This video is about the cosmetics industry, Annie Leonard speaks about how the ingredients in these products are harmful to us and that they are links to health problems like cancer, learning disabilities and male infertility. Annie then goes onto looking at the key features of our materials economy “toxics in, toxics out”. If at the factory they are pouring in toxins into a product example baby shampoo you’ll get toxins in baby shampoo, workers, communities and babies.
The average women in the US uses about 12 personal care products a day and the average man about 6. Each product that is used contains a dozen or more chemicals and less then 20 percent of these the safety panel reviews. Basically what annie Leonard is telling us is that we don’t know what these products are doing to us. To make us understand in depth she compares it to another situation asking us would we go on a plane that only inspects 20 percent of its planes?
Some of the types of bad chemicals are carcinogens means they can cause cancer. Other types are Neurotoxins and reproductive toxins proven to mess up brain development and reproduction.
She goes onto explaining that it’s the company’s fault and that are basically responsible for putting peoples health at risk. I believe it’s a useful video for designers because it explains the ugly side of products.