Our Approach for Chemical Substances

Shiseido aims to contribute to a sustainable society in which people and planet coexist in harmony by delivering products that consumers can use with confidence in order to realize their own ideal beauty. We manage the chemical substances used in our products and containers, bearing in mind the international agreement of "Global Framework on Chemicals - for a planet free from harm of chemicals and waste (GFC)”, which was adopted in 2023. We also collect a wide range of information on the safety of chemical substances as well as trends in laws and regulations on chemical substances in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Japan, and other regions. In addition, we evaluate the effects of the chemicals used in our products on people and the environment to confirm their safety based on the latest scientific knowledge.

Environmental risks are wide-ranging, and laws and regulations are becoming stricter year by year in countries and areas around the world.
In light of this situation, we collect information and assess risks regarding new environmental laws and regulations and social trends to share the information with relevant departments, including those overseas, and respond accordingly. We also ensure thorough compliance with laws and regulations by conducting compliance evaluations of environmental laws and regulations in our production department based on the ISO14001 system.

If concerns about the impact of ingredients in Shiseido products on human health or the environment are reported, we make a decision whether to continue using them based on the latest scientific knowledge at that time. According to the decision, we promptly discontinue using the substance and replace it with an alternative substance, if necessary.

Shiseido collects a wide range of information on safety of chemical substances as well as trends in laws and regulations on chemical substances not only in Japan but also in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and other regions. On top of that, we comply with the standards recommended in each country and respond to legal requirements regarding the chemical substances used in our products. Our major responses are as follows:

The European REACH regulation is the European chemical regulation that came into effect in June 2007. All chemical substances related to cosmetics, including cosmetics and containers exported from Japan to Europe, are subject to the regulation. In particular, substances that are imported into Europe in an annual amount of 1 ton or more must be registered in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the REACH regulation. Aware of all the substances that require registration, Shiseido has taken necessary measures.

Shiseido is committed to complying with the EU REACH regulation and will strive to reduce the number of products containing hazardous substances such as SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern).For example, in the case of D4 (cyclotetrasiloxane), we have fulfilled compliance with the EU REACH regulation for our rinse-off products. As for our leave-on products, we have already stopped using D4 in European regions, achieving the removal target by 2024 ahead of schedule.

We not only make administrative reports required under the PRTR Act (Act on the Assessment of Releases of Specified Chemical Substances in the Environment and the Promotion of Management Improvement) but also thoroughly implement self-management in relation to use and disposal of chemical substances such as raw materials and reagents at factories, innovation centers and other sites. In addition, when providing chemical substances, such as content containing ingredients specified by the PRTR Act, the Industrial Safety and Health Act to our business partners, including when outsourcing filling operation to a business partner, we are taking measures from the perspective of occupational safety and health such as by systemizing the issuance of SDS (Safety Data Sheets) to ensure that SDSs are issued to our business partners.