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And so this is December… 2025 has been a busy year! CTPA has been incredibly active, acting on behalf of its members and the industry as a whole, making a difference in business-critical areas. From NAMs to REACH; take-back schemes to EPR; regulations to FTAs; communications to public affairs; and more. There have been many successes and of course some challenges, but even with only weeks left in the year the work is not done!
SkinCare Simplified – A Parent’s Guide
On 2 December, CTPA launched a new campaign: “SkinCare Simplified - A Parent’s Guide”. As skincare trends become increasingly popular among children and young people, many parents and carers find themselves navigating a fast-changing landscape of advice, products and social pressures.
The CTPA guidance therefore focuses on helping parents and carers thoughtfully guide their children through these trends, and on age-appropriate ways to care for children’s skin. Developed in partnership with Consultant Dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, it is designed to support families with clear information and answers to the most common questions.
With reliable, science-based information and practical resources, our message is clear: suitable skin care habits for young people should be simple. There is no need for complex routines nor anti-ageing products.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Heloise Prieur, CTPA Communications and Marketing Manager, and Eleanor O’Connor, Communications Officer, for their incredible work on SkinCare Simplified. Working with members, agencies and dermatologists, Heloise has spearheaded this important campaign – an initiative that sets a positive example, encouraging trust and accountability, and reinforcing the industry's role as a trusted partner in wellbeing and public health.
I invite you to discover and share these resources with those who may find them useful. The guidance and an easy-to-share, mobile-friendly, infographic is available on CTPA’s consumer website: https://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/SkinCareSimplified.
I urge companies to use the guide in your communications with your customers as they seek to navigate conversations with their children, especially in the run-up to Christmas. CTPA members have access to a comprehensive Toolkit (accessible from SkinCare Simplified - A Parent's Guide: Campaign Toolkit) and non-members, as well as external organisations who wish to engage, can contact Heloise Prieur at [email protected]. I also hope you find the guide useful in discussions with your own children, helping to counteract the often overwhelming and sometimes misleading messages that children and teens receive through social media and other channels.
UK Advocacy - IWC Report and Micropollutants in Wastewater
Earlier this year the Independent Water Commission (IWC) launched a Call for Evidence concerning the Water Regulatory Sector System in England and Wales. The Call for Evidence was extensive and included a reference to the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). You may be aware of the deep concerns about the EU UWWTD – the effectiveness of EPR to address micropollution in wastewater, the figures on which the Commission has acted and that currently the only two sectors affected are the life sciences and cosmetics industries. Cosmetics Europe, the European personal care association, is incredibly active on this matter.
The UK IWC report outlined 88 recommendations, including a recommendation to investigate “whether an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is needed for the water sector to fund necessary improvements.” As a result, Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is exploring whether an EPR system for micropollutants in urban wastewater is a possible way forward for England and Wales. CTPA has been informed that Ministers are considering this IWC Recommendation and that the Government is preparing a White Paper as a follow up to the IWC Report. This issue is extremely urgent for us, and we understand industry’s concern.
We are actively engaging with key Defra officials on this, and, given the gravity of the issue, I have written to the Defra Secretary of State and relevant Defra Minister, sharing the industry’s concerns over the use of EPR for this matter and offerings solutions that would be far more efficient at tackling wastewater than EPR. I have also shared our concerns with No 10, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Treasury. This work is set to continue in 2026!
May I thank you for your engagement with and support of CTPA this year. When it comes, I hope you have a peaceful Christmas and a refreshing break.
CTPA, your Association - working for you, for 80 years and counting
The CTPA office will be closed from 12:00 on Wednesday 24 December and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
