Reckitt Benchkiser sold humidifier sterilizer products containing PHMG, allegedly causing the outbreak between 2006 and 2011.
Sales of eco-friendly and biobased dish detergents increased 79% between March 2016 and March 2017, according to SK Planet. Gmarket, an online shopping mall servicing the South Korean market, says sales of cotton sanitary pads increased 35% year-on-year.
Consumer groups are also emerging to advocate for green labels and natural alternatives to products. The Korean Women’s Environmental Network, for example, hosts lectures to educate consumers on an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Some are urging caution, however. Foundation of Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute told Korean Biz Newswire that cosmetics that are “natural” are not conclusively good the same way products with chemical substances are not conclusively bad. “What suits one best depends on individual consumers, but businesses tend to emphasize ‘natural’ as part of their marketing efforts,” the group said. “For instance, ethanol is used to give a cooling sensation and allow products to be absorbed more quickly. It’s just a matter of perception, and it really doesn’t matter if it’s used or not.”
Kwak Geum-joo, a Seoul National University professor of psychology, told the publication that the emerging chemophobia is likely to persist. “Once consumers associate a negative idea with a particular kind of merchandise, it’s very difficult for them get over it.”