social responsibility
Vivimed: unique formulations Hair dyes and responsibility to the consumer As the manufacturer of the Jarocol range of hair dyes, Vivimed Labs Europe Ltd (previously known as James Robinson Ltd) recognises consumers increasingly want innovative products. For the hair dye industry this means new colour palettes, hair colorants that are targeted to specific hair types and unique formulations to satisfy different needs. Most cosmetics products are estimated to have a lifespan of less than five years so many manufacturers reformulate up to 25% of their products every year. Coupled with innovation, other drivers such as safety, quality and environmental issues mean that the legislation regulating the manufacture and use of hair dyes is becoming more restrictive. Further pressure comes from consumers demanding the products they buy should be manufactured in a socially responsible manner and we at Vivimed are rising to this set of new challenges.
Enviro legislation
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Since they are cosmetic products, hair dyes are highly regulated and the safety requirements for chemicals going into a hair dye formulation can be as stringent as those for a pharmaceutical. In Europe, the main legislation is the EU Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC) and while it is mandatory to comply with this and other relevant laws, Vivimed Labs Europe Ltd believes it has a social responsibility to go beyond that. This is done in ways that might not be evident to the consumer but which nevertheless reflect the demands of our business customers and the needs of other concerned stakeholders. While international corporations purchase Jarocol products in multi-tonne amounts, small companies buy in kilogram quantities and so we can offer each a different service. For smaller companies, Vivimed offers practical advice and guidance on the best methods to use Jarocol dyes to achieve a desired effect on hair. While this service helps build customer relationships and Issue 2 | 2010
has a sound commercial root, it also enables us to be sure that the people using our products are receiving proper advice on the safety and environmental implications of handling these materials. Vivimed is a long-standing associate member of CTPA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association), a body of UK cosmetics manufacturers whose focus is on scientific and regulatory issues. CTPA works closely with the European Cosmetic Association, Colipa, which represents the interests of over 2000 companies. By keeping abreast of developments in this way, Vivimed can advise customers who do not have the resource to do so for themselves of any changes to the EU Cosmetics Directive or its annexes that will have an impact on our products and their usage.
Safety focus Vivimed actively cooperates with its large company customers in other ways, particularly to improve the safety of hair products for the consumer. Over the last decade the requirements for many hair colorants have become far more exacting as the cosmetics industry drives to raise protection levels. For example, product specifications have been tightened so the maximum content of specific impurities within some products has considerably decreased; some oxidation base colorants have certain components limited to single-figure ppm (parts per million) levels. To guarantee compliance, Vivimed works closely with its customers to adapt
manufacturing processes and testing protocols to ensure its products conform to these stricter measures. For new product introductions, Vivimed has even provided pre-manufacturing samples of colorant to enable dossiers to be created on aspects of product safety. Vivimed also collaborates with multinational companies for REACH and acts as the lead registrant for several important hair dye substances.
Global standards Jarocol products are now manufactured in India having been transferred from Europe to a new purpose-built plant. Not only have manufacturing processes been adopted that had formerly been operated in Germany and the UK but Vivimed has also invested in additional new equipment to handle waste streams appropriately. The plant at Bonthapally is ISO14001 registered and has been audited by global customers to ensure environmental compliance with international standards. So as not to overlook even a small contribution to greening the environment, overseas visitors to the site are regularly invited to plant a tree to mark their visit. While working to satisfy its multinational customers, Vivimed is conscious of its responsibility to the local community and is a founder and promoter of TANMAI, a socio-cultural foundation active in supporting local education, healthcare and child labour laws. www.vivimedlabs.com
What does social responsibility mean to you? “On the BBC radio programme, Today, I recently heard a contributor describe corporate social responsibility as ‘…the things companies do when they are not being watched…’ For me, this neatly sums up what can otherwise be a difficult concept to define as it recognises that companies have a responsibility to act ethically and that goes beyond simply following the letter of the law.” Hugh Williamson, Vivmed Labs Europe Ltd