On our information platform you will only find health and environmentally friendly products from well-known pharmacy brands.

With dermaplastics we are pursuing clear goals. We want to significantly reduce the use of environmentally harmful substances in cosmetic products and combat greenwashing.

For protection:

• our health,
• the animal and plant world,
• and as a significant contribution to climate protection by eliminating ingredients such as microplastics from crude oil.

Our free information platform enables all users to make well-considered decisions without spending additional time.

Our aim is to carry out careful research so that you can easily select a product that is both healthy and environmentally friendly. To ensure the topicality and quality of our product information, we obtain the original data directly from the official manufacturer websites. To evaluate product ingredients, we use independent platforms such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) of the European Union and CosLng of the European Commission. All information is also compared with other established independent platforms such as CodeCheck or information from environmental organisations such as BUND or Greenpeace.

We attach great importance to transparency and reliable information. If you discover a controversial ingredient in a product, please write to us: info@dermaplastik.de

The free-to-use information platform has been designed to be easy to integrate into everyday working life. All of the products listed are health and environmentally friendly. This allows doctors and pharmacists to make sustainable decisions for patients easily and without wasting time.

Of course, the information platform is also free of charge for all other users.

Further information for surgeries, clinics and pharmacies at: info@dermaplastik.de

Our claim is careful research so that a safe product can be selected in a simple way. Our task is to ensure the greatest possible transparency in all areas. We attach great importance to the exchange with recommenders, consumers and manufacturers. We are open to discussions and feedback. Timeliness plays an important role, as new scientific findings are constantly being published or older data updated. The number of ingredients in care products is also complex and sometimes difficult to assess. That's why we work closely with experts and scientists to answer questions. However, if you discover an ingredient, please write to us, because even we can make mistakes.

We welcome your questions, suggestions or comments at: info@dermaplastik.de 

Genuine used plastic is still rarely used as packaging material as it is currently not available in sufficient quantities due to limited recycling capacities. Instead, recycled material from plastic production waste is used more frequently. However, this is rarely if ever emphasised on packaging.

As there are currently no truly environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic packaging that can be produced in large quantities, the environmental aspect of plastic packaging has so far been neglected. still are not included in our assessment of pharmacy products. Incidentally, glass and aluminium also have a high energy consumption in the production and recycling process. However, they are much easier to separate by type and recycle.

dermaplastics acts completely independently. No company has the opportunity to directly or indirectly influence the ratings we compile. In principle, all manufacturers can have their care products, which they sell in pharmacies, listed by us, provided they contain health and environmentally friendly ingredients.

Manufacturers who wish to have their products tested should contact: info@dermaplastik.de

This network consists of interesting, innovative and sustainable services and products that have been specially developed for the healthcare sector. It is constantly being expanded. We are convinced that networks of sustainable offers increase visibility by supporting each other. This network is of particular interest to pharmacists, medical practices and clinics. However, it goes without saying that all users benefit from this approach.

Startups who would like to have their sustainable services or products listed with a logo, preferably with benefits for the healthcare sector, should contact us: info@dermaplastik.de

The financing of dermaplastics is achieved through sponsoring partnerships. These sponsors have no influence whatsoever on our evaluation guidelines or the procedures used to include products on the info platform. dermaplastics lead.

The information platform is free of charge for users.

When manufacturers use terms such as "natural" or "with organic ingredients", even though some products contain synthetic or environmentally harmful ingredients, this is called greenwashing. Aim of the information platform dermaplastics is to prevent greenwashing. That is why we only list care products from pharmacies that contain healthy and environmentally friendly ingredients. We attach great importance to transparency and reliable information. So you can be sure that your decision is healthy and environmentally friendly.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please write to us: info@dermaplastik.de

Plastic, also called synthetics, refers to industrially produced chemical substances from fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas. They are added to cosmetics and care products in the form of microplastics to make the skin feel better. In the form of macroplastics, they are used, for example, as outer packaging for products, as drinking water bottles or in household items. Many plastics contain additives that determine their properties and thus influence whether plastic is used in solid form (hard plastic) or in soft form (soft plastic), for example.

Microplastics

Microplastics are plastics with a size of less than 5 mm. Plastics are added to many care products as so-called primary microplastics to ensure a good feeling on the skin. Furthermore, microplastics are created when macroplastics, for example packaging, break down due to weather influences such as wind and sunlight as well as ocean waves. These grind large pieces of plastic into smaller and smaller plastic particles. In this case, we speak of secondary microplastics.

Microplastics have been accumulating on land, in the air and in the world's oceans for decades. Depending on the type of plastic, microplastics are non-biodegradable or very difficult to biodegrade, which can damage the environment and potentially affect human health.

Macroplastic

Macroplastics are plastics that make up outer packaging or everyday objects, for example. When macroplastics break down into microplastics due to wind, sun and ocean waves, they are not biodegradable or very difficult to biodegrade, can damage the environment and affect human health.

Liquid polymers consist of industrially produced chains of repeating chemical building blocks in liquid, gel or wax form. They are used in cosmetics and care products as exfoliating, thickening and binding agents. Many of them are based on fossil fuels such as crude oil and natural gas. In most cases, they are not biodegradable or very difficult to biodegrade.

Nanoparticles are tiny fractions of microplastics or zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that are intentionally manufactured, are not biodegradable and are between 1 and 100 nanometres (nm) in size in at least one orientation (length, width or height). Cosmetics containing nanoparticles have had to label the ingredients concerned with the addition "(nano)" since 11 July 2013. Many sunscreens contain nanoparticles such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as physical protection against sunlight. Further interesting information on the subject of nanoparticles can be obtained from the Nanoportal-BW.

Biodegradable substances are those that can be broken down into their components by organisms in the environment - for example bacteria, fungi or microorganisms - so that they are available again to the natural cycle of life without harming this cycle.

Endocrine disruptors are hormone-active substances that can harm the health of humans and animals. It is suspected that endocrine disruptors can, for example, impair reproduction and trigger cancer and behavioural disorders. Many of the endocrine disruptors are currently being investigated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) investigated. Products listed on our platform are therefore not allowed to contain any suspected endocrine disruptors. The only exceptions are currently the ingredients retinol and salicylic acid, which may still be contained in products. Both substances are indispensable for the therapy of skin diseases. They should be subject to medical prescription only. The result of the studies of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is therefore still awaited for retinol and salicylic acid.

PFAS is the abbreviation for "per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances".
In cosmetics and personal care products, for example, they serve as hair dye, filler or as solvents or binders. They enter the environment and our food chain via wastewater. PFASs are extremely persistent in the environment. Environmental concentrations are therefore steadily increasing due to widespread use on land to water, in the air and in living organisms such as humans. PFAS are strongly suspected of causing thyroid and liver disorders and have also been linked to obesity, diabetes and an increased risk of various cancers. There is also evidence of impaired fertility and developmental and behavioural problems.

More info is available here.

Silicones such as dimethicone feign smooth and supple texture on the skin's surface. However, since creams with silicones are not absorbed into the skin, damaged skin cells are not regenerated. For the Environment silicones are extremely harmful. They enter the wastewater in large quantities every day. In nature, silicones are difficult or impossible to break down. They therefore accumulate in water bodies and can even reach groundwater and thus drinking water.

Surfactants have the property of being able to dissolve water-insoluble soiling such as greasy dirt particles from the skin in water. They are therefore found in numerous cosmetic products. Among the surfactants, however, there are some representatives that have both a clearly skin- and mucous membrane-irritating effect.

These representatives of so-called anionic surfactants can be recognised by the suffix "-sulphate". They are petrochemically produced from crude oil and natural gas, are difficult for microorganisms to degrade due to their branched structure and therefore remain in the water longer than plant-based surfactants. Products containing these surfactants are therefore not listed on our platform.

Aluminium enters the body through cosmetics such as antiperspirants and toothpaste. It is suspected of being involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer. The Federal Office for Risk Research (BfR) published on 20 July 2020 a Statementin which it is stated that "adverse health effects from the use of antiperspirants containing aluminium are unlikely according to the current state of scientific knowledge". However, the BfR itself states that the concentration of aluminium in the body as a whole could add up, as this substance can also be absorbed via other cosmetics, drinking water, food, food contact materials and medicines. Products containing aluminium are therefore listed on the platform of dermaplastics not listed.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients are not a mandatory component of the basic formulation of, for example, a cream or lotion. Products containing active pharmaceutical ingredients must comply with certain legal requirements and serve to cure or prevent diseases. An assessment of the toxicity and environmental compatibility of active pharmaceutical ingredients is not part of this platform.

Some care products contain so-called azo dyes. They are marked in cosmetics with the initial letters CI (Colour Index) and a 5-digit number. As components of cosmetics in the decorative sector, such as lipsticks, eye shadows or bath products, they can trigger allergies. If they get into the body, they can transform into carcinogenic aniline. The synthetic azo dyes of particular concern include yellow dyes such as CI 14720 (Yellow 5) and some red dyes.

All UV filters on the market are not biodegradable. However, sunscreens are indispensable especially for people with high risk factors such as fair skin type or outdoor work. For this reason, sunscreens are listed at dermaplastik if they do not contain any other ingredients of concern. However, there are some UV filters such as benzophenones that are hormone-active and carcinogenic. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are also very toxic for microorganisms in the water. Titanium dioxide is also no longer permitted in food since 2022. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are also often added to sun creams as nanoparticles. It is unclear whether these nanoparticles can pass through the skin barrier. Products with these UV filters are therefore not listed.

Additives are substances that give plastics their properties, such as elasticity or breaking strength. There are about 10,500 additives. Some of them are dissolved out during use or when the plastic items decompose and can be toxic to humans and the environment.

Fossil fuels are fuels that were created millions of years ago from the decomposition products of dead plants and animals. In addition to lignite, hard coal and peat, fossil fuels include above all natural gas and crude oil. What all energy sources have in common is that they produce considerable amounts of greenhouse gases during extraction and consumption, which accelerate climate change.

Petroleum-based ingredients are derived from the fossil energy source petroleum. Petroleum-based substances are significantly cheaper than cultivated raw materials from nature and can provide a pleasant skin feeling. However, the production of these ingredients contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and thus to climate change.
The labelling whether the products contain petroleum-based ingredients has no influence on the listing, but serves as additional information. Petroleum-based ingredients are highlighted accordingly in the product description.

Palm oil-based substances are vegetable oils obtained from the oil palm. The palm is cultivated in monocultures in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The production of palm oil-based substances contributes to the destruction of rainforests through the ongoing development of cultivation areas. It displaces indigenous peoples and threatens biodiversity. Supply chains and production processes generate high levels of greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change.

The labelling of whether the products contain palm oil-based ingredients does not affect the listing, but serves as additional information. Palm oil-based ingredients are highlighted in the product description.

There are already signs of an increasing scarcity of water due to climate change and environmental pollution. Saving water will therefore play an increasingly important role in the future. Some companies are already reducing water in the manufacturing process of some products or by changing the formulation compared to the pre-product. As a matter of principle, a care product from pharmacies is only labelled as water-saving on the dermaplastik platform when the manufacturer has proven this in writing.