Mastering Sanitary Standards in the Cosmetics Industry

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In the cosmetics industry, the importance of maintaining a clean and sanitary environment cannot be overstated. It is not merely a matter of cosmetic and hygiene product quality; it is a fundamental aspect that can make or break your brand’s reputation.

From preventing contamination to upholding regulatory compliance and safeguarding the health of all stakeholders, proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and work areas is the bedrock of success in the cosmetics industry.

In an arena governed by stringent regulations and high consumer expectations, understanding and adhering to these standards is not an option—it’s a necessity. In this article, we’ll delve into the critical role that cleanliness plays in the cosmetics industry and explore how a commitment to best practices can ensure your company’s longevity and integrity in a competitive marketplace.

Keep it Clean: It’s Required

Leading health authorities like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have implemented Good Manufacturing Processes (GMPs) guidelines, that set the bar for cleanliness and sanitation within cosmetic facilities.

GMPs establish the minimum requirements for various aspects of cosmetic production, including manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and storage. These regulations place a strong emphasis on cleanliness and sanitation, requiring facilities to maintain clean environments, equipment, and utensils, while preventing cross-contamination/contamination.

Steps to Better Cleaning, Sanitation

To meet strict standards from leading health authorities, all facilities in the cosmetics industry must prioritize cleanliness and sanitation, meticulously documenting the procedures for both. A well-structured cleaning and sanitation plan is the foundation of this endeavor.

Follow these four steps to develop a cleaning and sanitation plan for your cosmetics facility.

  1. Cleaning and Sanitizing: What’s the Difference? A crucial first step in developing a cleaning and sanitization plan is understanding the distinction between cleaning and sanitizing. Cleaning, the initial phase, involves manual cleaning of visible dirt and germs from surfaces. Thorough cleaning is a prerequisite for effective sanitization, which aims to eliminate or reduce the number of viable microbial contaminants to an acceptable level. While cleaning often involves water, soap, and scrubbing, sanitization requires chemical solutions or sprays.
  2. Schedule the Steps. Next, identify high-risk areas and establish a comprehensive cleaning and sanitization schedule. The schedule should clearly assign daily, weekly and monthly tasks to cleaning staff. It is crucial to provide comprehensive training for all required cleaning tasks.
  3. Make Sure It’s Clean. Validation is also an integral part that ensures cleaning and sanitization tasks achieve their intended purpose. Validate that all cleaning processes do what they say they will do. Swab testing and ATP monitors are rapid solutions to check for pathogens, bacteria and other contaminants after cleaning.
  4. Keep Records. Meticulous documentation of all cleaning and sanitization procedures is vital. The documentation needs to be orderly and easy to understand, while also keeping track of the process and equipment usage.

Areas to Focus On

Paying attention to key areas within cosmetic facilities is essential for maintaining a high standard of cleanliness. Let’s look at key areas to focus on and cleaning solutions for each.

  1. Production and manufacturing equipment: like blending machines, fillers, and conveyor belts must be cleaned regularly. Dry steam systems deliver ultra-low moisture “dry” steam to enhance cleaning and sanitation results while reducing labor time and ultimately costs. Plus, its ultra-low moisture is perfect for “dry clean only” environments.
  2. Workstations: after each shift, clean and sanitize countertops and workstations, leaving no room for contaminants or residue. Surface sanitation systems are an excellent choice to easily deliver alcohol-based disinfectant to eliminate germs and bacteria on contact.
  3. Floor cleaning: clean floors regularly to maintain a clean and safe working environment.

Specialized industrial vacuums can be utilized for improving floor cleaning while safeguarding facilities and workers. For fine powder pick up, an explosion proof vacuum is recommended. It’s imperative to find the right vacuum for superior cleaning performance.

Remember to keep things organized. Maintaining clean and organized storage shelves and cabinets also helps prevent product contamination.

Water and Ventilation Matters, Too

Cosmetic facilities also require adequate ventilation systems and water systems, both of which must be maintained to the highest standards to ensure quality products.

The cosmetic production area requires a ventilation system with a one- or two-stage pre-filter. Regularly checking and documenting the efficiency and durability of HEPA filters is essential for maintaining the ventilation system.

Water production equipment and water systems also require specific attention. Despite efforts to prevent stagnation and contamination in the design, water systems must be sanitized regularly. The accumulation of organic materials in pipes can lead to bacterial contamination of products.

Water used in production should undergo regular monitoring and recording to ensure its chemical and microbiological quality. Identified deviations must be reported and corrected.

Proper cleaning and sanitization methods for these systems should be defined in the cleaning and sanitation plan. It’s also crucial to determine the cleaning chemicals to use and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to follow and keep detailed records of all cleaning processes.

Gather the Right Supplies

The right supplies are necessary for effective cleaning and sanitization of a cosmetic facility. This includes a mix of disinfectants, cleaning agents, personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning tools.

  • Disinfectants. All disinfectants used must be approved for cosmetic facility use and applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Cleaning Agents. Select cleaning agents that are appropriate for the surface being cleaned, i.e., a glass cleaner for glass surfaces, stainless steel cleaners for stainless steel, and so on.
  • PPE. Cleaning agents can be caustic, so it is vital to provide employees with PPE that includes gloves, masks and other gear.

Next steps

Goodway® offers industry-leading cleaning and sanitation solutions to keep production and manufacturing equipment and work surfaces clean and sanitized to protect the quality of cosmetic goods. We can help you establish a regular maintenance plan. Connect with a Goodway cleaning and sanitation expert to find the right solutions to match your needs.

Learn more:
Personal Care Products Council
Cosmetics Info

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