When it comes to environmental villains, microbeads pack an especially problematic one-two punch:
They can look like food to marine life, and some fish even prefer the colorful plastic particles to their regular diet.
The tiny beads absorb environmental pollutants like PCBs (flame retardants), BPA and other chemicals, making a single plastic bead up to a million times more toxic than the water around it—bad news if you enjoy eating seafood, or if you’re a fish who enjoys eating plastic (see #1 above).
And microbeads are tiny, which means they can easily enter our waterways. They wash out of facial cleansers or toothpaste, right down the drain and then sail on through most sewage treatment facilities with no problem at all. Their small size makes them a big problem for the environment.
Beating the Microbead
Fortunately, there’s been some good news in the battle against the bead. For example, the U.S. has banned microbeads in personal care products, and Canada recently listed them as a toxic substance. Many personal care product manufacturers are also now phasing them out voluntarily.
As part of an international “Beat the Microbead” campaign in the cosmetics industry, many manufacturers now feature a green “Look for the Zero” logo on packaging, which indicates a guarantee that the product does not contain plastic microbeads.
According to beatthemicrobead.org, the Dutch supermarket chain Ekoplaza is the world’s first to carry the logo on all toiletries and cosmetics of their house-brand, Botanique. All of the personal care products they sell are also 100% microplastic-free.
Technology Lends a Hand
What’s more, the campaign also includes a free international smartphone app, published by the Plastic Soup Foundation, which enables consumers to scan barcodes of personal care products so they can easily check for the presence of microbeads.
Hopefully, more manufacturers will begin taking responsibility for the environmental impact of products containing not just microbeads, but various types of plastic packaging and harmful chemicals too. Until then, we can all do our research and make small, conscious choices with our pocketbooks to help speed that process along.
Monday, October 31, is Halloween! In support of our mission of reducing chemicals and plastics in the environment, Norwex Movement wishes you a happy Halloween!
Have you ever “voted with your pocketbook”? In other words, have you ever based a buying decision on a personally held conviction about the environment? We’d love to hear about it. Please share with us in the comments below.Resources:
I think it’s great that they are doing so much to get microbeads out of products! Way to go!!
I never realized they were so harmful. Good thing I stopped using commercial skin care products a long time ago!
One more step in the right direction!
I’m so glad to hear the U.S. banned Microbeads in personal care products. I had no idea they entered the environment so easily and could get into the rivers and oceans!!
Yes I have voted with my pocketbook when I purchased Norwex. I see that in the long run it will save me money
Going to download that app right now!! This blog rocks!