The devil is in the detail - 23 September 2026

Loading player...
We often overlook it but we know it's there. Well, because as far as we know, the law says it has to be there. I'm of course talking about the ingredients list on your cleaning or beauty products. What are the regulations and what do they dictate? Dr Elzanne Singels of Bossie Collective speaks to Otto van der Walt and this week clears up the murky waters of what the law and regulatory bodies say about ingredient information.
23 Sep English South Africa Science · Nature

Other recent episodes

From the shelf to a water treatment plant near you

It has become crystal clear in the last series of episodes that what we buy and use to clean ourselves and our homes, and use as beauty products, could potentially end up in our rivers and the sea. Otto van der Walt subsequently wanted to know what the state of…
4 Nov 6 min

Biodegradable is the word on the street - 28 October 2026

So you've read up on what compounds and chemicals are in your cleaning and beauty products and want to try an environmentally friendly alternative, especially if it might improve your own health. But where do you start? Where do you even go to start?? Dr Elzanne Singels shares some tips…
28 Oct 8 min

Biodegradable is the word on the street - 28 October 2026

So you've read up on what compounds and chemicals are in your cleaning and beauty products and want to try an environmentally friendly alternative, especially if it might improve your own health. But where do you start? Where do you even go to start?? Dr Elzanne Singels shares some tips…
28 Oct 8 min

Simpler is safer - 21 October 2026

In order to make products that are environmentally friendly, we need to look back at a simpler time when there were only natural ingredients available to make soaps and other cleaning products. This week Dr Elzanne Singels takes Otto van der Walt back to the origins of soap and explores…
21 Oct 9 min

The cost of preservation - 14 October 2026

If some of the preservatives in beauty products have a negative impact not only on the environment but on us as well, why are they still used? Are environmentally friendly alternatives available and if so, why are they not used instead? Dr Elzanne Singels discusses some explanations with Otto van…
14 Oct 6 min