This page presents, by year, a selection of resources, including videos, reports, and other materials, showcasing the work of Zero Mercury Working Group members around the world. This is not an exhaustive list. If you are a ZMWG member and would like your work featured here, please let us know using our contact details at the bottom of the page.
2026
Bangladesh – For the International Women’s Day on 8 March, ESDO and the Youth Career & Development Organization (YCDO) held an online awareness session for women in rural Rangpur, Bangladesh. The webinar focused on the health and environmental risks of mercury, hydroquinone and steroids in skin-lightening products. Participants received practical guidance on reading product labels and identifying safe alternatives. More details are layed out in the workshop report.
EU – Activities related to mercury of the European Environmental Bureau can be tracked here: https://eeb.org/en/work-areas/industry-health/zero-mercury-campaign/
Pakistan – The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) published a survey study on mercury-added SLPs. This survey, conducted among medical students in Islamabad, sought to evaluate patterns of SLP use, identify factors influencing their consumption, and assess the preparedness of future healthcare professionals to educate patients about the potential health risks associated with these products
2025
Caribbean – The African, Caribbean, and Pacific Multilateral Environmental Agreements Phase 3 (ACP MEAs III) Programme presented in a case study a few key insights from the contribution of EEB/ZMWG to the project “Phasing Out Mercury-Added Products” of the ACP MEAs III: Case Study: Clearing the Path to a Mercury-Free Caribbean – Lessons from Saint Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Bangladesh – Following testing conducted that year, the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) released several materials to raise awareness about toxic mercury in popular skin-lightening creams sold in Bangladesh: a Video, a Factsheet and a Report.
Kenya – CEJAD published a study addressing the proliferation of mercury-added cosmetics through e-commerce platforms in Kenya. The study is available on CEJAD’s website.
Kenya – CEJAD organised a strategy workshop on curbing online sale of mercury skin-lightening products in Kenya, held on May 2025.
Philippines – Ban Toxics held a regulatory workshop on 3 March 2025 to address issues related with illegal trade and domestic sales of mercury-added SLPs.
EU – Activities related to mercury of the European Environmental Bureau can be tracked here: https://eeb.org/en/work-areas/industry-health/zero-mercury-campaign/
2024
Pakistan – The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organised a workshop and a round table, as part of the 27th Sustainable Development Conference (Nov 2024). Several news articles (here and here) and a television appearance (here) have followed the event.
Bangladesh – ESDO published the following reports: “Mercury’s poisoned Glow. Comparison report on mercury-added skin lightening creams” and “Assessing Mercury Convention in Beauty parlors by Lumex”.
EU – Activities related to mercury of the European Environmental Bureau can be tracked here: https://eeb.org/en/work-areas/industry-health/zero-mercury-campaign/
2023
Bangladesh – ESDO produced a video on skin-lightening products: Requiem For Beauty | The Business Post and a Report on Dermatologists Survey.
Nigeria – SRADEv assisted in the development of a media investigative report to map out informal supply chain of SLPs in Nigeria. The report yielded to the publication of three articles (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3) and a video documentary.
Philippines – BAN Toxics produced this documentary: New short documentary sheds light on the dark side of skin whitening, exposes illegal trade of mercury-added beauty products.
United States – The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published a report from the investigation “Mercury in retrograde”, and an accompanying video: Mercury in Retrograde.
Pakistan – SDPI has published a Report on Health Impact of Mercury containing SWCS.
EU – Activities related to mercury of the European Environmental Bureau can be tracked here: https://eeb.org/en/work-areas/industry-health/zero-mercury-campaign/
2022
2021
Philippines – with financial support of Japan, BAN Toxics released the reports Situation Assessment of Mercury-Containing Medical Measuring Devices in the Philippines and Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of Mercury-Containing Medical Measuring Devices in the Philippines
