Press Release—May 5, 2004
For Immediate Release
May 5, 2004
Contact:
Rebecca Farmer
Breast Cancer Action
(415) 243-9301, ext. 16
Shareholder Activists See Victory As Avon Agrees to Remove Phthalates From Products
Members of Follow The Money: An Alliance for Accountability in Breast Cancer and Trillium Asset Management announce victory in their shareholder activism efforts, which have resulted in Avon’s agreement to remove chemicals known as phthalates from their products.
Phthalates are plasticizers found in various cosmetics, ranging from nail polish to lipstick. They are endocrine disrupting chemicals, most notorious as reproductive toxins. Breast cancer advocates are concerned that anything that affects how our hormones function may have an impact on breast cancer
“This is a small but important step by a corporate giant,” said Barbara Brenner, Executive Director of Breast Cancer Action, a Follow The Money member group. “It’s important for the people Avon markets to, many of whom are women of childbearing age, and it’s important for future generations.”
Follow The Money and Trillium had planned to present a resolution at Avon's upcoming shareholder meeting calling for a feasibility study on removal of phthalates. Upon written confirmation from Avon that it would enact a plan to eliminate these chemicals from their products, Follow The Money and Trillium withdrew their resolution.
“We are pleased to see Avon follow the lead of Proctor & Gamble and Estee Lauder in removing phthalates,” said Shelley Alpern of Trillium Assets Management. “As the rates of breast cancer and other diseases skyrocket, the willingness of personal care products companies to address public health concerns is heartening.”
Members of Follow The Money look forward to working with Avon to further several of the alliance’s goals: transparency and accountability about funding, using community advisory boards to decide where money goes in local communities, and providing more monies for research that has traditionally been underfunded, such as environmental links to breast cancer. Of particular concern to alliance members such as Breast Cancer Action are the company’s connection to the disease. “As a corporation that touts itself as the company for women, Avon has a responsibility to be forthcoming about how much money it raises for breast cancer, where the money goes, and who decides where it goes,” Brenner said.
Deborah Forter, Executive Director of alliance member group Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, also noted, “The Avon Corporation clearly understands the benefit of removing phthalates from their products. One would think they would apply the same logic and business sense and remove all chemicals from their products that have the potential to harm their consumers.”
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