Perkosmi urges responsible product claims amidst digital consumer growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Cosmetics Company Association (Perkoslam) is urging cosmetics industry players to implement responsible trading practices, particularly regarding product claims in the digital sphere.

“It is about how to be accountable, using science to ensure there are scientific findings to back those claims up,” said Ribut Purwanti, member of Perkosmi’s Public Policy and Sustainability Team, during a media briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Ribut noted that the growth of cosmetics trade via e-commerce needs to be supported by a responsible and ethical digital ecosystem. This is due to massive challenges, such as the discovery of fake reviews that provide misleading information to consumers.

According to her, consumers typically compare functions, prices, and other users’ experiences before making a purchase decision.

“Unfortunately, this is being exploited by irresponsible parties to create fake reviews and fake orders, which ultimately leads to misleading information. When this happens, it is the consumers who suffer,” she said.

Furthermore, the circulation of illegal and counterfeit products remains a significant challenge for the cosmetics industry in the digital space. For instance, marketplaces sometimes feature products that look identical to originals but are sold at much lower prices.

Ribut also highlighted the issue of product claims as another challenge. There is a phenomenon of ‘overclaiming’, where a product’s benefits are exaggerated beyond its actual capabilities, leading to consumer deception.