About
History
Celebrating 30+ Years
Our current groundbreaking work to prevent breast cancer is built on a solid foundation of science accomplishments and campaign victories. Look back at our history:
2024
Leads winning campaign to pass the California Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act (AB 2300). This law, written and co-sponsored by BCPP, bans the toxic phthalate chemical DEHP from plastic IV bags and tubing.
2023
REI announces apparel in its stores will be free of toxic and persistent PFAS by Fall 2024. BCPP supported the national campaign, led by our partners at Mind the Store, urging REI to go PFAS-free.
2022
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulations Act of 2022 becomes law, representing the most significant cosmetic safety reform since 1938, thanks to nearly two decades of advocacy by BCPP’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and our partners.
Two BCPP co-sponsored California bills are signed into law, banning PFAS in clothes and cosmetics:
Proud core organizing committee members of the campaign led by Black Women for Wellness that got Johnson & Johnson to stop selling talc-based baby powder globally due to asbestos-contamination and links to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
Release of four-part docuseries “Not So Pretty” on HBO Max. This investigative expose of the trillion-dollar cosmetics and personal care industry features CSC’s leading expert Janet Nudelman.
2021
Leads winning campaign to pass the California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021 (AB 1200), which bans PFAS in paper-based food packaging and requires the disclosure of toxic substances in cookware.
2020
Publishes Paths to Prevention: The California Breast Cancer Primary Prevention Plan, the first ever comprehensive primary prevention plan for breast cancer.
Leads winning campaigns to pass 3 CA bills into law:
- Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (AB2762) the nation’s first state-level ban of 24 toxic ingredients, including mercury and formaldehyde, from beauty and personal care products.
- Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Ingredient Right to Know Act of 2020 (SB312-Leyva) making California the first government in the world to require the public disclosure of hazardous fragrance and flavor ingredients.
- SB 1044-Allen bans the manufacture, sale and use of firefighting foam that contains PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals.
2019
Amanda Heier assumes leadership as President and CEO of BCPP.
2018
Jeanne Rizzo, President and CEO of BCPP, retires from the organization after 17 years of leadership.
Publishes two papers on work and female breast cancer in the journal New Solutions.
Releases landmark report Right to Know: Exposing toxic fragrance chemicals in beauty, personal care and cleaning products.
Convinces multinational companies, Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson, to adopt fragrance ingredient disclosure policies.
BCPP partners with Black Women For Wellness and Silent Spring Institute to lead a congressional hearing on the State of the Evidence publication.
Successfully petitions the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban seven cancer-causing flavorings from food.
2017
Leads winning campaign to secure passage of the California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, the first law in the nation requiring disclosure of cleaning product ingredients on labels and websites, including secret fragrance chemicals.
New Look, Same Commitment
BCPP celebrates 25 years.
Convinces Procter & Gamble to adopt an ambitious fragrance ingredient disclosure policy for its consumer products portfolio, including beauty and cleaning products.
2016
Awarded grant to lead the development of California’s first comprehensive breast cancer primary prevention plan.
Releases Buyer Beware looking at the use of BPA and BPA alternatives in the lining of canned food.
2015
American Public Health Association cites Working Women and Breast Cancer: State of the Evidence as influential in studying occupational exposure related to breast cancer.
Founding partner in visionary Cancer Free Economy Network.
2014
UCSF hails Campaign for Safe Cosmetics as a factor in moving cosmetic companies away from phthalates and decreasing people’s exposure to certain phthalates.
2013
Helps successfully implement the California Safer Consumer Products Program.
Invited to testify before Congress about the need to reform Toxic Control Substances Act (TSCA): our broken chemicals management program.
California launches the Safe Cosmetics Program database, which BCPP took a lead in passing in 2005.
Is featured in numerous high profile documentaries, including The Human Experiment and Stink!
2012
Leads winning campaign to secure an FDA ban on BPA in baby bottles.
2011
Publishes with Silent Spring Institute BPA Dietary Study in Environmental Health Perspectives.
Launches Cans Not Cancer campaign to get BPA out of canned food.
Convinces Johnson & Johnson to remove carcinogens from baby care line.
Supports winning campaign to secure California ban on BPA in baby bottles.
2010
Co-releases online video sensation The Story of Cosmetics.
Contributes to groundbreaking report by the President’s Cancer Panel, Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now.
2009
Publishes peer-reviewed version of State of the Evidence in International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
2008
Secures $5 million in CDC funding for state biomonitoring programs.
Helps secure passage of California Safer Consumer Product law.
Leads winning campaign to secure federal ban on phthalates in toys.
2007
Publishes The Falling Age of Puberty in U.S. Girls: What We Know, What We Need to Know by Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D.
Leads winning campaign to secure California law banning phthalates from toys.
2006
Leads winning campaign to secure California law that creates the nation’s first statewide biomonitoring program.
Convinces OPI to remove the most toxic ingredients from its nail polishes.
2005
Leads winning campaign to secure medical radiation safety law in California.
Leads winning campaign to secure California Safe Cosmetics Act.
Convinces L’Oréal and Revlon to globally reformulate their cosmetics products to remove unsafe ingredients.
Organizes Climb Against the Odds, Mt. Rainier, Washington.
2004
Co-founds the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
2003
Founder Andrea Martin passes away.
Organizes Climb Against the Odds on Mt. Shasta, Calif. Subsequent Shasta expeditions in 2004 and 2006-2017.
Helps draft and secure passage of San Francisco Precautionary Principle Ordinance, leading to city-wide sustainable, healthy purchasing policies.
2002
Helps organize first International Summit on Breast Cancer and the Environment.
Publishes first edition of State of the Evidence. Subsequent editions published in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Mission Focus
2001
Jeanne Rizzo assumes leadership.
Organization focuses mission on environmental causes of breast cancer.
2000
Launches Obsessed with Breasts public-awareness ad campaign. “Society is obsessed with breasts, but what are we doing about breast cancer?”
Hosts Climb Against the Odds, Mt. Fuji, Japan.
1999
Secures $14 million for Centers for Disease Control biomonitoring to help identify the environmental causes of breast cancer.
1998
Holds Climb Against the Odds, Mt. Mckinley, Alaska, subject of an award-winning documentary and book.
Produces Art.Rage.Us., The Art and Rage of Breast Cancer, a book, exhibit and world tour.
Early Years
1997
Honors the first Breast Cancer Fund Heroes. Fifty-seven Heroes have been honored to date.
1995
Hosts the first Climb Against the Odds, Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina.
Organizes the first Peak Hike on Mt. Tamalpais, California. Subsequent annual hikes since.
1994
Secures passage of California’s 2-cent cigarette tax to fund breast cancer research.
Works with Senator Dianne Feinstein to establish breast cancer stamp.
1992
The Breast Cancer Fund is founded by Andrea Martin.
FEATURED VIDEO
BCPP: Exposing the Cause is the Cure
We're preventing breast cancer before it starts by eliminating our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation.