Ethan Clarke
Plastic beads, also known as microbeads, are tiny particles of plastic measuring 1mm in diameter or less. They are commonly added to health, bath, and beauty products such as exfoliators, body washes, toothpastes, and cleansers to provide scrubbing power and exfoliating properties. These microbeads have been shown to cause environmental harm, as they pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, lakes, and rivers, where they are mistaken for food by aquatic life. In recognition of these harmful effects, efforts have been made to ban or phase out the use of plastic microbeads in products, with varying degrees of implementation across different countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Products with plastic beads | Body washes, exfoliators, toothpastes, cleansers, cosmetics, skincare products, soap |
| Plastic bead size | 1 millimeter to 1 micrometer |
| Plastic bead appearance | Tiny spheres |
| Plastic bead material | Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polylactic acid, nylon |
| Plastic bead impact | Harmful to marine life, can harbour polluting chemicals, can get stuck in gums |
| Plastic bead bans | US, South Korea, Canada |
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What You'll Learn
Microbeads in cosmetics
Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic that are used in many health and beauty products, including soap, body scrubs, body washes, exfoliators, toothpastes, and other cleansing products. They are manufactured solid plastic particles smaller than 5mm, used for their specific abrasive and exfoliant properties. They look like tiny spheres and range in size from 1 millimetre, about the size of a pinhead, to 1 micrometer, too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Microbeads are a type of microplastic, which 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, which are small, manufactured plastic beads used in health and beauty products. In cosmetics, "microplastic" refers to all types of tiny plastic particles (smaller than 5mm) that are intentionally added to cosmetics and personal care products. They are often used as emulsifying agents or just as cheap fillers.
The use of microbeads in cosmetics has been a cause for concern due to their potential harm to the environment. After being used, the tiny plastic beads go down the drain and may not be filtered through treatment filtration systems, ending up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Aquatic life and birds can mistake microplastics for food, and research has shown that plastic pellets can harbour polluting chemicals, potentially causing problems for the food chain and our food supply.
In response to these concerns, there have been efforts to ban the use of microbeads in cosmetics. In the United States, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, banning plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. Additionally, the International Campaign Against Microbeads in Cosmetics has provided a sample letter that consumers can send to companies when returning products containing microbeads. Some cosmetic companies, such as L'Oréal, have also taken steps to eliminate plastic microbeads from their products.
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Microbeads in cleaning products
Microbeads are tiny plastic beads that are added as exfoliants to health, beauty, and cleaning products, such as some cleansers and toothpastes. They are manufactured pieces of polyethylene plastic that range in size from 1 millimetre to 1 micrometer, often too small to be visible to the naked eye. They are used to supply scrubbing power to body washes, exfoliators, and other cleansing products.
Microbeads are a form of microplastic, which can come from larger plastic pieces that have broken apart, or resin pellets used in plastic manufacturing. They easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, rivers, and lakes, posing a threat to aquatic life. Marine life can mistake microbeads for food, and the plastic can harbour polluting chemicals, which can then enter the food chain.
In 2015, the US banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products, with California following suit in 2023. However, the initial law did not cover leave-on personal care products, cleaning products, industrial detergents, and coatings, which continue to release microplastics into the environment. AB 823, a bill co-sponsored by several environmental organisations, would prohibit the sale and distribution of microbeads in leave-on cosmetics, cleaning products, and coatings, preventing trillions of plastic particles from entering the environment.
There are alternatives to microbeads, such as coconut shells, sand, salt, pumice, sugar, or walnut husks.
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Microbeads in skincare products
Plastic microbeads are small manufactured plastic beads used in health, beauty, and skincare products. They are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as some cleansers and toothpastes. They are usually smaller than 5mm and are often in the shape of tiny spheres. They range in size from 1 millimeter, about the size of a pinhead, to 1 micrometer, which is too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Microbeads are considered pleasant-feeling skin scrubbers and tend to have a smoother effect than natural ingredients, like nut shells or salt. They are also used to supply scrubbing power to body washes, exfoliators, and other cleansing products.
The use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products has been a cause for concern due to their potential harm to the environment and human health. Research has shown that microbeads can pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans, rivers, and lakes, where they can be mistaken for food by aquatic life, birds, and fish. This can lead to the ingestion of plastic and the potential transfer of polluting chemicals up the food chain.
In 2015, the United States banned the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products through the Microbead-Free Waters Act. This law prohibited the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. Several other countries have also taken steps to ban microbeads in personal care products.
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Microbeads in toothpaste
Plastic microbeads are solid, manufactured plastic particles smaller than 5mm in size that do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are added to health, beauty, and personal care products to provide an abrasive quality. They are also used as an exfoliant, to allow for the timed release of active ingredients, to add bulk to formulas, and to prolong a product's shelf life.
Microbeads have been used in toothpastes for their abrasive properties, which help scrub surface stains from teeth. However, choosing a toothpaste that is too abrasive can wear down the outermost layer of your teeth, or enamel.
In 2015, the Microbead-Free Waters Act banned the manufacturing, delivery, and sale of any rinse-off products containing microbeads smaller than 5mm. This ban extended to cosmetics, toothpastes, and over-the-counter drugs. Many manufacturers have since replaced microbeads with biodegradable options, such as crushed nut shells and apricot kernels.
Despite the ban, microbeads are still found in some toothpastes, particularly in certain parts of the world. A systematic review found that toothpastes from China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the UAE contained no microplastics, while those from Malaysia, Turkey, and India did. The weight percentage of microplastics in these toothpastes ranged from 0.2 to 7.24%.
The presence of microbeads in toothpastes poses both environmental and health concerns. Due to their small size, they often bypass wastewater treatment systems and end up in rivers and oceans, where they can be mistaken for food by fish and other wildlife. Microbeads can soak up pollutants in waterways, leading to contamination of the fish we eat. Additionally, microbeads that are added to toothpaste can get stuck in patients' gums, trapping harmful bacteria and potentially causing health issues.
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Microbeads in soap
Microbeads are tiny plastic beads that are used in health and beauty products, including soap. They are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as cleansers, body washes, exfoliators, and toothpastes. They are usually made of polyethylene, the most commonly produced plastic in the world, which is derived from petroleum or natural gas. Polyethylene is not biodegradable and can have a detrimental impact on the environment when not recycled.
Microbeads are very small, ranging in size from 1 millimeter to 1 micrometer, which is too small to be seen by the naked eye. They are designed to provide scrubbing power to body washes, exfoliators, and other cleansing products. However, they can also be harmful to the environment and wildlife. After use, these tiny beads go down the drain and end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans because wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter out such small plastic particles.
Research has shown that microbeads can be mistaken for food by fish and other marine life, causing harm to these animals. Additionally, microbeads can absorb and transfer toxins up the food chain, potentially affecting multiple species and animals, including humans. For example, dentists have expressed concern that microbeads in toothpaste can get stuck in patients' gums, trapping harmful bacteria.
Due to the environmental and health concerns associated with microbeads, there have been efforts to ban their use in products. In 2015, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act, banning plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products in the United States. The International Campaign Against Microbeads in Cosmetics has also provided resources to help consumers identify and avoid products containing microbeads.
Consumers can protect the environment and their health by carefully researching the ingredients in their personal care products and opting for natural alternatives to microbeads, such as sugar crystals or ground lava rocks, which can provide a similar exfoliating effect without the same ecological impact.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic beads, also known as microbeads, are small manufactured plastic beads that are added to health, beauty, and cleaning products. They are usually smaller than 1mm in diameter and are often invisible to the naked eye.
Plastic beads are used in products such as cleansers, toothpastes, body washes, and exfoliators to provide scrubbing power and create a glossy effect. They are also used as fillers to bulk out products.
Yes, plastic beads are harmful to the environment, particularly aquatic life. They can pass through water filtration systems and end up in oceans and lakes, where they are mistaken for food by fish and birds. Plastic beads can also harbour polluting chemicals, potentially affecting the food chain and our food supply.
Plastic beads have been banned in certain countries and regions. For example, the United States banned the use of microbeads in 2015, and South Korea has banned all microbeads in cosmetics. However, bans and regulations vary across different regions, and some countries, like Australia, do not have a ban in place.
