Conference Speakers

Nicole Acevedo, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO, Elavo Mundi Solutions, LLC

BIOGRAPHY

Nicole Acevedo is a reproductive and environmental health scientist with expertise on the health risks of everyday exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals. Dr. Acevedo received her doctorate in Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan and a career in clinical embryology afforded her a clearer understanding of the many factors that contribute to human reproductive success, including the health of our external environment. With this awareness, Dr. Acevedo returned to academia as a postdoctoral scholar at Tufts University School of Medicine to study the effects of early-life exposures to industrial chemicals that disrupt our natural hormone systems and how these exposures lead to adverse health effects in adulthood. Her research formed part of an unprecedented collaboration between government and academic scientists to integrate the strengths of academic and regulatory research approaches to identify best practices for hazard assessment of environmental chemical contaminants for informing chemical risk assessment. Dr. Acevedo also collaborated with a multidisciplinary group of scientists, clinicians, and community health advocates to examine the current state of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to provide recommendations directly to the Agency. In 2015, she was recruited by Beautycounter, a pioneering brand in ‘clean beauty’, to lead and build out their company strategy on ingredient and product safety and sustainability. In 2017, Dr. Acevedo launched her own scientific consulting business, Elavo Mundi Solutions, LLC, to provide personal care and household cleaning brands clear solutions for cleaner, more sustainable and high-performing product development. She is also actively involved with international working groups engaged in creating viable business solutions for cleaner, safer, more sustainable product development across different industries.

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Driving the Market through Ingredient Transparency

The global consumer goods industry has been undergoing a major transformation over the last few years toward an increased focus on health, wellness and product sustainability. Rigorous chemical regulation in Europe aimed at reducing the use of harmful chemicals in consumer goods has created pressure for safer chemical alternatives in the marketplace. However, other countries, including the U.S., have failed to institute meaningful federal governance on the safety of ingredients and transparency requirements for ingredient disclosure in cosmetic, personal care and household cleaning products. That said, since 2017 several bills have been introduced at the state and federal level here in the U.S. aimed at requiring increased regulatory oversight over product safety, reduction in the use of harmful chemicals, and disclosure of all ingredients (including fragrance and flavors) to consumers, manufacturers and/or regulatory agencies. Without waiting for health-protective laws to go into effect, consumers are increasingly educating themselves about ingredients and demanding that brands prove that they are offering products that are safe-for-human-health and that minimally impact the environment. Progressive companies are responding to regulatory changes as well as growing consumer demand for robust ingredient transparency and safer product options. As the consumer goods industry continues to move in this direction, we need to ensure that all members of the supply chain are working together to incentivize raw material innovation, optimize chemical management strategies for product safety, performance and sustainability, and streamline production to meet consumer demand while staying ahead of any regulatory restrictions.