Maya Ellison
Microbeads are tiny pieces of solid plastic that are frequently used in health and beauty products such as soap, body scrubs, toothpastes, and cosmetics. They are usually made from petrochemical plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Due to their small size, they often pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, lakes, and other water bodies, causing plastic pollution and posing a threat to aquatic life. To combat this issue, several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, have implemented bans or phase-outs of microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics and personal care products. Additionally, organizations like Beat the Microbead have developed apps and guides to help consumers identify and avoid products containing microplastics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension. |
| Size | Less than 5mm in diameter. |
| Composition | Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). |
| Use | Exfoliating personal care products, toothpastes, biomedical and health-science research. |
| Environmental Impact | Microbeads can cause plastic particle water pollution and pose a risk to aquatic animals and birds in freshwater and ocean water. |
| Bans and Regulations | Banned in cosmetics and personal care products in the US, Canada, the UK, Sweden, Taiwan, New Zealand, France, and more. |
| Alternatives | Natural ingredients such as ground-up almonds, oatmeal, sea salt, coconut husks, apricot pits, cocoa husks, pumice, crushed seed kernels, and waxes. |
| Industry Response | Some cosmetic companies have voluntarily phased out microbeads, and apps have been developed to help consumers identify products containing microbeads. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products
Plastic microbeads are a type of primary microplastic, defined as any type of tiny, solid plastic particle or fiber found as litter in oceans and other waterways. They are usually less than 1 millimeter in size and can be manufactured with different shapes and from various types of polymers. The most common polymer is polyethylene (PE), but polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), nylons (PA), polyester, and polyurethanes are also used.
Microbeads are used as cleansing or exfoliating agents in a variety of personal care and cosmetic products, such as shower gels, toothpaste, nail polishes, or eye shadows. They are also used in biomedical and health-science research. Microbeads can cause plastic particle water pollution and pose an environmental hazard for aquatic animals in freshwater and ocean water. They easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and lakes, posing a potential threat to aquatic life.
The prevalence of microplastics in the environment has become a major global conservation issue. One primary source of environmental microplastics is personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) containing microbeads. A study in Macao, China, found that PCCPs containing microbeads are still widely available for sale in the region, with over 70% of surveyed PCCPs containing at least one type of microbead as an ingredient. The density of microplastics in coastal sediments in Macao was among the highest reported in the world, ranging from 259 to 1,743 items/L of sediment.
Several countries have taken steps to ban microbeads in personal care and cosmetic products. In the United States, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 phased out microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics by July 2017. The UK, Canada, France, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, and the individual countries of the UK have also banned microbeads from rinse-off cosmetics. In addition, the Beat the Microbead campaign has led to 19 countries taking steps to ban microbeads.
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Microbeads as a form of microplastic
Microplastics are small plastic pieces that are less than five millimetres long and can be harmful to oceans and aquatic life. They can come from a variety of sources, including larger plastic pieces that have broken apart, resin pellets used for plastic manufacturing, or in the form of microbeads.
Microbeads are a type of microplastic and are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic. They are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as some cleansers and toothpastes. They are also used in biomedical and health-science research. These microbeads are not biodegradable and can easily pass through water filtration systems, ending up in oceans and lakes. This poses a potential threat to aquatic life, as the animals absorb or eat these microplastics, passing them along the marine food chain. Since humans are at the top of this food chain, it is likely that we ingest microplastics as well.
Microbeads have been used in personal care products for about fifty years, with plastics increasingly replacing natural ingredients. As recently as 2012, this issue was relatively unknown, and there was a lack of consumer awareness regarding the presence of plastic microbeads in numerous products on the market. However, several countries have taken steps to address this issue. On December 28, 2015, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, banning plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products in the United States. Similarly, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Sweden, and Taiwan have also banned microbeads from rinse-off cosmetics.
The Beat the Microbead campaign, launched in 2012, has played a crucial role in raising awareness and advocating for microbead-free products. Over 150 brands have received the 'Zero Plastic Inside' logo for producing microplastic-free cosmetics. Additionally, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has identified more than 500 microplastic ingredients widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. This knowledge has led to the development of guides and apps that help consumers make informed choices and avoid products containing microplastics.
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Microbead bans and legislation
Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic that are added to health, beauty, and cleaning products as exfoliants. They are usually made of polyethylene but can also be made of other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene. Due to their small size, they easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, lakes, and other water bodies, causing plastic pollution and posing a threat to aquatic life.
Recognizing the harm caused by microbeads, several countries and states have taken steps to ban them. Here is an overview of the microbead bans and legislation:
United States
The United States was the first country to ban microbeads at a federal level with the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, which was signed by President Barack Obama on December 28, 2015. The Act prohibits the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of rinse-off cosmetics containing intentionally added plastic microbeads. The ban on manufacturing came into effect in July 2017, and the ban on retail sales followed in July 2018. Prior to the federal ban, several states, including California, New York, and Illinois, had already enacted their own bans on microbeads.
Canada
Canada took its first steps toward banning microbeads in 2015 when a Member of Parliament from Toronto, John McKay, introduced Bill C-680. The first Canadian province to take action was Ontario, where a Member of the Provincial Parliament introduced the Microbead Elimination and Monitoring Act, banning the manufacturing of microbeads in cosmetics, facial scrubs, and similar products. In 2018, Canada's governmental agency Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) defined microbeads as plastics with diameters between 0.5 microns and 2 millimeters for the purpose of the ban.
United Kingdom
The UK has introduced a ban on the production, import, and sale of rinse-off products containing microplastics. This includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The ban in England came into effect on January 9, 2018, with the sales ban following on June 19, 2018. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland implemented similar bans soon after.
Other Countries
Several other countries have also banned microbeads, including Italy, Sweden, France, New Zealand, Taiwan, and more. Many cosmetic brands in countries without a ban have also voluntarily phased out microplastics from their products due to public pressure generated by campaigns such as Beat the Microbead.
European Union
While the European Union (EU) has not yet implemented a ban on microplastics, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has proposed an EU-wide ban on "intentionally added microplastics," which could potentially reduce microplastic emissions by about 400,000 tonnes over 20 years.
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Natural alternatives to microbeads
Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles, typically made of polyethylene, that are smaller than one millimeter in size. They are used in personal care products, such as exfoliating scrubs, toothpastes, and cosmetics. Due to their small size, they can pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans and lakes, causing plastic pollution and posing a threat to aquatic life. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the negative environmental impact of microbeads, leading to bans on their use in cosmetics and personal care products in several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and others.
- Oats and Oatmeal: Oats are a gentle and natural exfoliant, perfect for individuals with sensitive skin. They help soak up excess oil and can be ground and blended with water to form a paste. Oatmeal also has anti-inflammatory properties, soothing irritated and dry skin. St. Ives offers an oatmeal scrub that provides a smooth and nourishing experience.
- Ground-up Natural Ingredients: Natural ingredients such as almonds, apricot pits and kernels, cocoa husks, and coconut husks can be ground up and used as exfoliants. These natural alternatives provide a similar scrubbing experience to microbeads without the environmental harm.
- Salt Scrubs: Sea salt is a natural purifier that removes toxins from the skin's pores, improves circulation, and tightens the skin. Natural salt scrubs can be created at home by adding essential oils and olive oil to soften the paste. French Girl Sea Polish is an example of a natural salt scrub product.
- Fruit Acids: Yoghurt, sour cream, and milk contain glycolic, lactic, and malic acids that gently exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells. These can be combined with natural exfoliants like poppy seeds or ground apricot shells for added scrubbing power.
- Jojoba Beads: Derived from jojoba oil, a liquid wax obtained from the jojoba shrub, jojoba beads are a natural alternative to plastic microbeads. They provide a similar scrubbing experience without the environmental impact. Liz Earle's Gentle Face Exfoliator uses fine jojoba beads to buff away dead skin cells.
- Konjac Sponges: These sponges are a popular choice in Korean beauty routines and offer gentle and effective exfoliation. They are suitable for daily use and are naturally antibacterial, making them ideal for individuals with sensitive skin.
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Microbeads in the ocean
Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in size. They are most frequently made of polyethylene, but can also be made from other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene. They are designed to be rinsed down the drain and are commonly used in exfoliating personal care products, toothpastes, and in biomedical and health-science research.
Microbeads are a type of microplastic. Microplastics can come from larger plastic pieces that have broken apart, or they can be manufactured in a small form, as is the case with microbeads. These tiny particles can pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans and lakes, posing a threat to aquatic life. Marine microplastics are small fragments of plastic debris that are less than five millimeters long. They can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life. Over 250 species of marine wildlife have mistaken microbeads for food, according to a 2013 study, including fish, turtles, and seagulls.
Microbeads have been known to be used in personal care products for around fifty years, with plastics increasingly replacing natural ingredients. As recently as 2012, this issue was still relatively unknown, with an abundance of products containing plastic microbeads on the market and not a lot of awareness on the part of consumers. In 2012, the North Sea Foundation and the Plastic Soup Foundation launched an app allowing Dutch consumers to check whether personal care products contain microbeads. The app has since been made available in seven languages and has convinced a number of large multinationals to stop using microbeads.
In 2015, the United Nations Environment Programme and TAUW published research identifying 67 microplastic ingredients to be aware of. Today, with the restriction proposal by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), we are aware of more than 500 microplastic ingredients widely used in cosmetics and personal care products.
In response to the growing awareness of the problem, several countries have banned or are phasing out microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, including Canada, France, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension. They are usually spherical and are often used in health and beauty products for exfoliation.
Yes, microbeads are harmful to the environment and human health. They can pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, lakes, and other waterways, posing a threat to aquatic life. Microbeads are ingested by sea animals and can be passed along the marine food chain.
Many countries have taken steps to ban microbeads in consumer products, recognizing their harmful effects on the environment. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, and individual states in Australia have all implemented bans on microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics and personal care products.
