The U.K. Has Banned Microbeads. Why?

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

The U.K. Has Banned Microbeads. Why?

By DES SHOE JAN. 9, 2018

LONDON — They’re tiny, colorful and harmless-looking, but these little pellets are being blamed for causing big problems for the world’s oceans and seas.

The items in question are plastic microbeads, and on Tuesday, Britain made good on a pledge to ban the manufacturing of personal care products containing them.

So what are these pellets, and what’s all the fuss about?

What are microbeads?

Microbeads are itty-bitty plastic orbs that can be found in exfoliating facial scrubs, shower gels and toothpaste, among other products. They are part of a larger class of microplastics, or pieces of plastic less than five millimeters, or 0.2 inch, long. (Roughly the size of a grain of rice.)

-snip-

What’s the problem?

About eight million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year, according to a 2015 report by the journal Science. While microbeads represent only a small percentage of those plastics, there is growing concern about their presence in oceans, lakes and rivers.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/world/europe/microbeads-ban-uk.html

[pandr32]

1. We need to pay closer attention to fibers

Just about everything you buy now for your clothing and bedding is made of petroleum-based manufactured fibers that are increasingly finding their way into our lakes, rivers, and oceans and all the way up the food chain.

At first, they were cheaper--making them easy choices for consumers, but even higher end products are using them, too.

Even while we try to limit our use of fossil fuels for energy we are increasingly accepting them into our homes and putting them on our bodies. They are also endocrine disruptors. Think about that when you bundle a baby into a polyester outfit and wrap them in a soft, fluffy acrylic blanket.

Whatever did we do before plastic found ways into our everyday lives?

[Squinch]

3. Yes. I've started doing this, and it is very difficult to find entirely natural fiber clothes.

I suppose I'll be getting by on fewer clothes and they'll be more expensive.

And some things, you just can't find natural versions. I just had to get a new jacket for very cold northern winters. You have to get plastic for those.

[pandr32]

8. It is up to us consumers to make a change

We should stop buying the petroleum-based crap as much as we can. We need to vocally ask stores for natural fiber sourced goods and email companies. If enough consumers are demanding better we can bring better choices back.
Just like with the food industry we have to read labels. Awareness is important, so more of us need to speak out about the problem. It is an environmental and health danger.
Like you, my family is getting by on fewer clothes--all the while seeking out the ones sourced from natural fibers. For sheets and bedding, especially--paying much more.

[Squinch]

9. I'm finding, though, that natural fibers are much more sturdy. Linen is indestructable, and can be

very quickly steamed and doesn't really need to be ironed.

I'm trying to work out how to do a campaign in my smallish town to get take out restaurants to use the old Chinese food cartons rather than those Tupperware containers they use now. We'll see how it goes.

[pandr32]

10. Natural fibers are also breathable

Much better to wear. I don't know anything about Chinese restaurants using Tupperware.

[druidity33]

2. 'cuz they suck?

No really, they're terrible for everyone and everything. Fucking microbeads, part of a long line of industry's improvements on our lives (notice i don't say science). Probably a by-product they needed to get rid of.

[procon]

4. What was in all those product before someone got the idea to use plastic filler?

Manufacturers used things like oatmeal in facial scrubs, and powdered seeds, shells, and plant cellulose were used in other products. There are companies that sell green friendly products, but many things can by easy, and cheaply made at home. See, we can recycle so nothing gets wasted. Why do we need microbeads anyway, they are just a cheap filler, a way to cut down on natural ingredients, but the pollution far out weights any cost factor.

[SeattleVet]

5. We have a federal ban being phased in...

info here from the FDA:

https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceRegulation/LawsRegulations/ucm531849.htm


There are products that can help you to keep a good portion of the microplastic fibers that are shed from clothing out of the water supply. Here are some tips for reducing them:

http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/pft/2017/3/2/15-ways-to-stop-microfiber-pollution-now

And a fine mesh washing bag to help hold them in the wash:

http://guppyfriend.com

(Keep an eye out for additional new products that can help to mitigate the problem. There are several Kickstarter programs, and a few of them look potentially interesting.)

[RandomAccess]

6. I stopped using sea salt because plastic is in it

Probably not entirely from microbeads, but still -- plastic is contaminating sea salt!!

Plastic is BAD for the human body, if ingested. It contains xenoestrogens which mimic estrogen in the body and wreak havoc, promote cancer, etc.

Something that helps the body avoid the problems is a supplement called DIM, made from broccoli, etc.

[mopinko]

7. outlawed in illinois.