The European Commission will introduce legislation to ban intentionally added microplastics, in particular in cosmetics. This is good news because pollution with microplastics is irreversible and potentially harmful to human and environmental health. In fact, nothing would also seem easier than to stop using plastic as an ingredient in personal care products and switch to natural alternatives.
However, the industry cites high costs and lack of alternatives and have been offered many years of transition periods to switch to products without microplastics. But some cosmetics companies are showing that using plastic-free alternatives is not at all difficult. In an open letter, they call for much stricter legislation and rapid introduction of microplastic-free cosmetics.
Ban with exceptions
Every year, 3,800 tonnes of microplastics enter the environment, according to an European Commission estimate. The report Plastic: the hidden beauty ingredient published last year by Plastic Soup Foundation found that 9 out of 10 of the top-selling cosmetics brands contain microplastics. If the proposed definition of microplastics is adopted, the cosmetics industry will continue to have many opportunities to continue using them. The bill exempts water-soluble plastics and allows industrial nanoplastics to be used if they undetectable. Microplastic pollution could potentially persist for a long time, as cosmetics companies are given up to 12 years to modify their products.
Protracted file
In late 2014, five countries, including the Netherlands, advocated a ban on microplastics in cosmetics. It was pointed out that microplastics are not necessary at all because natural ingredients can be used as alternatives. A few years later, in 2017, the European Commission asked the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for a proposal to ban intentionally added microplastics, such as in cosmetics. The fact that the proposal has, until this date, not been adopted is extremely disappointing. This is primarily due to the opposition from the big cosmetics companies.
Now that part of the industry is openly stating that microplastic-free cosmetics can be done, and that it must be done faster, there is hope that the European Commission will listen and adjust the proposal.
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