/Bihar, no due diligence had been conducted either by the pigment producers or the exporters. Empower local communities to ensure long lasting change. It is derived from the Latin word micare which means to shine, to flash or to glitter. Your makeup hides a very dark secret. Many of the issues from our homes & garden are often hidden from the consumer, from toxic chemicals in our cleaning products to pesticides in our garden. Though mica is harmless as a solid, its powder or dust can cause both short and long term health problems 4. Lush has been quoted in a few press stories discussing the mica issue. Hold brands accountable by reaching out to the human resources department, spreading awareness on social media or investing your money in beauty products that are sustainable, eco-friendly and cruelty-free (for animals and people). In fact, the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) predicts the market for this group of minerals will grow to almost $700 million USD in 2024. In our cosmetics guide the following companies are involved in the Responsible Mica Initiative: L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, Coty, Clarins and Revlon. But consumers need to to demand answers, too. In February 2017, TDH announced that a new multi-stakeholder body had been established, with 21 actors across industries and NGOs teaming up to form the Responsible Mica Initiative. The biggest challenge with sourcing sustainable mica is product consistency, according to Grenier. Only £29.95 for 12 months web access and the print magazine. Protective gear should not be taken home; instead it should be washed on site every day. According to 2016 investigation by Reuters, seven children died in mica mines in just two months. Inhaling mica can cause wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath as it irritates the mucous membranes lining the lungs. And these jobs are very risky. Implement fair and sustainable mica collection, processing and sourcing practices and improve traceability along the Indian mica supply chain. In this section we look at some of the complex issues in the Energy industry, from the murky world of carbon offsetting to the latest on fracking. We look at which companies are using illegally sourced Mica in their Make Up. Mica is one of the most important mineral ingredients in cosmetics, used widely to add shimmer and sparkle. Mica is the name of a naturally occurring group of silicate minerals. Copyright © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Victoria Etta Furthermore, Most mica which is a half a billion-dollar industry is sourced in India, where it was relived to be mined by children. Lush said it didn’t have “the purchasing power or local knowledge” to stay and make a difference so, in 2014, it committed to remove all traces of natural mica from its products. Makeup without mica is one of Omiana's specialties! In fact, according to a 2018 report published by World Vision, we’re spending more than ever on products that are likely to include child labour in their supply chains—$798.2 million, to be exact, which is up 136% over the past 10 years. Ethics made easy - comprehensive, simple to use, transparent and reliable ethical rankings. Only 18% of a pool of 60 Canadian companies with mica-containing products provided detailed evidence of their commitment to prevent child labour in their supply chains, according to the World Vision study. MicaBeauty is the best source of Mineral Makeup, Skin Care, Eye Shadows, Lip Products, Anti Aging Cosmetics, Natural Makeup and Cosmetics. In cases of inhalation causing acute symptoms, the person should be moved to a space with fresh air and given oxygen if breathing is difficult. Procter & Gamble, Coty Inc. and L’Oréal Paris Group are three of the largest brands that use mica. To decrease this risk, make sure that powdered mineral cosmetics adhere fully to your applicator brush before applying to the face, and hold brushes away from your face when shaking off excess powder. As a powder, it is pearlescent and satiny -- a quality that also makes it a common ingredient in mineral cosmetics where it provides a glittery effect. L’Oréal Paris Group, which owns brands like L’Oréal and Maybelline and sells 948 mica-containing products, is one of the few cosmetic brands that directly addresses its mica supply chain on its website, saying it sources “from legal gated mines only, where working conditions can be closely monitored and human rights respected.” The company says most of its mica comes from America, and that as of 2017, its Indian supply chain is mostly secured. Mica is used throughout the cosmetics and personal care industry, as well as in paints for cars. In cosmetics and personal care products, Mica, from muscovite mica is used in the formulation of a wide variety of product types, including makeup, nail products and skin care products. If you’re a Canadian makeup lover, taking action is actually quite simple. Major brands are exploiting garment workers and harming the environment in the production of shoes and clothing. Mica is a naturally occurring group of silicate minerals. The report called on companies to conduct due diligence of their supply chains and to work collaboratively with other companies on the issue.

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