The Problem with Microbeads

Micro Beads

You may have heard some mention of microbeads and their impact on the planet in recent times, but are you aware that some people are calling for a complete ban on their use?

So what exactly are microbeads?
Microbeads are teeny, tiny plastic beads that are added to toiletries as an exfoliant. You may notice some in your face or body scrub, but as some beads are smaller than a grain of sand, it might be that your beauty products contain them without you even realizing that they’re there.

Although they were first manufactured in the 1970s, it’s only in the last decade or so that they have been more widely used. They’re now commonly added to many health and beauty products, including facewash, toothpaste and shampoo. In fact, one regular-sized tube of facial scrub can contain up to 330,000 tiny bits of plastic!

OK, so what’s the problem?
Plastic microbeads are extremely harmful to the environment. Because plastic won’t biodegrade, all those tiny bits of plastic that get washed down the drain can end up blocking the filtration system in sewage plants, causing inefficient cleansing of the water. When this water is eventually flushed through to our rivers, lakes and ocean, many of those tiny particles are also strewn into our waterways. Along the way, these microbeads absorb harmful toxins and can cause fatal injuries if, and when, they’re ingested by fish. And it’s not just the fish we need to worry about, because you can guess where those beads end up when we eat the fish!

Eeek, so what can we do about it?
Now is a great time to review your products and make sure you’re not unwittingly adding to the problem. The beads are often listed on the ingredients label as polyethylene or polypropylene. If you find these listed, then chuck your product in the bin and seek out alternatives. To make your search a little easier, you can look products up on this website: www.beatthemicrobead.org/product-lists

Wait! It’s not all doom and gloom, we do have some good news for you!
In 2014, the Dutch government banned the use of microbeads and since then, the US and Canadian governments have followed suit. Here in Australia, a voluntary phase-out of microbeads was introduced in 2016, encouraging companies to remove microbeads from their products by July 2018.

So far, companies like Woolworths, Coles and Aldi have committed to the process of removing microbeads from their home-brand products and are reportedly working with the industry to phase out microbead-containing branded products sold in retail outlets.

Here at The Beauty Emporium, we are committed to preserving the environment and your health and therefore only choose products that we believe are earth-friendly. Many companies, like O Cosmedics, also choose to use natural ingredients as exfoliants such as jojoba beads, cranberry seeds, oats and coffee, so you can enjoy your glowing skin without the guilt!

To find out more, here’s a little clip from
“The Story of Stuff”: https://youtu.be/uAiIGd_JqZc
The story of stuff