At Banbu, we go further
Concerns about endocrine disruptors (EDCs) in cosmetics are growing among consumers, healthcare professionals, and responsible formulators. These substances, capable of interfering with hormonal function even at very low doses, are under scrutiny by the scientific and regulatory community due to their possible link to developmental alterations, infertility, metabolic diseases, and certain types of hormone-dependent cancers.
Given this context, many people ask us:
Does Banbu only exclude substances from the EU priority list, or do you go further? Do you only rely on SCCS evaluations? Does this imply that current cosmetics are unsafe?
These questions are more than valid. And they represent an opportunity to explain clearly, rigorously, and honestly how we address this issue at Banbu: based on scientific knowledge, but also on a real ethical commitment to health and the environment.
What does European legislation say about endocrine disruptors?
The European Union regulates cosmetic products through Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, one of the most advanced regulations worldwide. It includes restrictions and prohibitions for substances that may pose a risk to human health, including endocrine disruptors, although there is not yet a closed and official list of substances prohibited exclusively for their hormonal activity.
In its Article 15, this regulation prohibits the use of substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR), except in certain exceptions regulated by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Regarding EDCs, the approach is more diffuse: substances are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and prohibition only occurs when the risk has been scientifically confirmed and there are no viable alternatives.
In 2023, the European Commission published a priority list of 28 ingredients suspected of endocrine activity, which will undergo more detailed evaluation. This does not mean they are prohibited, but rather that they are "under study."
What is Banbu's approach?
At Banbu, we are not satisfied with this priority list. We believe that waiting for ingredients that have already been scientifically questioned, even if still legal, to be officially prohibited is not consistent with our preventive, ethical, and responsible vision.
We apply a stricter criterion, based on five key principles:
1. Multi-source scientific review
We are guided by multiple references, not just current legislation:
-
Updated SCCS opinions.
-
Lists of candidate substances to be considered of "very high concern" (SVHC) by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
-
Scientific statements from the Endocrine Society, a pioneer in EDC research.
-
Evaluations by international organizations such as the WHO/UNEP (2013).
-
Academic studies on combined exposure and low-dose effects (Vandenberg et al., 2012).
2. Application of the precautionary principle
If an ingredient is legal but presents credible evidence of hormonal risk, even if there is no definitive consensus, we choose to exclude it. We prefer to err on the side of caution rather than wait for an official ruling that could take years.
3. Avoid controversial ingredients, even if permitted
Our formulation team systematically avoids compounds such as:
-
Butylparaben
-
Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone)
-
BHA / BHT
-
Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and other cyclic siloxanes
-
Synthetic fragrances with phthalates or nitromusks
These ingredients have been identified by various studies as possible EDCs and, in some cases, have already been banned in children's products or sunscreens in other countries.
4. Evaluation of the "cocktail effect"
Traditional toxicology evaluates substances one by one, but we know that endocrine disruptors can generate cumulative or synergistic effects even if each is present in legal concentrations. This phenomenon—the “cocktail effect”—has been documented by the European Commission itself as one of the main gaps in current regulation.
At Banbu, we evaluate the product as a whole, not just ingredient by ingredient.
5. Safe formulation for sensitive groups
Our products are designed with particularly vulnerable people in mind:
-
Pregnant women or women of childbearing age
-
Children
-
People with hormonal or immunological dysfunctions
This leads us to work with raw materials with high traceability, with real organic certification, and with transformation processes that guarantee purity and absence of contaminants or residual impurities.
Does this mean that European cosmetics are unsafe?
No. And this is very important.
The European Regulation is one of the safest in the world. We recognize its value and rigor. But we also know—and the Commission itself says so—that there are still many scientific unknowns surrounding the effects of EDCs, especially in the long term and with multiple exposures.
That is why at Banbu we do not speak from fear, but from science. We do not intend to alarm or suggest that conventional cosmetics are "poison." Our difference lies in applying a voluntarily stricter standard, based on the best available scientific evidence and a real commitment to holistic health.
What we offer: transparency and evidence-based trust
Our EDC exclusion policy is not a marketing strategy. It is a formulation decision with an impact throughout the entire process:
-
Selection of suppliers with detailed technical documentation.
-
Substitution of controversial active ingredients with safe and effective alternatives.
-
Use of natural preservative systems and fragrances with complete toxicological evaluation.
-
Clear communication, without false promises, but with ethical firmness.
Conclusion
True sustainability is not just ecological. It is also toxicological, scientific, and human. That's why at Banbu we choose to go beyond the legal minimum. Not because the law is insufficient, but because we believe that the cosmetics of the future are built today, with evidence, responsibility, and transparency.
Technical and scientific bibliography:
-
SCCS Opinions on Benzophenone-3, Butylparaben, Cyclotetrasiloxane, etc. (2021–2023)
-
WHO/UNEP (2013). State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
-
Vandenberg LN et al. (2012). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: low-dose effects and nonmonotonic dose responses. Endocrine Reviews
-
ECHA – Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for Authorization
-
Endocrine Society (2009, 2015). Scientific Statements on Endocrine Disruption
