See how far we have come. And how far we’ll go.

By Erika Wilhelm, Director of Marketing & Communications

You put the power into prevention. Together, thanks to supporters like you and our loyal BCPP community, we continue to make major public health strides in removing our exposure to toxic chemicals linked to breast cancer and other diseases.

The core values of our work are expressed in what we do and how we do it. While we’ve reached millions of people in 2023, it’s important that you know the incredible feats achieved by BCPP this year, thanks to your support, and enjoy reading about your impact:

Advocacy + Policy

BCPP strengthened support for state and federal bills by providing a breast cancer prevention lens to educate key decisionmakers and the public, including:

1. Celebrating the passage of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), the most significant reform of federal cosmetic safety law in 80 years
2. Reintroducing the Safer Beauty Bill Package (four bills), which addresses safety gaps in MoCRA
3. Joining Earthjustice and our allies in successfully suing the EPA to add the frequently used phthalate, DINP, to the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory
4. Cosponsoring the California Eliminating Problematic Plastics Act (AB 1290) to ban several highly toxic types of plastics and plastic additives from packaging
5. Introduced a new federal bill on food (No Toxics in Food Packaging Act) and a new federal cosmetic safety bill (No PFAS in Cosmetics Act).

Science

Science is the backbone of BCPP’s work. In 2023, we:

1. Translated and presented findings about the link between air pollution, plastics, and breast cancer to legislators
2. Saw BCPP’s Director of Science, Dr. Rainbow Rubin, PhD, MPH, nominated as a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals, which peer reviews the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
3. Evaluated the health hazards of 3,600 fragrance ingredients and shared project findings with dozens of clean beauty industry leaders
4. Translated research findings on drinking water contaminants for the public and created a water filter guide for consumers
5. Launched our Ask a Scientist series where BCPP’s science team explores the facts, Q&As, top tips, key terms, and more on current topics of interest.

Education + Market-Based

This year, we expanded our education and awareness-raising work! By informing the public and mobilizing people across the nation, we:

1. Successfully pressured REI to stop selling any outdoor gear containing PFAS
2. Designed a 48-page report and 30-page Train-the-Trainer manual and co-organized/co-hosted five trainings for nurses, hairstylists, community leaders, advocates, and the public about the Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project 
3. Developed two consumer guides on Top Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Cosmetics and a Safer Sunscreen Guide
4. Participated as presenters, guest speakers, or panelists at 30+ public education events, connecting with thousands of attendees across the nation.

Community + Events

The more people who know about the power of prevention, the more impact our collective voices can be in creating change. Through our community work, we

1. Surveyed 340 participants, held 22 standalone meetings with frontline community leaders, and held four regional meetings in Los Angeles, San Diego, Bay Area, and Central Valley for our California project Charting Paths to Prevention
2. Rebranded our signature Hike for Prevention fundraising event to become a national series
3. Held four signature outdoor events and four ambassador-sponsored events, with 525 participants raising over $675,000 for breast cancer prevention.

Because of your support, we’ve had a year of trailblazing efforts to make the world a better place by removing the toxic exposures that can harm our loved ones. BCPP has led the front on translating complex science, changing laws, and educating millions. We get it done. But our journey together still has a long way to go. Please consider helping us go farther in 2024 by donating. Do it for the immediate change. Do it for the future of our children. Do it for our planet and the loved ones we never want to hear the words, “you have breast cancer.” Do it for you. Because giving creates tangible impact. And you can be part of that change in the year to come.