“Clean Beauty” Claims: Litigation Risks For Cosmetics Manufacturers

As the demand for "clean beauty" and sustainable personal care products continues to grow, so too does the risk of deceptive advertising and greenwashing claims. In this blog, we describe the current litigation landscape facing the industry and outline practical steps businesses can take to help reduce their exposure.

Key Takeaways

• "Clean," "natural," and environmental claims may attract increasing scrutiny from regulators and plaintiffs.
• Businesses should consider the overall impression conveyed by their marketing, not just the literal accuracy of individual statements.
• Environmental representations may require substantiation under the Competition Act.
• Product safety claims can become central issues in litigation involving allegedly harmful ingredients.