We smear plastic on our skin or on the skin of their baby every day, we put it in our mouths and we breathe it in. These microplastics are now everywhere, in nature and in your body! That is a big problem – for such a small piece of plastic.
Not everyone knows that they are still in many products in your bathroom cabinet. Fortunately, there are also brands that are simply microplastic-free. Because we know that things can be done differently. This way, you can be sure that the ingredients list is correct. We believe in a fair and good world and do everything we can to achieve this. So what can you do?
Check the small print on your ingredients list, as this has the greatest impact. And if you have any doubts, there is the Beat The Microbead app. With this, you can see what is in your product with 1 simple check.
This way, you can immediately see whether it is microplastic-free. It is not that difficult, really!
Beat The Microbead
Microbeads are a type of microplastic with a specific function to exfoliate or scrub. In cosmetics, “microplastic” refers to all types of minuscule plastic particles (smaller than 5 mm) that are deliberately added to cosmetics and care products. They are often used as an emulsifier or simply as a cheap filler.
Microplastics in our care products are not limited to microbeads. The term ‘microplastic’ is not consistently defined, but is considered to refer to small, usually microscopic particles made of a synthetic polymer. From sunscreen and shampoos to make-up and deodorant, microplastics are used in all kinds of products.
Do you want to know if there are microplastics in your care products? Scan the ingredients list of your toothpaste, shampoo and cream with our app Beat The Microbead. In the store you can also immediately buy a plastic-free product, such as Naif, The Lekker Company, Smyle, Weleda, Marcel’s Green Soap or Witlof. Or check our Zero Brands. The plastic-free cosmetic brands that are affiliated with us and carry the label ‘Zero Plastic Inside’
Do microplastics threaten our health?
The smaller the plastic, the greater the impact on our health. Scientific research shows that plastic is found almost everywhere in the human body. Plastic particles have even been found in fetuses, with all the possible consequences that entails.
That is why the Plastic Soup Foundation is doing everything it can to stop plastic pollution at the source. This is the only way we can protect future generations from the consequences.
Since 2019, scientific evidence has been piling up that these plastics pose a risk to humans. We not only eat, drink and breathe plastic, it has also been found in our blood and organs. Scientists are linking it to various symptoms of illness, such as disruption of our immune system, lung problems and various forms of cancer.
9 out of 10 care products contain microplastics
Research by the Plastic Soup Foundation shows that 87% of the products of the ten best-selling cosmetic brands contain microplastics.
The research examined 7,704 cosmetic and care products from the ten most popular brands of the four largest cosmetics manufacturers in Europe.
Plastic: The Hidden Beauty Ingredientis a report of the very first large-scale study into the presence of microplastics in over seven thousand different cosmetics and care products. Of the products examined, 87% were found to contain microplastics. We classify all possible synthetic polymers under this heading, regardless of whether they are added in solid, liquid, semi-liquid or water-soluble form, as well as nanoplastics and biodegradable plastics.
Scientists are concerned about the possible consequences for human health. In 2022, scientists from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the VUmc demonstrated for the first time the presence of synthetic polymers in human blood, in almost 80% of the subjects examined.
The fine print of these brands are microplastic-free:
