United Kingdom follows US, Canada and others in banning harmful plastic microbeads
Microbeads will soon disappear from face scrubs, toothpaste and other personal care products in the United Kingdom thanks to a landmark ban by the government.
Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey announced an end to the production of cosmetics and personal care products containing the plastic earlier this month, citing its accumulation in the ocean and threat to marine life.
(Flickr photo/Casey Fleser)
Plastic microbeads, usually smaller than 5 mm in size, enter the water supply when rinsed down the drain as part of toothpaste, face wash or other products.
Their small size means they remain unfiltered through the wastewater treatment process, allowing them to eventually end up in the ocean.
Sea animals can then consume or absorb the microbeads, passing the plastic along the food chain.
Coffey said: “Microbeads are entirely unnecessary when there are so many natural alternatives available, and I am delighted that from today cosmetics manufacturers will no longer be able to add this harmful plastic to their rinse-off products.”
“Now that we have reached this important milestone, we will explore how we can build on our world-leading ban and tackle other forms of plastic waste,” she said.
The government has called the ban one of the toughest in the world, though to date it has only ceased the manufacture of products containing microbeads.
A ban on the sale of products containing the plastic is not expected until later this year.
Dr. Sue Kinsey, Senior Pollution Officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “We are delighted that such a robust microbead ban has come into force. This is the strongest and most comprehensive ban to be enacted in the world and will help to stem the flow of micro plastics into our oceans.”
The U.K. ban follows similar legislation in Canada, which came into effect on Jan. 1, and a phase out plan by the United States, initiated in 2015.
Several other countries, including New Zealand, India and Taiwan, are also in the process of finalizing microbead phase-outs.
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